Assistant Teacher - Infant/Toddler

POSITION SUMMARY / PURPOSE :

Under the guidance of the Head Teacher and supervision of the Child Development Site Director the Assistant Teacher provides a high quality of education and care for preschool students;

assisting in daily classroom supervision, including outdoor play activities using positive discipline techniques to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Assist the Teacher in daily classroom supervision, including outdoor play activities using positive discipline techniques to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
• Serve our diverse communities equitably and act with an inclusive, anti-racist lens at all times; promote a brave, respectful culture at the Y.
• Assist the Teacher in the creation and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculums as well as the timely submission of all forms and reports.
• Use knowledge of child development to assess and plan for individual children.
• Supervise parents and other classroom visitors.
• Assist in the practice and documentation of monthly fire drills, lock down drills, and other emergencies.
• Assists in the preparation of materials, equipment, and information for the daily program, taking daily attendance and lunch count including reports for CACFP or USDA.
• Use appropriate food handling, sanitation, and OSHA procedures at all times.
• Assist in maintaining an Anecdotal Log for each child enrolled.
• Maintain classroom and storage materials in neat, orderly, and safe manner.
• Displays and upholds YMCA core values of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. Consistently demonstrates caring for the community we serve, for one another, and for the organization they are part of, and contributes to building trust, pride and camaraderie.
• Always maintain confidentiality of child and family information.
• Supervise a group of children.
• Assist in maintaining all center policies, OEC state regulations and NAEYC standards.
• Perform other duties as required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS REQUIREMENTS, AND DESIRED ATTRIBUTES :

Knowledge of infant and toddler development. Knowledge of Early Childhood Education, School Readiness and Connecticut Early Learning and Development standards.

Warm and nurturing personality.

Bilingual (Spanish / English) a plus.

This position may be authorized to have access to protected Health Information (PHI) to perform specific job duties.

Must be able to work in Pre-school classroom, possibly work with children with communicable diseases and disabilities.

Outdoor playground (possibly without handicapped access).

Personal qualifications as required in Part 407 : Licensing Standards for Child Care Centers, emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities.

EDUCATION :

Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required. Any employee hired as Assistant Teacher prior to July 1, 2021 is grandfathered under previous education requirements.

EXPERIENCE :

A minimum of two (2) years of early childhood experience strongly preferred.

PHYSICAL JOB DEMANDS :

Ability to supervise children by sight and sound at all times, provide verbal direction.

Ability to move around a room and quickly react to safety issues (i.e. climbing, aggressive behavior).

Ability to remain calm, objective and respectful in potentially stressful

situations (i.e. crying upset child, upset parent, or upset staff).

Ability to move around the room to assist children and supervise children

with daily activities, social interaction, physical and emotional needs, including sitting on the floor, kneeling, bending, crouching.

Ability to lift young children and objects up to 40 lbs.