Assistant Teacher, CDL (Internal Only)

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.

Description

The Assistant Teacher at the Berea College Child Development Lab works with the Lead Teacher to organize and maintain a safe and stimulating learning environment for young children. Assistant Teachers are expected to step into the Lead Teacher role during the Lead Teachers? absence. This position is responsible for working collaboratively with the Teacher to plan, implement, and evaluate a daily schedule and the emergent curriculum. Assistant Teachers are responsible for working with the Lead Teacher to model best practices through documentation of children?s development, planning emergent curriculum and implementing such practices. Assistant Teachers are responsible for interacting with families, labor students, college students, and co-workers in a professional manner. Assistant Teachers are expected to adhere to CDL policies and procedures, program philosophy, state childcare regulations, and NAEYC and KY ALLSTARS standards. Assistant Teachers are expected to participate in ongoing professional development and have the disposition of a lifelong learner and researcher. They also share responsibility with the Teacher for routine housekeeping and record keeping tasks in order to meet state licensing regulations and CDL policies and procedures. Assistant Teachers attend staff meetings and work to develop themselves professionally through in-services and workshops.

Your Key Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Engage with children in intentional ways.
• Work with teacher to document play and assess development.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating a daily schedule through an emergent curriculum.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities to involve families in the daily life of the classroom.
• Work collaboratively with families, co-workers, labor students and college students.
• Practice open, respectful communication with families, co-workers, labor students, college students and supervisors at all times.
• Utilize positive guidance strategies and agreed upon best practices.
• Meet regularly with Lead Teacher to develop weekly classroom plans and appropriate curriculum and to confer about classroom issues and concerns.
• In absence of the Lead Teacher, step into leadership position in the classroom.
• Assist in keeping up to date records on attendance, accidents, incidents, etc., in accordance with licensing regulations and program policies.
• Assist in maintaining a portfolio on each child that includes copies of required documents and ongoing documentation and work samples as a record of each child?s development.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in providing constructive feedback to labor and college students.
• Maintain a standard of behavior and confidentiality in all matters in accordance with NAEYC code of ethics.
• Perform housekeeping tasks as necessary, as assigned, and in a timely manner (classroom and indoor and outdoor shared play spaces).
• Attend conferences, in-services, and workshops in order to develop professionally.
• Attend staff meetings and required College training and orientation meetings.
  
  

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

What You'll Bring

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) required
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field strongly preferred
  
  

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Two years related experience (paid and/or supervised experience in childcare or an early childhood education classroom, preferred)
  
  

Special Skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of Kentucky childcare regulations
• Ability to organize and maintain a safe and stimulating learning environment
• Good communication skills
• Ability to receive and follow instructions
• Ability to take the lead in the absence of the Lead Teacher
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers, families, and college students
• Ability to make sound decisions and remain calm during a crisis
  
  

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Ability to meet state licensing requirements
• Complete orientation I & II training and a minimum of 15 hours professional development annually
• Clear criminal background check
• Clear child abuse and neglect check
• Clear TB skin test
• Clear Drug Screen
• Obtain Adult/Infant/Child CPR & First Aid
• Obtain Food Handler Certification
  
  

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift 35 pounds and move swiftly
• Ability to be aware of all children in your care at all times
  
  

Environmental Conditions:

• Work in well-lighted, temperature-controlled building with reasonable space and equipment
• Work with children outdoors in various weather conditions
  
  

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Personal Vehicle
• Laptop Computer
• Printer
  
  

Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 44 states and U.S. territories and more than 60 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides every enrolled student with a fully funded degree that covers 100% of tuition, housing, food, supplies, and fees without loans, for all four years. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only 10 federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus, building professional skills in a real-world learning environment. Washington Monthly ranked Berea College the #1 Best College for your Tuition and Tax Dollars, 2025. Berea also ranks #1 in educational access by The New York Times, 2023 and #1 for lowest educational debt by U.S. News and World Report, 2025 and 2026. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2026.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 17,000) lies 40 miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Our Benefits

Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.

Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time employees who work an average of twenty-four hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.

Our Unique Culture

Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.

Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea

Labor Supervision

In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.