JOB TITLE: PRESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT (EA)

DEFINITION: This is a skilled full-time position under the administration of the School Principal. The employee will work cooperatively with children and adults. The employee is required to assist in teaching basic academic and living skills, adapting teaching techniques and methods to meet individual needs of students. The employee must be able to follow directions; read and write sufficiently for assisting children; protect confidentiality rights of parents and children; model appropriate grammar usage and support safety and good self-esteem in children. Must be punctual and regular in attendance. The educational assistants will work in either a year-round or traditional school calendar and/or flexible schedule if called upon to do so. This position is classified as Non-Exempt. The employee is subject to a post offer physical examination with a written statement from the physician showing a satisfactory health record and stating the employee is free of any contagious or communicable disease in such form as might endanger the health of school children, as well as results of a TB skin test. All employees hired after January 1, 2000 are required (post offer and prior to commencement of the employment duties) to supply fingerprint samples which are submitted to a criminal history records check conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. All hiring decisions are contingent upon satisfactory criminal background check results.

EQUIPMENT AND JOB LOCATION:

1. The employee will work in their assigned school, in their assigned classroom.
2. Work is usually performed indoors within Murfreesboro city limits. The employee will occasionally work outdoors, when the children are playing outside. The employee may be exposed to loud noise, foul odors, and smells generally associated with food and bodily functions. The employee must be able to tolerate environmental smells and substances commonly associated with children and educational institutions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. Assist in the preparation and maintenance of instructional materials and activities.
2. Assist with direct instruction (i.e., reading stories, tutoring, administering assessments, implementing teacher plans).
3. Assist with record keeping / checklists on children’s progress
4. Assist children with personal physical needs, including toileting
5. Perform light clerical skills (i.e., typing, filing, data processing, operating copy machine)
6. Operate audio-visual equipment (i.e., VCR, TV, recorder)
7. Monitor large groups of children (i.e., cafeteria, bus room)
8. Prepare bulletin boards
9. Assist children in eating
10. Serve meals and refreshments to children
11. Help children to walk, board buses, put on prosthetic appliances, dress and perform other physical activities as their needs require
12. Assist with maintaining discipline
13. Must be able to perform job duties as described on essential functions addendum
14. Maintain cleanliness of classroom, restroom and food preparation area
15. Must be able to see, hear, and move quickly enough to provide for the safety and the institutional needs of the students
16. Must attend all required meetings / in-services
17. Must be able to follow universal precautions when exposed to bodily fluids

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. A. Must hold high school diploma or GED
2. Must have legal authorization to work in the United States of America
3. Must have knowledge of and/or the ability to learn occupational hazards and safety precautions; Universal precautions must be taken due to possible contact with fluids
4. Must be able to report to work on time and to perform the duties of the job for the entire workday.
5. Must have sufficient physical strength and ability to independently and repeatedly lift, move and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds (frequently) and up to 100 pounds (occasionally)
6. Must be able to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other employees and to effectively communicate with the public
7. The ability to use good judgment while performing job related tasks
8. Must be able to articulate clearly
9. Must be able to see, hear, and move quickly enough to provide for the safety and instructional needs of the children.
10. Must have emotional coping skills appropriate for the management of student behavior
11. Must be able to assist the students in eating, resting and toileting and assist children to perform other physical activities, as their needs require.
12. Must be able to pass physical abilities test/post offer screen for employment
13. Must have completed or be working toward Child Development Associate Certificate

STAFF RELATIONSHIP:

Directly responsible to the School Principal

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Full-Time Educational Assistants work a 10-month annual contract on the days the teachers at their schoolwork; 90-day probationary period; salary and benefits set by the Board of Education. Non-Exempt.

Non-Exempt
May 15, 2003

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