Benefits:
401(k)
401(k) matching
Competitive salary
Dental insurance
Employee discounts
Health insurance
Opportunity for advancement
Paid time off
Parental leave
Savings bank
Training & development
Tuition assistance
Vision insurance
Wellness resources
Job Title: Preschool Assistant Teacher
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time, 40 hrs/week
Shifts: 8:30AM-5:30pm (one hour lunch break)
Work Week: Monday – Friday
Supervisor: Senior Director of Early Education
Age Groups: Preschool
Location: Pottstown, PA
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING: Early Education Teacher Assistants support the Lead Teachers and the Director by helping to create a caring and safe environment for the children and assisting in activities to improve the overall care and quality of education. They must be able to communicate, listen and work well with others in a team environment. Assisting the staff in implementing a quality educational program and in developing positive relationships with the children and their parents, Teacher Assistants observe and document children’s interest and progress, and relays that information back to parents and staff. Teacher Assistants are responsible for implementing developmentally appropriate activities based on children’s interests and needs under the direction of the Lead Teacher and the Director.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Coordinate and implement educational curriculum by developing classroom activities based on developmentally appropriate practices and early learning standards.
Ensures the program operations meets funding and licensing guidelines with regards to screenings, assessments, curricula, supervision of children, child safety and reporting.
Plan individual and group age-appropriate activities to actively engage children and encourage social, cognitive, and emotional growth.
Use routines and experiences to teach content areas: literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts and technology as well as to build social-emotional skills.
Maintain daily communications including written communication using daily reports with families through informal discussions, Tadpoles messages, phone calls, report cards, and conferences.
Ensure all center policies and state regulations are met.
Ensure a healthy classroom environment – including maintaining appropriate hygiene and cleanliness meeting Caring for Our Children’s standards for safety and security of children.
Supervise teacher assistants and classroom volunteers to ensure they are following planned activities, hygiene, cleanliness, and safety standards, including use of primary groups.
Maintain timely and accurate records, forms and files including recording daily observations.
Maintain personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Ensure the safety of children and staff.
Actively contributes in team meetings at which families are participants.
Attends and participates in all in-service training and monthly staff meetings as identified by the Early Education Director to increase competency in job performance.
Lead by example; encourage teaching team success through teaching, modeling, and coaching.
Maintains confidentiality in all children and family records.
Completes special projects specific to the function of the service area or as needed for the area as directed by the supervisor.
Support families/staff using the P.E.A.C.E. model for problem-solving.
Use inclusive language and Conscious Discipline skills and powers in all communication.
Other duties as assigned within the scope of position expectations.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE POSITION:
A strong understanding of child development.
Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
High energy and the ability to work well with others (team members, children, families) and to foster a team environment.
Ability to work with parents in the community and other volunteers
Understanding of diverse family dynamics and cultural differences with the ability to work with and empower families
Understanding of YW3CA mission, goals, and objectives and ability to work independently with a high level of energy and contribute as part of a larger team.
Knowledge of the concepts and practices associated with early childhood education and child development issues
Knowledge of and sensitive to the issues facing the community served.
Strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups of co-workers, families, and members of the community.
Strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer skills including Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, and customized databases.
Effective and accurate ability to create lesson plans using daily observations
Other Position Factors
The other position factors described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential tasks of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Requirements include:
The ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels.
The ability to kneel, bend, squat or crawl and stand for periods of time in both indoor and outdoor environments
A specific vision ability including the ability to see up close and up to a certain distance, to see colors, have peripheral vision and depth perception.
The ability to lift 50 pounds.
The ability to sit on the floor and/or ground outside to be actively involved with the children.
Position may require occasional trips to attend conferences, seminars, and meetings.
May require working non-traditional hours based on operational needs.
Education & Experience:
Requires a Preschool CDA or EEC related degree with a minimum of 9 infant toddler or preschool credits and 2 years of childhood experience.
Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification.
Must be willing to submit to background checks in accordance with local law and regulations.
Current Health Assessment and TB test
Strong desire for continued growth and learning
Familiar with Keystone STARS a plus
Familiar with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Regulations a plus
Familiar with ITERS and ECERS Rating Scale
Ability to work independently, goal oriented.
Strong commitment to the mission and values of YW3CA.