Preschool Assistant (Bilingual Spanish Required)

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

1. Assists in supervising and monitoring children's activities; with teacher's direction, guidance and supervision, works and interacts with individual or small groups of children in classroom on assigned learning activities or projects to encourage positive learning; supervises children's playground activities; accompanies classes on field trips.
2. Participates in daily classroom and activity set-up, preparation and clean-up; assists in preparation, set up and clean up of learning centers; organizes, distributes and collects supplies and materials; prepares reading books for children to take home; sets up and puts away equipment and toys and/or monitors parent volunteers and children to ensure that classroom toys, materials and equipment are put away and appropriately organized; prepares, duplicates and/or laminates a variety of materials.
3. Prepares, sets out and cleans up after snacks and/or oversees parent volunteers' preparation of snacks; maintains proper organization of kitchen.
4. Assists in maintaining a clean and safe learning environment; checks the classroom and playground to ensure cleanliness and safety; supervises children to prevent injuries; cleans and washes toys, equipment, supplies and materials, as required.
5. For positions designated as bilingual, translates a variety of written materials from English to a designated second language and from that language into English; interprets and facilitates communication between staff and non-English speaking students and members of the public; communicates with non-English speaking students; attends various meetings to translate and interpret as needed.
OTHER DUTIES
1.Attends staff meetings, workshops, training seminars, conferences and other meetings, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
1.Basic practices and methods of instruction, care and supervision of young children.
2.Basic concepts of child development and behavior patterns of preschool-aged children.
3.Procedures and practices of classroom and playground safety.
4.District policies, procedures and practices and applicable State requirements related to areas of responsibility.
5.Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Ability to:
1.Assist in creating and maintaining a safe learning environment.
2.Encourage learning in pre-kindergarten and/or preschool-aged children.
3.Continuously observe and monitor classroom and playground behaviors while working with individual or small groups of children.
4.Communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing, in English and a designated second language.
5.Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
6.Use tact, discretion, courtesy and patience in dealing with sensitive and difficult individuals and situations.
7.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with District administrators, staff, teachers, parents, children and others encountered in the course of work.

Education, Training and Experience:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from high school or a GED equivalent; and one year of experience working with children in an organized setting; and completion of six post-secondary semester units or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development from an accredited or approved college or university, which includes courses in child or human growth and development, child and family or child, family and community program curriculum; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Licenses or Certificates:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a CPR and first aid certificate.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls; reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl and lift up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:
While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral communication skills; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; work with constant interruptions on multiple, concurrent tasks and interact with teachers, parents, children and others encountered in the course of work.

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

The employee works in a classroom setting, and the noise level is occasionally moderately loud.