Classroom Food Assistant

The Classroom Food Assistant helps prepare and serve the delivered breakfast, lunch, and snack in a safe and sanitary manner. Assists classroom teachers in providing for the care and education of children at the Head Start centers.

Our agency provides employees with a positive work environment and the ability to balance work & home along with excellent benefits. Our benefit package includes: medical, dental, vision, life insurance including sick, vacation, and personal leave with 11 paid holiday's and a fully vested retirement plan with and up to 5% match.

Position open in the Santa Maria area at the Meridian Head Start Center and will have summers off. Works 30 hours p/week, with benefits and starts out between $16.00 - $17.00 per hour.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Keeps kitchen areas and classrooms clean and sanitary and organized, following program policies.

• Completes all required CCFP documentation including food arrival and serving temperatures, delivery receipts, meal count and menu comments.
• Completes paperwork for meal count.
• Supports family style mealtimes.
• Demonstrates knowledgeable about food and the nutrition concepts.
• Assists with cooking projects and food learning experiences with children.
• Attends training and/or meetings as assigned in food preparation and handling regulations.
• Assists teachers in carrying out activities for children in the program.
• Meets on a monthly basis with the education staff to plan activities to meet the needs of the children in the program.
• Assists in keeping classroom neat and orderly.
• Works with individual children or groups of children on assigned projects and activities.
• Assists with children during lunch, on playground, and on field trips as assigned but not without the supervision of a teacher.
• Attends parent meetings and home visits when requested.
• Is alert for potentially hazardous activities and uses appropriate preventive techniques for children in order to ensure safety for all enrolled.
• Is sensitive to children with special needs.
• Is aware off all the centers children with food allergies and ensures they receive the doctor recommend substitutions.
• Attends workshops and other required in-service training.
• Functions as a positive team member. Communicates effectively with families and co-workers.
• Performs other comparable related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill & Ability Required:

Education and/or Experience: Prior experience with food handling. Experience with preschool children and/or related course work in Early Childhood Education desirable.

CommUnify / EOE