Head Start Paraprofessional
Qualifications:- Ability to communicate and work with staff, children, and families not excluding children with special needs.
- Ability to communicate with staff, children, families, and community members.
- Ability and desire to work with children.
- Ability to complete all the paperwork and forms for Head Start.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional discretion.
- Ability to lift, unassisted, as required by the job.
- Be able to document information for the classroom teacher.
- Appropriate background check completed
- Certificate/License Requirements:
- High school graduation or its equivalent is the minimum requirement at time of hire.
Reports To:- Head Start classroom teacher
- Director of Head Start
- Assistant Director of Head StartFamily and Child ManagerNKESC Executive Director
- School District Superintendent/Principal
- Performance of job will be evaluated by the NKESC Head Start Director
- Job Goal:
The primary goal of the Head Start Paraprofessional is to aid in the teaching and assuming responsibilities as directed by the classroom teacher. The paraprofessional will help formulate plans for the children and families. The paraprofessional will work under the administrative direction of the teacher to whose classroom he/she is assigned.
The primary goal of the case manager is to work with the Head Start families. The case manager will provide services in the six areas (Social Services, Nutrition, Health, Mental Health, Disabilities/Education, and Parent Involvement). The case manager will be responsible for designing and implementing the family partnership agreement to the families in their case load.
Performance Responsibilities: Paraprofessional:
- Assist with record keeping as directed by the teacher.
- Participate in the process of enrolling children and families into Head Start.
- Help coordinate the program in assigned site. Serve as a specialist in one of the component areas and advisor to the other NKESC Head Start staff members.
- Staff must attend FAN.Adhere to Head Start, NKESC, and the local school district policies.
- Attend inservices as directed to meet local, state, and federal guidelines that are consistent with current duties and future career goals.
- Attend and participate in staff department planning meeting.
- Participate with teachers, parents, and other staff in the development and utilization of the FPA and education goals
- Prepare the classroom for the next day, this could include material preparation, cleaning, and organizing.
- Eat with the students during mealtime.
- Assist in recess duty daily.
- Assist with transportation duties at locations with bus routes
- Take complete charge of the operation of the child development center during the short-term absence of the teacher.
- Complete all other duties as assigned by supervisor(s) that are deemed to be appropriately assigned.
- Case Manager:
- Will serve assigned families in providing services to their needs.
- Help families evaluate their goals and prioritize those them
- Make home visits at least 2 times a year excluding screenings.
- Provide services that will allow families to become independent enough to ask for assistance when needed, but will provide solutions to most of their needs.
- Evaluate the families on their case loads for health and medical needs. This will require making sure families receive their immunizations and screenings within the time limits stated by Head Start.
- Develop knowledge of community services and make referrals to those agencies for Head Start families.
- Complete trainings on NKESC Head Start curriculum and assessment tool.
- Serve as an advocate for Head Start families.
- Encourage parental participation in the education and activities of their child in Head Start.
- Ensure accurate and effective record keeping of the families.
- Collaborate with the teacher and families in the development of events and activities, which ensure the program's emphasis upon total family development.
- Assist parents to conduct "self-help" and life enriching programs for themselves; e.g. education and parenting skills, health care, mental health, job preparedness training, and cultural activities.
- Terms of Employment: Per Memorandum of Employment.
Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. Visit our website: Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable Equal Opportunity laws, directives and regulations of Federal, State and Local governing bodies or agencies. Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation or age.
