Preschool Assistant Teacher - Lincoln County Family YMCA

YMCA of Catawba Valley•Lincolnton, NC

22h•$13 - $15

About The Position

The Preschool Assistant Teacher supports the lead teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children. The role assists with classroom management, lesson implementation, and daily supervision to promote children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. The Assistant Teacher works collaboratively with the preschool team to support a high-quality program aligned with YMCA values and early childhood best practices. Candidates should be available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. This announcement describes representative essential job functions and typical criteria, and is not intended to include every function, responsibility, or qualification. All YMCA staff are responsible for creating a safe, inclusive environment by following YMCA abuse-prevention policies and procedures, immediately reporting concerns or incidents, and maintaining appropriate boundaries with youth and members. YMCA team members are expected to maintain current and active status for all safety, risk, and programming certifications defined by the YMCA of Catawba Valley.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for engaging with children, families, and coworkers.
Ability to implement positive behavior management strategies and support children’s social-emotional growth.
Patience, enthusiasm, and a passion for working with young children.
Commitment to following YMCA policies, state childcare regulations, and early learning best practices.
Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs., bend, kneel, and engage in hands-on activities.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, supporting the lead teacher and other staff.
Maintain current and active status for all safety, risk, and programming certifications defined by the YMCA of Catawba Valley.

Nice To Haves

Coursework in Early Childhood Education.
Previous experience working with young children in a childcare, preschool, or educational setting.

Responsibilities

Support the preschool teacher in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans and activities.
Supervise and interact with children to promote a positive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment.
Assist with classroom management and ensure children’s safety, well-being, and active participation.
Help with daily routines, including mealtimes, rest periods, toileting, and transitions between activities.
Encourage social-emotional growth by modeling positive behaviors and reinforcing YMCA core values.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom environment in accordance with health and safety regulations.
Communicate with families and staff, providing updates on children’s progress and classroom activities.
Monitor children’s development and behavior and report concerns to the lead teacher or preschool director.
Assist with classroom setup and cleanup and maintain materials and supplies.
Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development.
Perform other duties and tasks as assigned by leadership.
Follow YMCA policies and procedures related to abuse prevention, promptly report concerns or incidents, and maintain appropriate boundaries with youth and members.