Head Start Substitute Classroom Assistant

Kitsap Community Resources’ Head Start and Early Head Start programs are looking for passionate team members who want to help children and families thrive. We are not childcare; we are early learning. Our team partners with families to build strong foundations for school readiness, healthy development, and lifelong success. If you’re excited about making a real difference in your community and supporting children during their most important years of growth, we’d love to have you join our team.

This position offers a flexible schedule!

Please apply at kcr.org/career-opportunities/. If you need assistance with your application please contact Human Resources.

Job Title: Substitute Classroom Assistant
Department: Early Learning & Family Services
Fixed Hourly Wage: $17.50
Position Type: On-Call, Non-Exempt, Flexible Schedule
Direct Supervisor: Child and Family Services Manager
Work Environment: Works with young children in classroom setting, playgrounds, and on learning trips.

This is an on-call position that assists the teacher/ teacher aide in the daily classroom and kitchen routine as well as evening childcare for policy council.

Mission:
Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) is a nonprofit, private, social services agency. We are committed to creating hope and opportunity for all low-income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability.

Vision:
We exist with a clear vision of creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

Core Values:
Kitsap Community Resources core values are a vital part of each position, and employees are expected to uphold them to the fullest.

• Integrity – taking care to honor our commitments in an ethical manner
• Compassion – genuinely empathizing with those we serve
• Excellence – demonstrating a high level of performance in all we do
• Diversity – showing honor and respect to all individuals we serve
• Collaboration – so we seek out partnership opportunities
• Teamwork – supporting our employees and partners as we fulfill our mission

Job Requirements

Required Education/Experience/Health:

1. Required Education: High School Diploma or GED plus one year experience working with children age birth to five years old.
2. Ability to pass State and/or Federal Background Checks as determined as determined by position (prior to hire date).

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

1. Must demonstrate recognition and compassion for low-income peoples.
2. Must be aware and sensitive to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

License(s) and/or Certifications:

1. Valid Washington State Driver’s License (to operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business)
2. Ability to obtain proof of insurability for operating an automobile (to operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business).
3. First Aide/CPR certification (within 90 days of employment)
4. Food Worker Permit (within 90 days of employment)
5. Initial physical exam (within 90 days of employment)
6. Tuberculosis (TB) Testing (upon employment and before contact with children, testing done before hire will not be recognized)
7. Current Immunizations per Washington Administrative Code (can be obtained upon hire)

Essential Physical and Mental Functions

1. Be able to physically match the activity level of an infant, toddler, and/or preschool aged child.
2. Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending
3. Must be able to get down on the child’s eye level and floor
4. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
5. Simple grasping and hand manipulation required as well as reaching above and below shoulder level.
6. Must be able to withstand exposure to noise in a classroom setting
7. Must be able to build secure, nurturing relationships with children and families
8. Cognitive ability to recognize and address safety concerns
9. Cognitive and emotional ability to work directly with clients in need, which may include homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, or other mental or physical barriers.
10. Must be able to work outside in a variety of weather conditions
11. Cognitive ability to discern accuracy and apply to work as necessary.
12. Physical and cognitive ability to operate a motor vehicle.

KCR Basic Expectations

1. Must be able to exhibit regular attendance.
2. Conducts business and performs responsibilities with honesty, empathy, and integrity in alignment with KCR Code of Ethics.
3. Maintain confidentially of all KCR participants and staff in accordance with KCR and ELFS polies for Personally Identifiable Information and Data protections.
4. Demonstration of service delivery that aligns with KCR Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
5. Proactively takes appropriate steps to maintain a safe, clean, healthy, and professional working environment, seeks guidance from supervision/management when there are questions.

Key Responsibilities- Included but are not limited to

1. Report to and accept assignments from the Child and Family Service Manager and/or site staff.
2. In the absence of regular classroom staff, assist remaining staff in the daily routine of the classroom to include supporting children in daily health routines including hand washing, diaper changes, toilet learning, and tooth brushing.
3. In the absence of regular classroom assistant, assist in the daily routine of preparation, service and clean-up of meal service for children up to five years old.
4. Interact with children in a developmentally appropriate manner, engage in conversations and activities.
5. Take direction from the teacher/ teacher aide.
6. Report incidences of suspected child abuse to teacher/ teacher aide and make a report to CPS.
7. Maintain classroom Adult: Child ratios at all times.
8. Keep trainings up to date.

Behaviors

1. Demonstrates support of KCR efforts within the agency and community.
2. Works collaboratively with supervisors, co-workers, and KCR participants.
3. Displays positive attitude in the workplace.
4. Takes personal responsibility for own words and actions.
5. Demonstrates willingness to work toward the greater good of KCR.
6. Demonstrates engagement in work activities by participating in meetings, events, and employee committees.
7. Positively contributes to the workplace culture ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment
8. Interacts with co-workers in a positive manner.
9. Proactively seeks out information and guidance in the performance of their job responsibilities.
10. Demonstrates a positive demeanor in all interactions with staff and clients and seeks guidance from supervision and management when experiencing difficulties.

Growth

1. Demonstrates a continuous quality improvement mindset through individual work, interpersonally, and in team settings.
2. Works consistently towards qualification completion including degree completion and/or required certifications/credential(s).
3. Establishes and communicates professional goals and demonstrates progress towards those goals which may include education, training, future career path, vertical job loading, shadowing, and job share.
4. Demonstrates initiative by seeking training opportunities and completing a minimum of 15 hours of professional development each year.

Work/Life Balance

KCR offers benefits to support balance between work and life outside the workplace.

1. Paid Sick Leave
2. Employee Assistance Program
3. Employee Wellness Program
4. Employee Growth & Development Training Programs

All duties and requirements listed in this job description are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position; employees will be requested to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Kitsap Community Resources reserves the right to determine the contents of KCR job descriptions.

Kitsap Community Resources is an “at-will” employer.

KCR recognizes that ideas come from a varied mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. KCR is committed to attracting and retaining a varied and highly skilled staff, by honoring experiences, perspectives and unique identities of the community in which we serve. KCR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.

KITSAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES (KCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. KCR is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

All employment decisions at KCR are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. KCR will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.