Positions: 

1 opening: 36+ hours a week in Grand Rapids

3 openings: 20+ hours a week in Grand Rapids

Job Summary

Work cooperatively with Classroom Teachers in providing age and developmentally appropriate preschool education and activities. Ensure Head Start Performance Standards and Rule 3 licensing requirements are being met at all times.

Application for Employment

Job Posting Information

Qualifications

  • Minimum: Child Development Associate/Certificate
  • Preferred: Associates or Two Year College Degree in Early Childhood Education
  • Certification in First Aid, CPR, Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, and Preventing Abusive Head Trauma, or willingness to obtain through agency.
  • Acceptable DHS Background Study
  • Completed Employee Physical Health Certification

Location/Schedule

  • Daytime weekday shift- no nights, weekends, or holiday shifts.
  • Grand Rapids, MN: 36+ Hours/Week following school calendar
  • Grand Rapids, MN: 20+ Hours/Week followings school calendar

Compensation

  • Starting Hourly Wage of $17.29 or $18.46 based on qualifications.
  • Wage Scale of $17.29 to $26.53
  • Scheduled Raises & Cost of Living Adjustments

 Benefits

  • Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO) Package + 13 Paid Holidays/year
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability Insurances,
  • Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account options.
  • Retirement Plan with option for employer contribution
  • Tuition Assistance opportunities & Loan Forgiveness qualifying credit
  • Many Training and Professional Development opportunities.

Job Description

Qualifications

  • Education
    • Minimum: High School Diploma
    • Preferred: Infant & Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
    • Certification in First Aid, CPR, Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, and Preventing Abusive Head Trauma, or willingness to obtain through agency.
  • Experience
    • Minimum: More than 1 year experience in childcare/preschool.
  • Authorizations
    • Acceptable DHS Background Study
    • Completed Employee Physical Health Certification
  • Skills
    • Ability to proficiently operate copy/fax machines, telephone, and computers and software, including email, spreadsheets and word processing.
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
    • Ability to manage time that results in both a satisfactory quantity and quality of work.
  • Abilities
    • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
    • Must be able to handle diverse work problems on a daily basis.
    • Must be able to organize a work schedule, set priorities and work effectively to meet deadlines without supervision.
    • Must be able to adjust to changes necessitated by last minute assignments and deadline requests that may prove stressful.
    • Must be able to work flexible hours as needed in order to meet the needs of the clients.
    • Attend trainings, classes, and meetings as necessary to improve job skills and maintain an acceptable level of job performance.
  • Other Knowledge
    • Working knowledge of MN Child Abuse Laws and community resources.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned.

Area 1: Classroom Operations

  • Assist classroom staff in carrying out daily activities, outings, and other events.
    Assist with preparing meals and snacks, cleaning the room, preparing materials for classroom activities, completion of paperwork, etc.
    Assist staff in carrying out outings, field trips, and special events.
    Help plan for routines and transitions so that they occur in a timely and predictable manner according to each child’s needs.
    Help each child develop a sense of independence and acquire the ability to express and understand feelings relative to his/her family practices.
    Implement and conduct observations of infants and toddlers.
    Support and maintain appropriate activities for children and their parents/guardians.

Area 2: Learning Environment

  • Assist with ensuring materials and equipment used are appropriate for infants and toddlers age 6 weeks to three years.
    Assist with maintaining an environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the development level and learning style of infants and toddlers age 6 weeks to three years.
    Work to enhance the child’s development in needing to know, accept, and appreciate himself/herself as an individual.

Area 3: Health & Safety

  • Assist classroom teachers in providing a safe and appropriate environment for infants and toddlers by ensuring health and safety regulations are followed at all times
    Observe and view all areas of the classroom, and react appropriately and immediately in the event of an emergency, including by evacuating children from the room if necessary.
    Assist Classroom Teacher in assuring all health and safety procedures are followed.
    Assist Classroom Teacher in making certain that staff and volunteers are adhering to safe practices.

Job Factors

Supervision of Others: 

  • Not responsible for supervision of others.

Safety of Others

  • Responsible for the safety of others on the job. Provides oversight of work groups and/or public served. Implements and enforces safety standards for self and others.

Contacts

  • Contact is within own department, and with other departments, customers, vendors, or the public.

Physical Demand

  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
  • Requires sitting, standing, bending, stooping and reaching.

Travel

  • Must have reliable transportation.
  • Must have valid driver’s license and current auto insurance coverage in compliance with Minnesota State guidelines on the vehicle used for work related travel.
  • Travel for completion of job duties, trainings and meetings as required.

General Agency Requirements

Professionalism:

  • Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relations with clients, customers, co-workers, providers, volunteers, and supervisors.
  • Treat clients, co-workers, and the public in a respectful and courteous manner at all times.
  • Continue to develop skills and abilities.

Community Representation:

  • Represent KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. in a positive manner.
  • Adhere to the Community Action Code of Ethics.
  • Seek to understand poverty and the barriers faced by community members.

Confidentiality:

  • Maintain confidentiality of agency, program, and client information.

KOOTASCA Community Action is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) Employer. We recruit, select, hire, place, transfer, promote, demote, layoff, discipline, terminate, recall, compensate, and train without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other basis protected by applicable laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies. We will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities whenever possible.