Preschool Lead Teacher

The YMCA Early Learning Center at Millworks (on the Bellingham waterfront) is currently seeking a Lead Preschool Teacher to run and oversee our Preschool 2 classroom full time, Monday-Friday 8-4:30.  Our Preschool 2 classroom is home to up to 20 children, ages 3-4, with 2-3 full time teachers.  This age group is very funny and so imaginative, learning to interact with peers, regulate emotions, and build skills necessary for lifelong learning!  This position requires a fair amount of knowledge of this age group, management strategies, planning and conducting engaging activities for children ages 3-4, and sometimes working with challenging behaviors.  The lead teacher will be in charge of supervising the assistant teachers in the classroom as well - building team morale, communication about activities, feedback on interactions, and so on.  Ideally we'd like someone who has GROUP experience with children ages 3-5 years old, has experience with structuring classroom schedules and transitions in a developmentally appropriate way, is resilient, dependable, and a team player.  If you have a love for preschool aged children, experience leading groups of children ages 3-5 and a great attitude, we'd LOVE to meet you!

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Lead Preschool Teacher at the Whatcom Family YMCA maintains a supportive, positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals, promotes the potential of all youth, and provides a quality experience to both youth and their families.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises the children, classroom, and all program activities.
• Mentors and directs the focus of the Assistant Teachers.
• Follows all procedures and standards as established by the law or the Y; makes ADA accommodations where appropriate; maintains the program site, equipment, and required program records.
• Create and follow the Preschool daily schedule of activities, transitions, meals, and napping using best practices in early childhood learning and development.
• Works in collaboration with the Director, Program Supervisor and Assistant Teachers to create and engage children in a play-based curriculum, with an emphasis on social-emotional development; and arrange the environment using the ECERS environmental rating scale.
• Creates a positive rapport and shared interest with all youth.
• Provides opportunities for youth to lead, problem-solve, and make decisions and choices within the program and provides daily opportunities for youth to reflect on and respond to their experiences.
• Be comfortable engaging in large motor activities with children such as beginning swimming and rock climbing.
• Collects documentation for use in child assessment and portfolios.
• Provides and welcomes ongoing dialogue with parents and caregivers about their childs needs and progress; connects families to the Y.
• Attends and participates in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff training.
• Completes and records daily cleaning list, consistently cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing classroom materials and surfaces.
• Administers first aid, completes accident forms, and notifies the Lead Teacher, Program Supervisor, or Director.
• Follows organizations policies and procedures regarding protecting youth from abuse; including screening and selection, training and supervision, and responding to allegations. Communicate to all staff and volunteers the organizations commitment to protect youth from abuse.
• Follows mandated reporting requirements.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:

Everything we do at the YMCA is based on the ideal that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, diverse abilities, age, religion, socioeconomic status or any other statuses or identities. Our work is focused on eliminating barriers to access, eliminating disparities in health, providing educational support, supporting working families, and growing our next generation of change makers for our country.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Engaging Community, Philanthropy

Building Relationships: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, Inclusion

Leading Operations: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Functional Expertise, Innovation, Program/Project Management

Developing & Inspiring People: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must be 18 years of age or older and a high school graduate (or equivalent).
2. Previous experience working with children in a developmental setting preferred.
3. Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
4. Previous experience with diverse populations. Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
5. Current CPR (Adult, Infant & Child) and First Aid, AED certifications.
6. Complete Praesidium Child Abuse prevention training within 15 days of hire.
7. STARS 30 Hour Childcare Basic Training (required in the first 30 days of hire)
8. Must have or be in the process of obtaining the following:

___ Negative TB Test

___ HIV/Bloodborne Pathogen training

___ Safe Sleep                          

___ MERIT ID account 

___ Food Handlers Card  

___ Cleared Portable Background Check from MERIT

___ MMR Immunization Record

      9. Willingness to obtain the ECE initial certificate or equivalent (approximately 12 credits).

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise program activities.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Salary : $22 - $23