Summer Teacher Assistant

Kings Bay Y•Brooklyn, NY

3h•Onsite

About The Position

A Summer Teacher Assistant at Kings Bay Y / JCC Brooklyn supports our preschool classrooms during an 8-week summer program. This position involves supervising and engaging with young children when the regular teacher is unavailable—whether due to illness, time off, or during daily transitions. The assistant helps maintain a warm, safe, and consistent classroom environment and may be asked to step in on short notice, including same-day assignments. This is a seasonal, flexible role ideal for someone who enjoys working with young children and is available to work between late June and late August.

Requirements

College credits in Early Childhood Education (at least 1 year) or Substitute certificate.
Experience in leading and instructing childcare students – at least 1 year.
Strong English verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to adapt plans to specific classrooms.
Flexibility and critical-thinking skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Follow lesson plans provided by the Regular Teacher.
Be able to lift, carry, and hold children, to stop and bend to a child’s level and stand for long periods throughout the day.
Encourage student participation, minimize distractions, and maintain a positive learning environment while Regular Teacher is absent.
Track attendance, collect homework and provide general supervision during class periods.
Work with students individually or as a group/adapt teaching methods to fit the needs of each individual student and to keep up with the regular curriculum.
Manage and instruct the class effectively from roll call to tidying up the classroom after the students have left.
Supervise students in and out of the classroom, including in the halls, on the playground.
For long-term substitutes: develop lesson plans and assignments consistent with the Regular Teacher’s past lesson plans.
Communicate daily and meet weekly in the classroom with your head teacher.
Accept guidance where needed and assist the head teacher in supervising and assessing student teachers assigned to the classroom.