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Assistant Teachers

Assistant Teachers in all environments:

  • Support the Teachers in child care and education programs
  • Are a cooperative co-worker
  • Follow directions
  • Work independently
  • Interact positively with children

Assistant Teachers need:

  • Knowledge of child development
  • General knowledge including skills such as reading, writing, and oral communication
  • Child behavior management skills

An Assistant Teacher assists with:

  • Connecting parent’s needs and expectations to classroom goals and learning objectives
  • Setting up and maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment
  • Developing curriculum and materials
  • Handling emergencies

An Assistant Teacher:

  • Builds positive self-concept and individual strength in children
  • Organizes the classroom and brings out the best in children as well as adults
  • Attends staff and committee meetings
  • Participates in maintaining on-going records of children
  • Takes part in training sessions and parent meetings when applicable
  • Has an awareness of and sensitivity to cultural issues and local community practices

Setting: Day Care/Childcare Centers, Head Start, Early Head Start

Academic and Experience Requirements:

Assistant Teachers Academic and Experience Requirements

Be at least 19 years of age

AND

High School diploma or Equivalency Certificate (GED)

AND

60 college credits (24 are education credits)

 OR

Be at least 19 years of age

AND

Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)

Ongoing Training/Professional Development

  • Each full time employee must complete a minimum of 15 hours of training every 2 years including the mandatory child abuse courses and other subjects related to child health and safety and early childhood development.
  • The first15 hours of such training must be received during the first 6 months of the program's first year of licensure or during the person's first 6 months of employment by the program.
  • Training must address the following topics:
    1. Principles of childhood development
    2. Nutrition and health needs of children
    3. Child day care program development
    4. Safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff
    5. Business-record maintenance and management
    6. Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention
    7. Statutes and regulations pertaining to child care
    8. Statutes and regulation pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment
    9. Shaken Baby Syndrome
    10. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

NOTE: