Early Childhood Teacher Associate

Greater Burlington YMCA • Burlington, VT

3d • $22 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

Why You'll Love Working with Us:
Do you love working with children, creating a warm and nurturing space where they feel safe, loved, and ready to explore? At the Y, we value early childhood professionals and provide the support and benefits you deserve.
Competitive Pay – Earn $22.00-$24.20/hour based on your experience and qualifications.
Professional Development – Enjoy 8 in-service days dedicated to training, team meetings, and curriculum planning.
Time Off – Get 14.5 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of Paid Time Off in your first year.
Balanced Workload – One dedicated planning day each week.
Y Perks – Free YMCA membership and discounts on programs and camps.
Health Coverage – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
Loan Forgiveness – Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Growth Opportunities – Ongoing professional development and career advancement.
The City is Our Playground – Our location in the heart of Burlington means children get hands-on learning experiences exploring the waterfront, beaches, woods, and Church Street.
About Our Center:
At the Greater Burlington YMCA, we offer a play-based, emergent curriculum driven by each child’s natural curiosity and interests. With locations in both Burlington and Winooski, our early childhood programs celebrate the unique identities of children and families, nurturing social-emotional growth through meaningful play and authentic connections. At the Y, we:
Support Social/Emotional Growth
Celebrate Diversity
Foster Curiosity
Strive to Inspire and be Inspired
What You'll Do:
Develop and implement a curriculum that supports the growth of each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
Plan and lead weekly classroom activities and routines with your teaching team.
Build strong, respectful relationships with families and communicate regularly about their child’s development.
Supervise and actively engage in all classroom, outdoor, and special activities like gym, swim, and field trips.
Maintain accurate records, contribute to assessments, and support licensing requirements.
Help keep the classroom safe, clean, and organized.
Participate in team meetings, professional development, and family engagement events.
Uphold the Y’s values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility in all interactions.
Support a positive team culture and contribute to a nurturing, inclusive learning environment.

Requirements

• Must be at least 20 years of age or older
• One year of experience working with children
• Must possess one of the following
• Associates degree with major or concentration in Early Childhood, Human Development, Elementary Education or Child and Family Services
• Certificate of completion from the Registered Child Care Apprenticeship Program
• Completion of the Child Care Certificate from the Community College of Vermont
• Successful completion of twenty-one college credits with an early childhood or school age focus.
• IIIA or IIIB Career Ladder
• Ability to pass a federal background check and state fingerprinting

Nice To Haves

• Full-time experience working with children or youth in an educational, recreational, or programmatic setting, with milestones recognized at 2, 5, 10, and 15+ years.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in any field.
• Coursework or certification in special education or behavioral intervention.
• 2+ years of direct full-time experience in special education or behavioral intervention.
• Formal training or certification experience in trauma-informed care, basic specialized care, or social work. Including completion of professional development or coursework in trauma-informed practices.
• Completion of DEI-specific training, coursework, or certification, with a minimum of 40 hours or the equivalent of a college course.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a curriculum that supports the growth of each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
• Plan and lead weekly classroom activities and routines with your teaching team.
• Build strong, respectful relationships with families and communicate regularly about their child’s development.
• Supervise and actively engage in all classroom, outdoor, and special activities like gym, swim, and field trips.
• Maintain accurate records, contribute to assessments, and support licensing requirements.
• Help keep the classroom safe, clean, and organized.
• Participate in team meetings, professional development, and family engagement events.
• Uphold the Y’s values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility in all interactions.
• Support a positive team culture and contribute to a nurturing, inclusive learning environment.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay – Earn $22.00-$24.20/hour based on your experience and qualifications.
• Professional Development – Enjoy 8 in-service days dedicated to training, team meetings, and curriculum planning.
• Time Off – Get 14.5 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of Paid Time Off in your first year.
• Balanced Workload – One dedicated planning day each week.
• Y Perks – Free YMCA membership and discounts on programs and camps.
• Health Coverage – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Loan Forgiveness – Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Growth Opportunities – Ongoing professional development and career advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree