- Position Type:
Daycare/Daycare Assistant
- Date Posted:
2/12/2025
- Location:
Overland Elementary
- Date Available:
When Filled
- Closing Date:
When Filled
Sweetwater County School District Number One
Full-Time Daycare Assistant
Job Title: Full-Time Daycare Assistant
Location: Overland Elementary Early Childhood Education Program
Reports To: Director of Daycare
Terms of Employment:
Months Per Year: __10_ Full Time _X__(40 hours weekly)
Salary Classification: Paraprofessional IV salary schedule, P-IV, $22.06
Nature and Scope of Job: The purpose of the Daycare (child care) Assistant is to assist and cooperate in a supportive role and provide the highest quality of supervision in a safe and healthy learning environment for all children. Daycare assistants promote the health, safety, welfare, nutrition and education of all children in the Early Childhood Education Program.
Job Functions: The Daycare Assistant will assist the daycare in providing a learning environment and facilitating experiences for the children to develop socially, cognitively, physically and emotionally within developmentally appropriate practices. The Daycare Assistant supports the daycare in working directly with the children on a daily basis, interacting and modeling desired behaviors for the children. The Assistant will involve and support the parents in meaningful ways and appreciate the importance of parent involvement. The Daycare Assistant will share the responsibility of caring for all daycare children and other duties as assigned.
Essential Functions: - Assist in the daycare classroom.
- Possess and demonstrate a strong working knowledge of daycare procedures and standards as well as other District policies and licensing regulations.
- Model enjoyment, humor, and enthusiasm for caregiving and help children enjoy their time at the center and support routines and learning.
- Facilitate, in conjunction with the daycare director/principal, in the daycare and implement curriculum, which reflects mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promotes the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of all children.
- Under the direction of the daycare director/principal in the daycare, assist in creating weekly/daily plans addressing individual needs/goals for children. Provide a comprehensive safe and healthy learning environment for all children.
- Assist in guiding and facilitating activities of the children, including: daily activities, routines and play, selecting and arranging materials in the classroom.
- Follow a consistent schedule, which may include small and large group experiences, work time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals and effective transitions between activities.
- Assist the daycare director/principal in maintaining a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly/daily observations in each area, examples of the child’s food, play, and a developmental assessment.
- Set goals for each child’s individual development and to document/discuss progress.
- Document attendance and all activities and submit to the appropriate staff, any prescribed forms consistently, correctly, and promptly.
- Complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate fashion; daily schedule, time approvals, meal reports, etc.
- Feed, eat with, and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices.
- Guide children’s acquisition of social skills.
- Under the direction of the daycare assistant/principal, the daycare assistant will be responsible for modeling and supporting positive behavior, health, education, mental health and report social service concerns to the appropriate staff member.
- Attend staff training and meetings as requested.
- Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the daycare program, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children.
- Work with other staff, daycare assistants, and parents to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.
- Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment. Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly cleaned, maintained, and stored.
- Use the playground and gym as an extension of the classroom/daycare and assure the playground and gym are safe.
- Assure files are complete, accurate, and confidentiality maintained for assigned students.
- In consultation with coaching and feedback, develops own professional work goals and training plan.
- Possess and maintain licenses and/or certifications required for the position.
- Demonstrates regular attendance and punctuality as required of position.
- Assists with recruitment of children into Overland Elementary Early Childhood Center.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.
Other Functions: - Actively communicate with children in a positive way that encourages curiosity, exploration, problem solving and ongoing development of communication skills.
- Possess and utilize effective interpersonal skills with children and adults from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, and educational levels, including effective oral and written communications.
- Maintains confidentiality of all information concerning students, staff, parent/guardian in any public setting, classroom or area where students or uninvolved staff are involved.
- Demonstrate commitment to teamwork.
- Project genuine care and sensitivity toward early childhood learning center families.
- Develop and maintain supportive and trusting relationships with all parents.
- Other duties as assigned.
-Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job-
Job Qualifications:
Knowledge, Skills, and Mental Ability:
1. Adhere to District policies and program/licensure requirements and procedures.
2. Must possess passion for working with children birth to 5 years old and their families.
3. Must possess strong classroom management skills, which include positive behavior supports as well as record keeping and assessment ability.
4. Must possess knowledge of group dynamics and interpersonal skills.
5. Must possess knowledge of psychological, emotional, educational, and behavioral development of children birth to 5 years old.
6. Must possess technological and computer skills.
7. Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Read, write, and speak well enough to understand and be understood.
8. Must possess problem solving, flexibility, imagination, patience, reasoning, creativity, judgment, and analytical abilities.
Education, License, Certification or Formal Training:
Substitute certification through Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB), preferred Associate degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field or a Child Development Associate Certificate or (CDA). Experience working with birth through elementary-aged children is preferred.
Physical Demands:
Able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
Visual acuity to meet all responsibilities.
Hearing acuity to monitor children’s overall safety and well-being and facilitate learning.
Lower body strength to allow repeated up and down movements while interacting with children.
Strength to lift objects that weigh at least 50 pounds and move them more than 50 feet.
Flexibility and stamina to fulfill the above responsibilities and to engage children in a wide variety of physical activities, including demonstration of such activities.
Environmental Demands:
Seasonal fluctuations in building temperature.
Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Fluorescent lighting.
Daily exposure to a variety of weather conditions, including extremes.
High noise level of small children.