Assistant Teacher - Head Start

Position Function :

This position serves as an Assistant Teacher for a Head Start classroom. The assistant teacher shares responsibility for a Head Start classroom of 3- to 5- year old children. S / he works collaboratively with the teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

Salary Grade : 09

Please see or for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile :

Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

Area of Specialization :

MSU Extension Head Start Programs - Hancock County

Anticipated Appointment Date :

October 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

1. Assist the lead teacher in a classroom of 3-to 5 year-old children.

2. Demonstrates a warm, calm, and unhurried manner.

3. Serves as a role model for children and families.

4. Serve as a bus monitor during morning and afternoon bus routes.

5. Provides for the education, care, safety, and well-being of all children in the group.

6. Meets the children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs.

7. Assist in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate learning activities.

8. Maintains a cooperative relationship with children, co-workers, and parents.

9. Demonstrates increasing understanding of child growth and development in working with children, in talking with parents, and in recording activities.

10. Attends staff meetings, reports problems of child or room management to the

Classroom Teacher promptly.

11. Attends in-service training, keeps current on developments in field of child development.

12. Follows personnel policies of the MSU-ES Head Start program and the University.

13. Assist in managing a safe, clean, and pleasant environment for young children.

14. Provides peer coaching with the lead teacher to other assistant teachers, floaters, and

substitute teachers.

15. Models exemplary classroom practices for other assistant teachers especially those

detailed in the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS.

16. Responsible for collaborating with the Lead Teacher in the preparation of daily lesson

plans.

The assistant teacher is responsible for assisting in the Head Start classroom of 3-5 year old children. S / he works collaboratively with a lead teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. The teacher’s role encompasses effective practice in the following as outlined in our Teacher Success Rubric (TSR) :

• CLASS teacher-child interactions
• Learning environment
• Curriculum
• Child assessment
• Meeting all children’s needs
• Working with families
• Professional growth and collaboration

Performs any related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications :

Education :

Licensures :

Substitutions :

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children from birth to four years old.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Working Conditions and Physical Effort