Floater

Position Title: Floater

Position Status: Regular Full Time (non-exempt) - Regular Part Time

Reports to:  Master Teacher or Teacher

Position Purpose:

To provide a successful, safe, educational setting for children while they are in the Head Start environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). To promote social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children. Encourage parent involvement in all aspects of the program.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

  • Must be 18 years of age
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Current state ID or Driver License
  • DOJ, FBI, and Child Index background check

Requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 6 CORE semester units in Early Childhood Education within the two years of hire.
  • Continue education towards 12-semester units in ECE within four years and must meet current staff qualifications and requirements of Head Start.
  • Must apply for the teacher assistant permit within two years of hire

  •  * Required to enroll in 3-semester units of Infant & Toddler Development if hired as an infant and toddler floater. Units must be completed within nine months of hiring date.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Work under the direct supervision of the Teacher. Work indirectly under the supervision of the Site Supervisor, Education Manager, and Management.
  • Participate in the set-up and coordination of the Center’s activities with parents and staff.
  • Assist with the preparation of the classroom environment and maintaining the optimal growth and development of preschool children.
  • Attend case conferences, educational workshops, training, and staff meetings as well as any other required meetings.
  • Work with the teacher and other adults in maintaining the health and safety of children in the classroom, playground, field trips, and any agency sponsored activity.
  • Works cooperatively with all personnel.
  • Assists with the preparation and maintenance of class, agency, staff and children’s records as the teacher assigns (i.e., inventory, daily meal count and attendance, fire/earthquake drills, assessments and IEP’s and other documentation).
  • Serve meals/snacks family style and eat with the children.
  • Report Child Abuse per current state requirements.
  • Assist the teacher in the classroom preparation, home visits, daily program, and other areas of the center as needed.
  • Comply with the continuing education requirements per federal, state, and local requirements and as required by agency policies.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Necessary Skills:

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality as required.
  • Ability to organize and maintain records.
  • Familiar with acceptable ways to manage behavior in young children.
  • Aware of the needs of young children and understand a variety of ways to facilitate preschool learning experiences.
  • Has the ability or willingness to acquire skills in interviewing, crisis intervention, child development, and other applicable areas.
  • Ability to work under the supervision of the teacher.
  • Knowledge of and sensitive to diverse cultures, values, and traditions (particularly African American, Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Islander).

Other Requirements:

  • Possession of a valid CA Driver’s License or ID.
  • Must be eligible to be employed in the United States.
  • Continue Education required in accordance with Head Start and State current regulations.
  • Completion of an initial physical examination and follow-up examinations every two years.
  • Current First Aid and CPR Certification.
  • Fingerprint clearance, tuberculosis clearance, flu shots, MMR, DTaP, and child abuse clearance must be on file and submitted according to policy.
  • Bilingual where applicable.

Reasoning Ability

 

  • Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables.
  • Ability to read and interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, map, or schedule format.
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, or governmental regulations — ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
  • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, teachers, parents, and the general public.
  • Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, and rates.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
  • Work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks, such as operating dangerous equipment or working with chemicals.
  • Work involves minimal exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, or loud noises.
  • Chemicals are known to the State of California to cause cancer, or congenital disabilities or other reproductive harm may be present in the work environment.
  • Staff are subject to be move to different sites or locations every three year.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required to:

  • Regularly talk or hear up to 8 hours a day;
  • Regularly sit, write, type, and use a mouse up to 8 hours a day;
  • Regularly sit and stand from a chair up to 30 times a day;
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
  • Occasionally stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms;
  • Regularly bend, stoop and squat;
  • Occasionally drive in dry and wet weather, usually during daylight hours, but occasionally during evening hours;
  • Regularly get in and out of the car up to 5 times per day;
  • Occasionally climb stairs and take the elevator; and
  • Occasionally lift and move up to twenty-five (35) pounds.