Pre-K Assistant Teacher

• Competitive salaries reflecting your skills and experience.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees, plus wellness programs, mental health resources, and a family gym membership.
• Generous PTO and paid holidays, with flexible work hours for work-life balance.
• 403(b) plan with company contributions for eligible employees after 2 years of service.
• Continuous learning opportunities through workshops and training programs.
• Supportive work environment valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Discounts on programs, employee assistance programs, and company-sponsored events.

• Demonstrate enthusiasm and interpersonal skills in order to relate well with children, parents, co-workers, administrators, and the community
• Support high-quality teaching and learning in the classroom that promotes academic readiness
• Maintains awareness and supervision of the needs of all children and ensures their health and physical safety at all times
• Aid in the guidance and support of all children including dual language learners and those with special needs
• Support and assist Teachers in the implementation of English Language Learner programs to inform linguistic and culturally responsive practices
• Utilize available resources to adapt and apply different instructional methods to support children’s varying needs
• Assumes the lead in selected activities throughout periods of the day
• Model and promote appropriate grammar, language, positive interactions, and discipline for children and parents
• Establish and maintain a cooperative attitude of working together with adults assigned to the classroom in planning and implementing activities
• Assist with preparations for Parent Meetings, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Parent/Child Activities, and other classrooms/center events
• Aid in completion of all necessary paperwork for classroom activities
• Annually complete at least thirty clock hours of professional development, through participation in offered training, workshops, in-service days, all staff conferences, and maintain a log of professional development requirements, including documents supporting completion
• Participate and support agency/center efforts toward recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and retention of eligible families
• Adhere to Head Start Performance Standards, Developmentally Appropriate Practices and the Creative Curriculum for Preschool
• Observe and respect issues of confidentiality Lesson Planning and Classroom Management
• Collaborate with classroom team members to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities, and parent involvement
• Gather, arrange and display children’s work to help in a manner appropriate for their eye level
• Assist classroom team to maintain an attractive, clean, safe, and engaging classroom environment that includes positive guidance techniques and that encourages support children's independence and self-selection of activities
• Model and implement family-style eating during mealtimes
• Regularly sanitize all surfaces, classroom toys, equipment, and laundry
• Assist with classroom management, arrangement, organization, and labeling materials
• Assume joint share of classroom team to maintain a safe, clean, environment, and practice good personal hygiene and frequent hand washing
• Assist with completion of classroom inventory quarterly and the selection of materials and equipment to support instruction and children’s learning Assist in Evaluations, Assessments, and Reports
• Timely and accurately administer required screenings
• Observe, document, and assess children’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development
• Follow the established system for collecting and managing daily observations of children, including weekly entries on-line
• Take pictures and maintain anecdotal notes, written observations, and other approved forms of documentation for each child
• Maintain documentation of each child’s progress and growth according to Head Start guidelines and the methods of Teaching Strategies GOLD
• Input classroom data into appropriate information systems, as required (TSG, Home Visits, and Parent/Teacher Conferences)
• Adhere to timelines and complete child assessment information, at least four times annually
• Complete all necessary paperwork for classroom activities including attendance and meal count sheets
• Assume joint share of the classroom team to maintain and ensure accurate and up-to-date education folders and portfolios for each child
• Observe and respect issues of confidentiality

• Bachelor's degree- Early Education and Gateways Level 4 ECE Credential or AA Degree with Gateways Level 4 Credential
• Must pass DCFS background check and maintain clearance throughout employment
• Passion for and commitment to the YMCA’s mission and serving the needs of children and families
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to assist in the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices to promote early learning and social-emotional development

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members, or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

YMCA