Job Title: Assistant Teacher

Reports to: Daycare Director

Work Location: Early Learning Center at North Area Family YMCA

FLSA: Non-exempt – Full-Time

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 9 am - 6 pm

Salary Range: $15.00/hour

A Career with a Cause:

We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and grow. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

Our purpose is to strengthen the foundations of communities and families through our key areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We are committed to these causes because a strong community is achieved when we invest in our children, health, neighbors, and values. Historically founded on the Christian principles of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility; our mission is to put these principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

We are for ALL.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement | YMCA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK (ymcacny.org) (https://www.ymcacny.org/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-statement)

Position Summary:

This position supports the mission and work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization. Under the guidance of the Program Coordinator and the Head Teacher, the Assistant Teacher is responsible for the direct supervision, teaching and safety of the children at all times. The position requires the ability to implement quality children’s programs that are developmentally age appropriate. The Assistant Teacher assures the well-being for each participant in line with YMCA of the USA guidelines and association policies in accordance with their training.

Salary and Benefits:

• $15.00/hour Full-Time- Non-exempt

• YMCA Family Membership

• YMCA Retirement Fund Contribution: 12% (Y-10%; employee-2%)

• Health Insurance (2 plans with significant employer contribution for employee’s premium)

• Personal Time, Vacation, New York State Paid Sick Leave, and 12 Paid Holidays

YMCA Leadership Competencies:

• Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence

• Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment

• Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations

Experience, Education, and Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma. With some experience working with children.

NYS Office of Children and Family Services Requirements:

• Prior to assignment to initial position, the incumbent will:

• Complete an initial medical statement and tuberculin test providing satisfactory evidence that they are physically fit to provide child day care.

• Within the first 30-days of employment, the incumbent will:

• Undergo fingerprint and background screening as mandated by the NYS OCFS.

• Obtain clearance on the State Central Register (SCR) and Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCL).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Professionalism

• Be aware and adhere to New York State Department of Children and Family Services child day care regulations.

• Become well versed in the YMCA’s philosophy, policies, and procedures. Work with other staff members to promote and enhance program philosophy and goals.

• Comply with all Association and branch specific policies and procedures.

• Respect and maintain the need for confidentiality in all matters relating to children, families, staff, and center business.

• Use a problem solving approach to confront and solve problems and sources of conflict calmly, without resorting to punishment (of children), yelling violence, or gossip

• Serve as a role model for parents, volunteers, children, and other staff members.

• Participate in recommended training programs, staff meeting, and in-service sessions.

• Report to working area at scheduled time.

Early Childhood Programming

• Maintain an organized classroom environment and establish methods for advance preparation of materials as need in accordance with the centers philosophy and goals.

• Follow chain of command when addressing daily programming problems, changes in children’s behavior, and concerns shared by parents. This should occur on a regular basis and before developing a plan of action to resolve the problem.

• Whenever there is a suspicion of child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment in any form, the Director must be notified immediately.

• Recognize and allow for individual differences in development and cultural background when planning for learning experiences. Plan for individual needs and maintain evidence of planning and goals for each child.

• Demonstrate awareness of the programming needs of the Center as a whole by cooperating with the entire staff in sharing and caring for the equipment and supplies and communicating with concerns.

• Follow procedures when closing the center and perform duties as assigned on the closers’ checklist.

Leadership

• Share pertinent information or concerns about individual children with team members and identify possible solutions as a team.

• Parent Relationship Building

• Develop an effective partnership based on mutual trust and respect.

• Greet parents directly on arrival to ensure a warm transition to the Center.

• Maintain ongoing communication with parents, sharing all pertinent information about the children’s progress, accidents, or illness at the center via written daily reports and oral communication.

Organizing the Environment

• Maintain an attractive, orderly environment conductive to children’s development.

• Create a warm atmosphere that welcomes children, parents, and visitors.

• Consider the environment from the child’s perspective, posting visual displays at child’s eye level and sitting, kneeling, or squatting to interact with children at their level.

• Be aware and adhere to all safety and health procedures of the Center (i.e. wearing gloves for food handling, diaper changing, bodily fluid clean up etc.).

• Remove unsafe furniture or equipment and request new materials or repairs as needed.

• Assist in caring for equipment and supplies and maintain organization of storage areas and cabinets.

• Implement a positive approach to discipline that preserves and maintains feelings of dignity and self-respect, utilizing techniques outlined in the Center’s discipline policy.

• Other duties as assigned.

Housekeeping and Maintenance

• Be aware of and adhere to New York State Department of Health regulations

• Ensure that all facilities, program areas and equipment are clean and in proper working order.

• Loading and unloading the dishwasher as needed.

• Cleaning the refrigerator as needed.

• Children’s cots wiped down with disinfectant one time a week or as needed if ill.

• Toys: immediate disinfecting of toys used for teething or mouthing

• Routine disinfecting of small toys 1 time a week

• Routine disinfecting of large toys 1 time daily

• Any classroom with a child who is sent home or is absent due to a contagious illness must take all cleaning precautions to prevent spread of illness immediately.

Other Requirements

• Responsible for doing the weekly shopping for program supplies and snacks.

• Maintain warm, positive, and supportive relationships with children and adults.

• Show ability to follow written and oral instruction.

• Function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity and the ability to work as a team.

• Comply with licensing regulation to complete all necessary training, bi-annual physical, and TB test.

• Must be free from contagious illness and maintain a satisfactory level of activity throughout the day.

• Minimize the waste of supplies, misuse of equipment, and maltreatment of any kind by children and adults.

• Must be familiar with all information in the parent handbook and follow through with all policies written therein.

• Assist in serving the meals to the children, family style, and adhere to nutritional guidelines for food allotments.

• Appropriate use of time, by giving proper timely notification to Director/Program Coordinator.

Certifications:

• Must obtain a copy of High School Diploma; or,

• If a College Degree program(s) has been completed, an official transcript(s) form will be required and a copy of all College Diploma(s) obtained.

• If CPR/MAT Certified, a copy of the card must be obtained.

Physical Demands:

Ability to frequently sit, use his/her hands and fingers, stand, walk, reach, climb, balance, stoop, crouch, kneel and climb. Ability to lift and/or carry and move up to 35 pounds (occasionally this could be more). Specific vision abilities required close, color, distance, peripheral, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Duties are performed in a child care setting, at times child care employees may be exposed to undesirable working conditions, communicable infectious diseases, and the risk of injury from children. All child care employees are required to follow the preventive health policies of the Center at all times. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to above average.