As a thought-leader and best-in-class provider in education, wellness, youth development, and community-building, The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is one of the oldest and most essential non-profits serving in Atlanta. Today, we’re looking for you to join us as we carry out our mission to positively impact lives and communities across the state.

At the Y, we’re an association of like-minded people (staff, volunteers, and members), on the forefront of a movement to ensure that everyone -- especially children -- experience an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. In the course of a year, we provide more than 3,000 children, ages 6 weeks through Pre-K with high-quality literacy and STEAM-infused learning; give 58,000 youth and teens access to sports, aquatics, day and resident camps, teen leadership development programs, and employment opportunities; provide over 200,000 members with programs, services, and facilities to enjoy connection and maintain wellness regardless of age; and engage over 25,000 volunteers and donors from across Atlanta to share in the gift of supporting their communities.

The opportunities to serve are vast, and we’re looking for a diverse mix of people, who share our values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY, to join us and do their best work. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our people, our members, and our partners. We are fully focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other wonderful characteristics that make us different.

Commitment to Health and Safety

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination requirement for all Full-Time positions. For further information, please visit our Vaccine Hub, or speak to your recruiter. Reasonable accommodations for medical and religious objections will be considered.

Nature and Scope:

Under the direction of the Center Director, Assistant Director & Education Manager the Preschool Lead Teacher is responsible for the delivery of a high-quality educational experience for the children and families under his/her care. Must implement the program based on the programs goal and objectives. All decisions must be guided by the YMCA, Bright from the Start licensing, and Quality Rated. Parent involvement is critical to the impact and success of the overall program.

Ongoing Responsibilities:

Ensure School Readiness/Academic Instruction:

• Utilize the curriculum goals and objectives to develop lesson plans to support the early learning standards and include educational experiences in Language/Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Creative (Music, Art and Drama), Social & Emotional, and Physical Development.
• Develop individual relationships with children by providing care that is responsive attentive, consistent, comforting, supportive, and culturally sensitive.
• Create activities that relate to the weekly studies and extend on what they know about each student’s interest and their families.
• Implement family style meals, sit and eat with children, and engage them in conversation.
• Maintain compliance with the Y’s Way to the Creative Curriculum goals and objectives.
• Arrange the learning environment to support learning content areas and ITERS and ECERS criteria.

Empower Healthy Living/Health & Safety

• Design an environment that protects children’s Health and Safety at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that all Physical Hazards are always inaccessible to students.
• Create an environment that prevents challenging or disruptive behaviors through – classroom strategies/designs, effective transitions and engaging activities.
• Use positive redirection to address inappropriate behaviors. Behavior charts cannot be displayed in Pre-K classrooms. No employee can use any form of corporal punishment as a method of discipline. Any violation will be grounds for automatic termination. Teachers are mandated reporters and are required by law to report the witnessing of inappropriate discipline or knowledge of child abuse.
• Provides adequate supervision as defined by BFTS, Quality Rated, and the YMCA of children during all activities (indoors & outdoors) as well as during all times when children are under their direct care. Any lack of supervision that results in an injury of a student can be grounds for immediate termination.
• Must obtain First Aid/CPR & 10 hour Health & Safety Orientation (BFTS) within 30 days of hire and maintain the certification.
• Follows and teaches health practices relating to Hand-washing and Basic Hygiene Practices.
• Complete Incident Reports and to follow the required documentation steps and protocol in reporting the incident to the Directors and families immediately.

Assessments and Evaluations:

• Maintain assessment records to meet GOLD guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, following the schools Assessment Timeline for evaluation of each student development and organization of student portfolios.
• Provide updates regarding each student’s development during parent/teacher conferences. These conferences must be held at a minimum of two times per school term and any additional conferences, as required. These conferences shall contain positive and developmental information rather than reports of behavior related incidents and child’s areas of concerns.
• Conduct Brigance screenings for all students within the timelines given.

Family and Volunteer Engagement:

• Teachers use a variety of formal and informal strategies to become acquainted with and learn from families about their family culture and structure.
• Teachers and families work together to plan activities for student and teachers strongly encourage family involvement during all branch activities and events.
• Recruits volunteers and In-kind Contributions to support program goals.

Professional Development:

• Teachers evaluate and improve their own performance based on ongoing reflection and feedback from supervisor, peers and families. Teachers develop a staff development plan with their supervision.
• Utilize planning time to develop lesson plans and other task to support the overall program goals.
• Commit to an agreed upon work schedule and is flexible, if needed to adjust hours with little notice.
• Attends Pre-service, In-service and any special training sessions required by the program.
• Teachers must to be prepared to meet all Partnership Training Requirements which include Rollins Center, PCA Start for Life.
• Perform other duties as related to the delivery of a quality program.

COVID-19 Expectations:

• Complete daily “pre-screen” on Workday prior to arriving.
• Temperature check will be assessed at arrival, noon & departure each shift worked.
• Masks must always be worn during the day.
• Gloves are needed when changing diapers & mealtime. Must change gloves in between each child.
• Sanitizing all toys/chairs/door handles frequently after each use.
• Ensuring all children & staff are maintaining social distancing guidelines throughout the building.
• Provide each child with their own set of materials to reduce the spread of germs.
• Open & closing shift- all tables & counters wiped down.
• Will follow best practices set forth by BFTS, CDC and YMCA of Metro Atlanta cleaning, sanitizing, and social distancing policies.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must possess a CDA, AA degree in Early Childhood Education or higher credential.
• Have at least 2 years of experience working with children younger than five in a state licensed center. NAEYC or Quality Rated experience a plus
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Must submit a cleared GCIC and NCIC before working.
• TB screening and a Physical must be submitted before working. Do these still apply?

Ergonomic Requirements: Bending, stooping, standing, lifting up to 40 pounds, seeing, verbal communication and hearing. Annual TB and Physical results submitted.

Effect of end Result:

Children and Families will experience a high-quality pre-school program. Children will be supervised at all times. Staff will comply with all rules and regulations of BFTS, Quality Rated, and the YMCA. The program will remain in compliance at all times with Bright from the Start and all polices that are set forth by YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

COMPETENCIES – Team Leader

Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Y’s values; ensures a high level of service with a commitment to improving lives through wellness initiatives; seeks and supervises volunteers; cultivates relationships to support fundraising (may be responsible for team or division).

Collaboration: Champions inclusion; builds relationships to create small communities; practices active non-evaluative listening skills, communicates for understanding; and able to empathetically manage conflict when it occurs; provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.

Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with framework for making decisions; conducts pilots for new programs; develops plans and manages best practices

through engagement of the staff team; effectively manages budgets; holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.

Personal Growth: Shares new insights and trends; facilitates change and models adaptability; utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues or inappropriate performance or behavior.

EFFECT ON END RESULT:

In partnership with the Association’s resource office, the Y will be seen as an advocate for community development and progress. The Y Executive Director will be known as an ambassador for strong kids, strong families and communities. The goals of the organization are centered on the YMCA Association standards. The Branch will maintain high quality management in its program delivery and membership involvement assuring sound fiscal management and needs are met to further grow the organization. The Board, staff, volunteers and members will understand the Y as a cause related organization that is mission driven and values-centered.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• ECE: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• CPR Certification (Preferred)
• Must possess a CDA, AA degree in ECE credential (Required)

Work Location: In person