Pinnacle Academy Y Club - Child Care Assistant Teacher - YMCA

YMCA of Greater Cleveland Recruitment Team • Euclid, OH

100d

About The Position

The Child Care Assistant Teacher provides direct supervision to children in licensed Before and Afterschool Enrichment or Early Learning programs. The role builds positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, supports youth development, and facilitates peer connections. The Assistant Teacher helps create a safe, engaging, inclusive learning environment, supports developmentally appropriate curriculum and weekly lesson plans, and promotes the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of children and youth. The position also supports family engagement, child safety and wellness, observation and assessment, and professional teaching practices. Other duties may be assigned.

The role requires working with children and families from varied cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality, following health and safety requirements, and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect as mandated by law. The position may involve work at other program locations, outdoor work and inclement weather, moderate to noisy conditions, and physical activity throughout the shift.

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 and cause and ability to uphold its values and ethics.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Willingness and ability to serve as a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse and neglect and follow the required reporting process.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, reach, stoop, kneel, bend, instruct others, and monitor swimming in shallow water for the duration of a shift.
• Ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels and receive detailed information through oral communication.
• Close visual acuity for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and reading extensively.
• 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

• Identify and respond to differences in children's personalities, temperaments, development, learning styles, and cultures.
• Promote children's growth and development using appropriate services and resources.
• Support developmentally appropriate learning environments and curriculum implementation.
• Provide an engaging, physically and emotionally safe, inclusive environment for play, exploration, and learning.
• Help children develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical motor skills, and guide them in expressing feelings and asserting themselves appropriately.
• Support the diverse needs, abilities, and interests of program participants.
• Recognize children as individuals who develop at their own pace, maintain confidentiality of observation and assessment information, and assist with gathering information about their growth, development, and learning.
• Provide a supportive environment and individual guidance that helps children practice appropriate behaviors.
• Encourage active participation, build relationships while respecting cultural and ability differences, and foster critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and goal-setting skills.
• Maintain appropriate emotional and physical boundaries between children, youth, and adults.
• Communicate respectfully with families and develop open, friendly, cooperative relationships with them.
• Contribute to positive relationships between the school and afterschool program.
• Follow health and safety regulations and policies; identify, document, and report suspected child abuse and neglect as required by law.
• 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 professional 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 many local businesses.
• 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