Inspire the leaders of tomorrow.

The Assistant Teacher in collaboration with the Lead Teacher provides support in effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning, assessment, evaluation and related research for children 3-5 years old. The Assistant Teacher is responsible for providing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, supervision of children assigned in the classroom, and providing a supportive and positive classroom climate, while ensuring the individual needs of the children are met as mandated by DCFS, ExceleRate Illinois, NAEYC, federal, state and local standards, as applicable.

Earn a $300 signing bonus 30 days after your start date as an active Y employee!

What you’ll do:

• Promotes and models high quality teaching and learning in the classroom that fosters academic readiness.
• Demonstrates culturally and linguistically appropriate practices that values all children and families and makes them feel welcomed and an essential part of the program
• Maintains awareness and supervision of children’s needs and ensure their physical health and safety, at all times.
• Assists with communicating and developing effective partnerships with parents and families, encouraging parent involvement.
• Abides by DCFS and all quality standards for maintaining safe, high quality programming
• Collaborates regularly with classroom team including: families, volunteers and all staff.
• Assists with collecting and using multiple data sources, both formative and summative, to inform instruction and child centered learning and development.
• Assists with completing routine professional development annually; utilizes continuous quality improvement (CQI); and identifies different instructional resources and methods to meet children's varying needs and improve the classroom experience for children and families.
• Participates and supports association/center efforts towards recruitment, enrollment, attendance and retention of families while supporting the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.

Lesson Planning and Classroom Management

• Collaborates with the Lead Teacher to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in implementation of high quality, developmentally appropriate instructional activities and curriculum approaches (like Creative Curriculum™) that facilitate active learning experiences and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child; while ensuring the program follows DCFS, YMCA, ExceleRate Illinois™, and NAEYC accreditation standards, if applicable.
• Takes the lead in absence of the lead teacher.
• With the support of the Lead Teacher, uses observational and child data to assist in planning developmentally appropriate and 2 YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago engaging early learning experiences based upon the emergent needs of the child.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in leveraging the physical environment and pedagogical documentation to support teaching and learning practices.
• Supports and implements planned studies/projects for an in-depth investigation of a topic over time.
• Establishes and maintains an attractive, clean, safe and engaging classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques and that encourages children's independence and self-selection of activities.
• Assists with classroom management, arrangement, organization, and labeling materials.
• Assists with completion of classroom inventory quarterly; and the selection of materials and equipment to support instruction and children’s learning using environmental assessments to guide decisions.

Child Abuse Prevention

Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• 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 Vaccine Policy

We’re committed to the health and wellness of our employees, members, program participants, and those most vulnerable. If hired by the YMCA, you will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination no later thantwo (2) days prior to your start date, unless an exemption for a medical condition or sincerely-held religious beliefs is granted.

How you’ll do it:

• Must meet DCFS licensing, and program related accreditation/credentialing requirements; Associates Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education preferred
• Must provide documentation of Gateways credentialing or apply within 90 days of 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
• Assist with the application of early learning best practices to create a child-centered, supportive, inclusive and positive classroom environment to meet the needs of diverse children.

Be a part of our mission.

The mission of the YMCA of Metro Chicago is to develop strong children, families and communities across Metropolitan Chicago through academic readiness, character development, violence prevention, fitness and healthy living. We rely on the expertise, passion, commitment and energy of our teachers and other team members to help us achieve our mission one child, one family, and one team member at a time.

Our early learning create a child-centered environment that promotes learning, character development, healthy living and positive, nurturing relationships. With a commitment to meeting accreditation standards and extensive training and development in research-based practices, you’ll also learn and grow and positively impact our children, families and communities.