CDC Assistant Teacher

ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC ORPHANS SOCIETY•Louisville, KY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Teacher helps implement daily routines and activities with children under the supervision of the Team Leader and the direction of the Senior Childhood Teacher. The role is flexible: an Assistant Teacher may be assigned to one classroom, a team of classrooms, or substitute as center needs require. Classroom placements may change temporarily at the discretion of center leadership to maintain state ratios, address staffing needs, or meet agency needs. The position supports children’s safety, care, development, and learning; maintains welcoming and orderly classroom and shared spaces; communicates with families and colleagues; and follows center policies, childcare regulations, and CACFP guidelines. The Assistant Teacher also participates in staff development, meetings, and family events, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Appreciates differences in thought and style and responds respectfully to racial, ethnic, and cultural needs.
Recognizes and works to prevent situations that may lead to re-traumatization and supports appropriate mutual self-help among trauma survivors.
Understands the position and demonstrates proficiency in required common and technical knowledge.
Uses an appropriate voice, accounts for clients’ developmental levels, encourages independence and self-help, and reinforces positive behavior.
For direct-care work, can anticipate problems, redirect behavior using positive practices, manage transitions, and develop observation goals.
Communicates and collaborates respectfully and inclusively with colleagues, clients, families, and external stakeholders; supports skill development and maintains trust and healthy boundaries.
Demonstrates professionalism, ethical conduct, accountability, respect, and responsiveness.
Reliably completes work to organizational standards and demonstrates judgment and problem-solving skills.
Creates and maintains a safe, welcoming physical and service environment.
Is consistently punctual, conforms to scheduled work hours, and manages projects, timelines, and team goals without constant oversight.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with children ages 0–5 is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Maintain confidentiality regarding staff, children, families, the Board of Directors, and center operations.
Complete an annual self-assessment using ITERS/ECERS with the Team Leader, review it with the Team Leader and coaches, and set achievable goals based on the results.
Keep children within sight and sound supervision, know their whereabouts and number, verify photo identification and approved-escort status when needed, and complete Name-to-Face attendance checks multiple times daily and during applicable drills or evacuations.
Help maintain a clean, tidy, age-appropriate classroom that supports children’s physical and emotional comfort and educational development.
Follow teacher-provided lesson plans when the Senior Teacher is absent and limit classroom screen time as directed.
Engage children in age-appropriate play and use positive guidance, direction, and encouragement based on Positive Discipline principles.
Monitor children’s development, document behavioral or developmental concerns, and report them to the Senior Teacher or Team Leader.
Greet children and families at arrival and departure, promote trusting relationships, and ensure pertinent information about a child’s day is passed to the responsible staff member.
Complete incident reports for illnesses, injuries, and incidents; notify the Team Leader and, when directed, share relevant incident information with families.
Keep the Team Leader and Senior Teacher informed of problems and urgent matters involving children, staff, families, safety, or licensing compliance.
Help maintain the assigned classroom in keeping with the Center’s unified, clean, Reggio-inspired environment.
Use Center materials and supplies responsibly, safely, and purposefully; return and sanitize materials as applicable; seek guidance about their use or storage; and request supplies at least one week before planned use.
Serve meals and snacks in compliance with CACFP guidelines and Kentucky childcare regulations, and clean and sanitize meal areas afterward.
Know children’s allergies and medical alerts and communicate changes to the Senior Teacher and Team Leader.
Read and respond promptly to CDC leadership communications, including checking email at least weekly and responding to the Director’s weekly email.
Help implement at least one CDC family event per school year; staff are encouraged to work a four-hour CDC shift at the SJCH Annual Picnic in addition to attending a family event.
Obtain required staff development and training; attend CDC department meetings and contribute to decision-making.
Safely evacuate children during emergencies and drills and complete required Name-to-Face counts before, during, and after applicable movements.
Remain flexible about daily classroom placement and accept temporary assignments as directed by center leadership.
Report urgent building maintenance, repair, or custodial needs to the Team Leader and keep classrooms and shared spaces clean, safe, and uncluttered.
Perform other duties as assigned.