BT Southeast Warrensville YMCA - Assistant Teacher

YMCA of Greater Cleveland Recruitment Team • Warrensville Heights, OH

118d

About The Position

The Assistant Teacher provides direct supervision of a group of children in a licensed Before and Afterschool Enrichment or Early Learning program. The role builds positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, supports each child’s potential, and facilitates peer connections.

Assistant Teachers help create safe, inclusive, developmentally appropriate learning environments; support curriculum and weekly lesson plans; guide children’s social and emotional development; and assist with observing and documenting children’s growth and learning. They communicate respectfully with families, support healthy practices, and follow health, safety, and mandated reporting requirements. The position also promotes professionalism and continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 18 years old.
• CPR and First Aid certification and safety training required within 30 days of hire.
• Commitment to the YMCA mission, cause, values, and ethics.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Willingness and ability to act as a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse and neglect and follow the required reporting process.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to perform frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, bending, instructing, and monitoring swimming in shallow water for the duration of a shift.
• Ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels, receive detailed oral information, and distinguish sounds.
• Close visual acuity for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, viewing computer terminals, and extensive reading.
• Ability to express and exchange ideas verbally and convey detailed or important spoken instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience working with children in a licensed child care center.
• Previous experience working with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Recognize and respond to differences in children’s personalities, development, learning styles, and cultures, and support their growth using appropriate resources.
• Support developmentally appropriate learning environments and curriculum implementation.
• Provide a physically and emotionally safe, engaging, and inclusive setting that encourages play, exploration, learning, and development of cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills.
• Guide children in expressing feelings, asserting themselves appropriately, communicating, and getting along with others.
• Support the diverse needs, abilities, interests, and participation styles of children and youth.
• Assist in collecting information about children’s growth, development, and learning, and maintain the confidentiality of observation and assessment information.
• Provide individual guidance and support and help children practice appropriate behaviors.
• Encourage participation and foster critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and goal-setting skills.
• Maintain appropriate emotional and physical boundaries between children, youth, and adults, and value cultural differences in children, youth, and families.
• Communicate respectfully and positively with families and maintain open, friendly, cooperative relationships with them.
• Contribute to positive relationships between schools and the afterschool program.
• Follow health and safety regulations and policies; identify, document, and report suspected child abuse and neglect as required.
• Respond calmly and effectively to crises and maintain safe indoor and outdoor areas.
• Support children’s nutritional needs and healthy eating practices, and model healthy lifestyle practices.
• Support and implement weekly program lesson plans.
• Promote professionalism and improve teaching and learning through appropriate work habits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Free membership to a local YMCA.
• Discounts on YMCA programs, including childcare; part-time positions do not receive the childcare discount.
• Additional employee discounts at businesses in and around town.
• Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits plan including health, dental, and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Plan, retirement contributions of 9% paid by the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, and paid vacation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED