Assistant Teacher

YWCA of Binghamton•Binghamton, NY

10d•$18 - $19

About The Position

The Young Wonders Assistant Teacher works in the YWCA of Binghamton & Broome County’s Young Wonders Early Childhood Center, supporting children’s emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development in a culturally inclusive, emotionally safe environment. The role assists the Lead Teacher with implementing a balanced, developmentally appropriate curriculum, using Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum, and helps children build relationships, language, self-regulation, problem-solving, and early learning skills. The Assistant Teacher builds positive relationships and maintains regular communication with families, shares children’s progress, and approaches sensitive topics with empathy and cultural sensitivity. The role helps maintain a welcoming, safe, orderly classroom; supports positive behavior guidance and smooth transitions; follows applicable regulations, policies, emergency procedures, and mandated-reporting responsibilities; maintains records; and ensures children are properly supervised and cared for, including toileting and diapering as needed. The position works cooperatively with teachers and center staff, seeks feedback, participates in professional development, and may serve as the Lead Teacher’s designee. The Assistant Teacher reports to the Lead Teacher on staff, child, family, and program matters; matters needing further assistance may be escalated to the Program Director or Assistant Director, and then to the Executive Director.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Six months of experience working with children under 13 years of age.
Ability to relate joyfully and sensitively to children and parents or guardians.
Ability to pick up a child weighing up to 40 pounds.
Evidence of emotional maturity and stability.
Sufficient security and judgment to handle crisis situations and use supervision constructively.
Physical stamina.
Possess or be willing to obtain certification in Medication Administration, Infant and Child CPR/AED, and Child and Adult First Aid.

Responsibilities

Foster positive relationships and maintain informal and formal communication with parents and families, including sharing student progress and achievements.
Approach sensitive family topics with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism, and provide clear information and resources.
Assist the Lead Teacher in making thoughtful decisions regarding student development.
Help create a culturally inclusive, respectful, warm, safe, orderly, and inviting classroom environment that honors diverse backgrounds and family structures.
Assist in evaluating and adjusting classroom layouts, materials, and resources in alignment with Environment Rating Scales.
Implement tools and strategies that promote structure, routines, self-regulation, and clear expectations.
Use positive discipline techniques endorsed by Conscious Discipline and provide individualized attention as needed.
Build trusting relationships with children and integrate self-regulation and problem-solving strategies into daily activities.
Observe, record, and report significant individual and group behavior; support action plans for children experiencing self-regulation challenges.
Support children through distress or aggression and facilitate transitions into and out of the classroom.
Follow applicable state regulations and YWCA and Young Wonders policies, and understand and follow emergency protocols.
Serve as a mandated reporter and promptly report suspected abuse or maltreatment as required.
Follow structured allergen-prevention protocols, including monitoring during meals, snacks, activities, and events.
Maintain necessary records and files and take appropriate action to protect children’s well-being and safety.
Manage children’s toileting needs, including diaper changes when necessary, and participate in family-style meals that encourage independence.
Maintain proper supervision of children during classroom activities, outdoor time, meals, and transitions, using attendance and safety procedures.
Handle colleague conflicts professionally and work cooperatively with teachers and center staff.
Serve as the Lead Teacher’s designee as needed and maintain consistent attendance and punctuality.
Participate in professional development, staff meetings, in-service training, and conferences; complete at least 15 hours of professional development annually covering all nine OCFS-required training categories.
Supervise, train, and evaluate staff on an ongoing basis in line with developmentally appropriate practice, OCFS regulations, and center policies and procedures.
Maintain a predictable schedule while adapting to children’s needs, school events, and changing circumstances.
Engage in ongoing self-reflection and evaluation using The Core Body of Knowledge.
Implement a program addressing children’s emotional, physical, intellectual, and social needs and reflect and celebrate cultural diversity.
Assist with environmental changes and activities guided by National Association for the Education of Young Children best-practice guidelines.
Create a language-rich environment, use serve-and-return interactions, encourage discussion, and allow children time to respond to open-ended questions.
Use daily, weekly, and monthly lesson plans and individual goals based on The Creative Curriculum by Teaching Strategies, and assist with regular observations of all children.
Prioritize interaction and engagement with children and instruct individuals and groups using methods adapted to their needs and interests.
Perform other tasks or duties required by the job.