Early Learning Teacher Assistant

As a thought-leader and best-in-class provider in education, wellness, youth development, and community-building, The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is one of the oldest and most essential non-profits serving in Atlanta. Today, we’re looking for you to join us as we carry out our mission to positively impact lives and communities across the state. 

At the Y, we’re an association of like-minded people (staff, volunteers, and members), on the forefront of a movement to ensure that everyone -- especially children -- experience an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. In the course of a year, we provide more than 3,000 children, ages 6 weeks through Pre-K with high-quality literacy and STEAM-infused learning; give 58,000 youth and teens access to sports, aquatics, day and resident camps, teen leadership development programs, and employment opportunities; provide over 200,000 members with programs, services, and facilities to enjoy connection and maintain wellness regardless of age; and engage over 25,000 volunteers and donors from across Atlanta to share in the gift of supporting their communities.

 

Nature and Scope:

Under the direction of the Center Director, and Early Head Start Lead Teacher, the Early Learning Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting in the delivery of a high-quality educational experience for the children and families under his/her care. Must implement the program based on the programs goal and objectives. All decisions must be guided by the YMCA, Bright from the Start licensing, and Quality Rated.  Parent involvement is critical to the impact and success of the overall program.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age.

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.

• Have at least 2 years of experience working with children younger than five in a state licensed center. NAEYC or Quality Rated experience a plus.

• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.

Ongoing Responsibilities:

Ensure School Readiness/Academic Instruction:

• Utilize the curriculum goals and objectives to develop lesson plans to support the early learning standards and include educational experiences in Language/Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Creative (Music, Art and Drama), Social & Emotional, and Physical Development.

• Create activities that relate to the weekly studies and extend on what they know about each student’s interest and their families.

• Implement family style meals, sit and eat with children, and engage them in conversation.

• Maintain compliance with the Y’s Way to the Creative Curriculum goals and objectives.

• Arrange the learning environment to support learning content areas and ITERS and ECERS criteria.

Empower Healthy Living/Health & Safety:

• Design an environment that protects children’s Health and Safety at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that all Physical Hazards are always inaccessible to students.

• Create an environment that prevents challenging or disruptive behaviors through – classroom strategies/designs, effective transitions and engaging activities.

• Use positive redirection to address inappropriate behaviors. Behavior charts cannot be displayed in Pre-K classrooms. No employee can use any form of corporal punishment as a method of discipline. Any violation will be grounds for automatic termination. Teachers are mandated reporters and are required by law to report the witnessing of inappropriate discipline or knowledge of child abuse.

• Provides adequate supervision as defined by BFTS, Quality Rated, and the YMCA of children during all activities (indoors & outdoors) as well as during all times when children are under their direct care. Any lack of supervision that results in an injury of a student can be grounds for immediate termination.

• Must obtain First Aid/CPR & 10-hour Health & Safety Orientation (BFTS) within 30 days of hire and maintain the certification.

• Follows and teaches health practices relating to Hand-washing and Basic Hygiene Practices.

• Utilizes developmentally appropriate feeding, toileting, cleaning and health care practices for infant and toddlers.

• Complete Incident Reports and to follow the required documentation steps and protocol in reporting the incident to the Directors and families immediately.

Assessments and Evaluations:

• Maintain assessment records to meet GOLD guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, following the schools Assessment Timeline for evaluation of each student development and organization of student portfolios.

• Provide updates regarding each student’s development during parent/teacher conferences. These conferences must be held at a minimum of two times per school term and any additional conferences, as required. These conferences shall contain positive and developmental information rather than reports of behavior related incidents and child’s areas of concerns.

• Conduct Brigance screenings for all students within the timelines given.

Family and Volunteer Engagement:

• Teachers use a variety of formal and informal strategies to become acquainted with and learn from families about their family culture and structure.

• Teachers and families work together to plan activities for student and teachers strongly encourage family involvement during all branch activities and events.

• Recruits volunteers and In-kind Contributions to support program goals.

Professional Development:

• Teachers evaluate and improve their own performance based on ongoing reflection and feedback from supervisor, peers and families. Teachers develop a staff development plan with their supervision.

• Utilize planning time to develop lesson plans and other task to support the overall program goals.

• Commit to an agreed upon work schedule and is flexible, if needed to adjust hours with little notice.

• Attends Pre-service, In-service and any special training sessions required by the program.

• Teachers must to be prepared to meet all Partnership Training Requirements which include Rollins Center, PCA Start for Life.

• Perform other duties as related to the delivery of a quality program.

Employment and Benefits package for this job posting is offered through the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.

Employment Requirement: 

• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check including Criminal Record check, Drug Screening, motor vehicle record (MVR) and reference check according to company policy.

• Must be legally eligible to work in the US without current or future sponsorship.

This job posting is subject to change at any time.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta offers excellent benefits and career opportunities as part of our culture of excellence. The opportunities to serve are vast, and we’re looking for like minded people, who share our values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY to join us and do their best work.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

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