Teacher Assistant- Aftercare

Teacher Assistant- Aftercare

Department: Head Start

Employment Type: Part Time

Location: Newport - Chafee Head Start

Reporting To: Angela Musco

Compensation: $17.50 - $21.00 / hour

Description

Make an Impact in Early Childhood Education Every Afternoon

If you're passionate about supporting young learners and creating a safe, engaging environment where children can thrive, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to do just that. As an Aftercare Teacher Assistant, you'll play a key role in shaping positive daily experiences for preschool-aged children while supporting families and classroom teams.

Job Description

The Aftercare Teacher Assistant supports afternoon programming for preschool children enrolled in Pre-K and Head Start. This role focuses on maintaining a structured, nurturing environment that promotes children's social, emotional, and developmental growth.

Working on-site at our Head Start locations, this position ensures appropriate supervision, contributes to classroom management, and helps create a welcoming space where children feel safe and supported after the school day.

Key Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and lead engaging, developmentally appropriate activities for children
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and nurturing classroom environment
• Supervise children at all times and ensure required staff-to-child ratios are met
• Support classroom and playground organization, cleanliness, and readiness
• Complete supervision tracking and required documentation
• Communicate with families at pick-up, sharing key updates about each child's day

Core Responsibilities

• Complete required reports, including incident, illness, and communication documentation
• Participate in assigned trainings and ongoing professional development
• Attend in-service sessions to stay aligned with program standards and best practices

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Skills

• Strong ability to build positive relationships with young children and families
• Effective classroom management and supervision skills
• Clear communication and collaboration skills
• Organized and detail-oriented, especially with documentation
• Flexible, dependable, and team-focused approach
• Positive, patient, and engaging attitude

Education and Credentials

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Preschool CDA or Associate's/Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education preferred

Experience

• Experience working with preschool-aged children
• Familiarity with classroom environments and child supervision practices

Knowledge

• Solid understanding of early childhood development
• Knowledge of Head Start programs and childcare licensing regulations is a plus

Certifications

• CDA credential preferred
• Pediatric CPR and First Aid required (training provided if needed)

Benefits

Full-time employees working 30-40 hours per week are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off including vacation, holidays, sick, and personal days
• Tuition reimbursement and agency-supported training opportunities
• Life insurance and employee assistance program
• Flexible spending accounts and mileage reimbursement