Assistant Teacher

OUR CULTURE: At the YMCA of Montclair, we strive to be the Employer of Choice, provide World-Class Service, and be the Charity of Choice.

Job Description

The Early Childhood Assistant Teacher serves as a member of the Montclair Y staff team and therefore should maintain the qualifications for assistant teacher status as listed in the Department of Child Care Licensing policy and through the Montclair Y’s standards. Under the direction of the Early Childhood Group Teacher, and in harmony with the mission and purpose of the established policies and goals of the Montclair Y, the Early Childhood Assistant Teacher is responsible for assisting the classroom teacher in a variety of instructional, clerical and/or classroom tasks, providing a safe, fun and positive environment for participants. The Assistant Teacher aids in the education, health, welfare and safety of the members enrolled in their classroom and the center as a whole. The Early Childhood Assistant Teacher must demonstrate a commitment to the YMCA’s four Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Must possess a high school degree and 2 years classroom experience as an aide or other suitable experience with children.
• Must enroll at their expense and complete a CDA program within the first year of employment if the incumbent possesses only a high school diploma.
• Must possess, maintain, and renew CPR for the Professional Rescuer, EPI, Asthma and First Aid within 90 days of hire.
• Must have the ability to take charge of a group of children and come up with activities/games in a moment’s notice, if need be.
• Must have stamina and physical flexibility (walking, sitting, standing, bending, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, running, stretching, reaching, climbing, lifting, and carrying up to 50 lbs.) to participate in children's activities and communicate with children face to face.
• Must be able to accompany children up and down stairs in order to supervise activities such as outdoor play, and fire drills.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Greet each child and parent upon arrival.
• Visually scan each child upon arrival and check for illness, disease, or any physical impairment. Note in daily report.
• Demonstrate warmth toward children and set positive example by always using a pleasant and calm speaking voice.
• Comfort children when needed.
• Assist the teacher with the instructional lessons.
• Accompany children (to playground, and exterior of building) to supervise activities such as, outdoor play, and fire drills.
• Must be able to set up cots/mats in classroom.
• Reinforce skills by using puppets, flannel boards, manipulatives etc. on a one-to-one or small group basis.
• Help select appropriate songs and stories.
• Read and sing with class on a daily basis.
• Help supervise fine and gross motor activities indoors and outside.
• Help plan free play activities/afternoon activities.
• Use positive reinforcement.
• Assist children in maintaining proper personal hygiene.
• Help prepare materials for lessons.
• Help prepare learning center and bulletin boards.
• Help with classroom plans and pet care, as needed.
• Assist in serving snacks and meals.
• Help maintain classroom (i.e., cleaning toys twice a week, keeping toys, books, games in an orderly fashion).
• Provide input to teacher about children's progress and record all incidents for teacher’s evaluation.
• Advise teachers, not parents, regarding child's daily problems/concerns.
• Attend all required meetings.
• Help teacher with completion of all classroom records.
• Provide for professional growth by attending workshops and reading.
• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with members, volunteers, staff, and participants.
• Attend required Abuse Risk Management training and adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising members and participants.
• Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations and follow mandated abuse reporting procedures.
• Ensure members, volunteers and vendors are properly signed in and signed out, ensure only authorized employees, members, volunteers, and vendors are allowed in the facility.
• Perform other duties as requested by Teacher and/or designee.
• Be fully aware of the policies of Geyer Early Learning Center and adhere to such guidelines daily.
• Maintain loyalty to the Y, conduct self with professional integrity, respect the confidentiality of families served, and always be an appropriate role model for the children/parents.
• Maintain a safe & healthy environment at all times.
• Risk/Facility Management: All Staff are responsible for assuring the safety of Y members/participants and for the care, maintenance and safety of the all-Y facility/program environments. In addition, all staff are required to report accidents/incidents/emergencies immediately to the Director and/or designer. Staff must also adhere to YMCA confidentiality requirements related to all reported incidents.
• Quality Assurance: All staff are expected to plan, deliver, and maintain quality programs, facilities and program environments. Staff will be expected to follow YMCA best practices for their program/membership discipline and to meet or exceed YMCA of Montclair’s expectations.
• Training/Staff Meetings: Attend all mandatory training staff meetings, risk management training within the specified timeframes. Keep abreast of current trends in facilities and risk management.
  
  

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

• Communication & Influence
• Developing Self & Others
• Functional Expertise
  
  

Required Certifications

• Must enroll at their expense and complete a CDA program within the first year of employment if the incumbent possesses only a high school diploma.
• Must possess, maintain, and renew CPR for the Professional Rescuer, EPI, Asthma and First Aid within 90 days of hire.