Job Details

Educational Assistant III

The authorized level of the position is Educational Assistant III. Applications are being accepted down to Educational Assistant I in the event of recruiting difficulties. Salary Range: Educational Assistant I, SR-10: $3,019.78 per month. Educational Assistant II, SR-12: $3,260.76 per month. Educational Assistant III, SR-14: $3,526.98 per month.

Early Learning Educational Assistant positions are located on school campuses that have Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) Public Prekindergarten Program classrooms and serve children in the year before kindergarten entry. This position works independently to provide learning experiences in all areas of development and academic disciplines, in accordance with established guidelines, available resources, and the Early Learning classroom teacher.

Some of the essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Cultivates healthy, challenging learning environments and experiences; converses with children in a positive manner during child-initiated activities and during routines and transitions; greets children upon arrival and ensures safe departure; instructs and models appropriate behavior; encourages positive social rapport; assists in guiding children during transitions and routines; addresses conflicts between children; engages with children during play to promote development and learning in all domains of development.
2. Implements and assesses learning experiences for children based on plans and goals established with or by the teacher; sets up activities/areas for children to participate in indoor learning centers, small or large group activities, and outdoor activities; supervise and conduct group and individual learning activities; builds positive relationship and guides children through supportive interactions.
3. Observes children and documents/assesses their development and learning; collects other data as directed by the teacher.
4. Ensures overall health and safety for children; assists children in areas related to health and safety, including toileting, handwashing, eating, resting, and playing; ensures healthy and safe environment; reports and follows-up on unsafe play/work areas and materials; sanitizes materials and surfaces when needed; assists children in dealing with stressful situations.
5. Prepares and maintains materials and environment for learning experiences; organizes and prepares learning centers as guided by the teacher; observe children's use of materials and environment in order to provide modifications, adaptations; consult with teacher as needed.
6. Supervises before, during, and after class activities.

Applicants must meet one of the following three options:

1. Possession of a current Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.
2. Successful completion of training for a certificate that meets the requirements for CDA Credential preparation, including but not limited to:

• a. University coursework at an acceptable institution of higher learning (e.g., Chaminade, UH System, etc.).
• b. 120 hours of formal training in early childhood education (covering the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5 years) available through community organizations (e.g., PATCH, HIAEYC, etc.).

Be enrolled in a program, coursework, or training that prepares the individual to obtain a CDA Credential (evidence of active pursuit toward completing the program must be provided annually to the EOEL).

Applicants must possess a high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or equivalen AND one of the following minimum education requirements:

1. 48 semester credits, baccalaureate level courses, from an accredited institution of higher education recognized by the Hawaii Department of Education. The forty-eight (48) credits may be from various programs or academic subject areas. In addition, of the 48 credits from baccalaureate level courses, 3 must have been for math and 3 for English courses.
2. An Associate in Arts (AA) or Science (AS) degree or higher from an accredited institution recognized by the Hawaii Department of Education. The credits earned for the degree must include a minimum of 48 credits for courses that are baccalaureate level.
3. Successful completion of the ParaPro Assessment provided by the Education Testing Service (ETS).

Applicants must have had experience of the kind and quality described below and in the amount shown in the table below:

Class Title General Experience (years)* Specialized Experience (years)* Educational Assistant I 0 0 Educational Assistant II 1 0 Educational Assistant III 1 1

* One (1) year of General or Specialized Experience is defined as a school year approximately 180 "teacher duty" days or approximately 38 weeks per year.

General Experience: Experience which involved direct interaction with people and which demonstrated the ability to provide and elicit information and to observe, evaluate and take action or report accurately on different situations. In addition, either concurrently or separately, there must be evidence of demonstrated ability to organize materials, maintain records, and write descriptions, consisting of a few sentences, of occurrences or observations. There must also be a demonstrated awareness of basic educational programs, goals, functions, and activities which may have been gained through involvement in activities such as serving on school/community committees, advising youth groups, or taking part in parent/teacher/student meetings and activities.

Specialized Experience: Work experience involving direct contact with students and which included student management (in directing activities, ensuring order, etc.). The experience must have provided familiarity with common academic, social, behavioral, and developmental problems of students, and the opportunity to observe the resolution of these problems by professional staff, or participate in problem resolution under direction of professional staff. The experience must also have involved using a variety of instructional materials, techniques, and equipment, and performance of specific instructional, counseling, or guidance tasks and testing routines. This type of work experience is generally gained in an educational setting by positions providing a variety of supportive services to professional personnel directly engaged in the academic, personal, social, and/or vocational development of students.

Quality of Experience: Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position. The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.