TITLE OF POSITION: Program Support Aide (PSA)
DEPARTMENT: Education
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Teacher
A. GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
This position works as a part of a team to assist in activities in all areas of the program, building, classroom and kitchen and/or to serve as individualization assistant as needed. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. This position may receive content area technical support and training from the Lead Teacher/Teacher, Associate or Education Coordinators.
B. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION
Duties of the position are described in major functional areas listed below. Additional duties may be assigned.
Professional Development
- Attends all required training and workshops, including on-line training and cluster meetings as required by Head Start and State Licensing.
- Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance Standards, Michigan child care licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.
- Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- Maintains knowledge of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
- Is able to work with children at all levels of development.
- Maintains professional certification that employee was hired in with or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards.
- Successfully completes and maintains Basic First Aid, CPR certification and licensing required training.
- Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.
Preschool Program Implementation
Classroom Aide
- Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities including implementation of lesson plans, field trips, Outdoor activities, meal times and transportation.
- Assists in developing materials and providing activities related to the cultural background of the children and families served.
- Helps supervise at mealtime, eating with the children to encourage good nutrition and proper social skills.
- Helps keep the classroom and its contents clean and orderly, helping to maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
- Assists in keeping learning environments safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allows for visibility of children; by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
- Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as the need arises.
- Serves as a substitute in the absence of the teacher or associate teacher.
- Participates in the screening, assessment, observation and documentation of children.
- Works in a diverse environment with children and families of various developmental levels and needs.
- Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control and school readiness skills with preschool children by using positive methods and modeling and participating in curriculum development and curriculum.
- Participates in recruitment activities.
Custodial Aide Services
- Empties trash or garbage containers if needed before the custodian or janitor services.
- Sanitizes surfaces, picks up and puts away materials in the classroom or kitchen in order to maintain a safe and organized environment.
- Serves as custodian in the absence of the regular custodian as required.
Kitchen Aide
- Completes routine kitchen/food service area/food chores as assigned.
- Prepares necessary food and serving items or service prior to or after use.
- Participates in kitchen clean up, inventory and other kitchen tasks as required.
- Completes Food Service paper work as needed.
Bus Aide
- Completes Bus Aide paperwork as necessary.
- Rides the bus and buckles children into the seats.
- Assists with children getting on and off the bus.
- Make sure that students are safe while riding the bus.
C. KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of the basics of working with children birth to five.
- Knowledge of Active Supervision strategies to keep children safe by: Set up the environment to be able to see children around the room at all times, Position yourself to see and hear all children in your care, Count and Use Face to Name while transitioning in and out of the classroom, Listen for potential danger, Anticipate children’s behavior to predict what the child will do next, and Engage and Redirect to assist the children and help solve problems.
- The ability to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements i.e., FERPA, HIPAA.
- Knowledge of the purpose of Head Start/Early Head Start Programs.
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation practices.
- Basic computer knowledge of Word and Excel.
- Ability to access e-mail and the willingness to learn new programs as needed.
- Ability to read and follow program procedures and e-mails daily.
- Ability to follow directions and take initiative. .
- Ability to work in diverse environments.
- Ability to work with children with disabilities.
- Ability to respect and respond appropriately to the culture, language, values and family structures of each family served.
- Ability to support family safety and health.
- Ability to engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote parent-child relationships and family well-being.
- Ability to enhance the parent-child relationship and support parents’ role as the first and life-long educators of their children.
- Ability to act as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program.
- Knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect reporting and child care licensing requirements.
D. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
- Noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud.
- Work is typically performed in a classroom; kitchen and some office work may be required.
- Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may be required for attendance at conferences, meetings or other duties at distant locations, in and out of state. In some cases overnight travel may be required.
- Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent teacher conferences, Parent Club meetings, community and social events, and for providing child care outside of regular work hours for scheduled events.
This position works in a preschool classroom with child size furniture and seating. The position requires, sitting in child sized chairs and on the floor; adverse driving conditions; bending; stretching; extended sitting; extended standing; extended walking; stair climbing; kneeling; crouching; reaching; fine and gross motor skills; coordination of hands-fine and gross; eye/hand/foot coordination; visual memory and discrimination; auditory memory and discrimination; reading and writing ability; judgment; simple and complex decision making; and lifting up to 75 pounds. This position is covered by the OSHA Final Rule Blood borne Pathogens Act, Category A, with potential for exposure to communicable disease and pests such as head lice. This position is a mandated reporter of child abuse/neglect and must have a Department of Human Services child abuse and neglect clearance.
Personal qualifications require emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities. Also education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.
