Classroom Aide/Bus- Parker Heights

Position Purpose
Position is responsible to assist the bus driver in providing bus transportation services to children. Escorts to and from the vehicle and maintains a constant watch over the children entrusted in his/her care and is aware of their location at all times. Assist teachers with supervision of children. Assist kitchen staff prepare food items. Assist teachers with laundry duties. Rotate as necessary to provide staff with breaks.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Inspire Development Centers provides Early Childhood Education (ECE) and social services to more than 4000 children, in center based and home based setting, at more than 27 Child Development Centers (CDC) throughout the State of Washington. Inspire provides services under various federal and state funded programs with differing regulations and stipulations, which must be coordinated and adhered to, including, but not limited to: Regional Head Start (RHS), Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Early Head Start (EHS). The agency is required to meet an annual quota of non-federal share (in-kind) funds. A large majority of children’s first language is Spanish.
Supervisory and Other Relationships
Position reports to the Center Manager and works closely with Center Staff, Parents and works with and around children.
Examples of Essential Duties and Accountabilities
The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.
1. Accompany driver on assigned routes to pick up and take home all children assigned to that route. Conduct daily health checks on the children prior to boarding bus to comply with health policies of center. Conducts a pre-trip inspection to ensure all children are buckled with safety restraints and infants and toddlers are secured properly in car seats before vehicle proceeds.
2. Escorts and assists children on boarding and departing bus with special attention to children with disabilities needing extra assistance and care. Ensure that all children are buckled with safety restraints and infants and toddlers are secured properly in care seats before vehicle proceeds. Whenever possible, remains in seated with seat belt fastened when vehicle is in motion.
3. Conducts daily health checks on all children prior to boarding bus to comply with health policies of center. Conducts a post-trip inspection for children and other items left on the bus at the conclusion of the trip. Assist parents in completing appropriate forms when medication is to be administered to children at the center. Ensures that medication and breast milk is transported in a secure manner and delivered to an authorized individual.
4. Serves as liaison between parents and staff disseminating and requesting information as instructed by staff/parents. Immediately reports incidents, accidents or unusual situations, (i.e. child abuse reports, etc.) that could or did place a child at risk of injury and willing and able to describe such incidents in writing.
5. Monitor the attendance/presence of children on the bus in the AM and PM routes and verify list of children at start and end of route. In conjunction with driver, maintains the chain of custody of children assigned to the bus, ensures that children are released only to authorized individuals.
6. In coordination with the driver, practice monthly emergency bus evacuations and safety drills and be knowledgeable about emergency equipment on the bus. Assist driver in maintaining buses in clean and sanitary condition. In case bus driver is incapacitated by medical emergency, monitor will stop and secure the vehicle.
7. Assist educational staff with visual supervision of children and interaction while outdoors; Wash, dry, and distribute laundry to classrooms and kitchen; clean classrooms after children’s meals and prep for naptime with placement of cots; Provide staff with breaks as scheduled.
8. Assist kitchen staff prepare, deliver, and retrieve food carts with items needed for meals / snacks / fieldtrips.
9. Shows interest in furthering professional growth by attending staff meetings, workshops, trainings, and seminars.
10. Maintains confidentiality of program and client related information at all times.
11. Perform all other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Incumbents are required to demonstrate knowledge and abilities in these areas:

• Knowledgeable of a personal computer, including Microsoft Office; and
• Ability to gather data for reports;
• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
• Experience in working in group setting;
• Strong customer service focus;
• Able to communicate in English and/or Spanish, write/read/speak;
• Ability to work with culturally diverse population;
• Knowledge and understanding of child development;
• Flexible to work different schedules, may be split shift and/or with various bus routes depending on availability of shifts;
• Understanding of the interrelationships between services and systems;
• Accurate data documentation and recordkeeping skills.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly and efficiently;
• Enjoys working with young children with ability to exercise patience;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Experience in policy and procedure processes;
• Experience in bus and safety risk management;

These skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education, training, and or experience which will provide the competence and skills to perform the work of the position.
Preferred Qualifications

• English/Spanish bi-lingual fluency.
• Willing to develop instructional skills in the field of child development.

Position Requirements
Incumbents are required to have the following:

• Must pass initial and periodic employee health clearance; (present it within forty-five (45) days of employment);
• Must pass initial and periodic Department of Early Learning (DEL) background check;
• Must complete and sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement on an annual basis.
• Blood Borne Pathogen training, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Must be at least 18 years of age;
• Current Food Handler card; (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Current First Aid / CPR cards, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Must pass initial and periodic criminal and background check;
• Must sign a Confidentiality Agreement; and
• Subject to random drug screen;
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV / AIDS) training, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Subject to initial and periodic TB screen;

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this position can be found at https://inspirecenters.org/careers/. Temporary employees are not eligible for benefits.