Child Care Teacher Assistant

Summary:
Under the supervision of the Child Care Lead Teacher, assist in providing a learning environment at the newly built child development center that uses developmentally appropriate practices, ensures the health and safety of each child and staff, and offers resources and support to families.

Salary commensurate with experience ($22.74 per hour)

Duties and Responsibilities:
Developmentally Appropriate Practice

• Participate in the on-going assessments of children including completing observations, portfolio sampling, and developmental checklists.
• Support each child's individual learning and development by providing an environment offering developmentally appropriate equipment and materials.
• Be inclusive of children with disabilities by following the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Assist with the implementation of a daily program which balances adult and child-initiated activities in both large and small groups, indoor and outdoor play, and timely and predictable transitions.
• Collaborate with the lead teacher to develop and implement lesson plans based on ELM curriculum.
• Provide opportunities for creative self-expression through art, music, movement, and dramatic play.
• Support the social and emotional development of each child by building trust, fostering independence, encouraging self-confidence, and supporting positive adult and peer relationships.
• Encourage positive guidance by setting clear, consistent limits, and having realistic expectations.
• Support the home language, culture, and family composition of each child by encouraging the feelings and rights of others.

Health, Safety and Nutritional Procedures

• Practice and model the sanitation and hygiene procedures which include but are not limited to hand washing, the cleaning and disinfecting of toys and furniture, and providing children with space to place personal belongings.
• Comply with policies regarding blood borne pathogens to adequately protect children and staff.
• Assist lead teacher with maintaining accurate emergency contact information.
• Follow the policies regarding temporary exclusion and physician notification of diagnosis.
• Practice the policies regarding medication administration and storage.
• Provide an indoor and outdoor environment supervised in accordance with Child Care Administration licensing regulations and free of environmental and physical hazards.
• Comply with the agencies approved Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting policy.
• Complete daily attendance records when requested by the Child Care Lead Teacher or in their absence.
• Respond to emergency situations by implementing emergency preparedness procedures.
• Assist in the nutritional aspects of the program by assisting children with “family style” meals, sitting with children during designated mealtimes, and appropriately scheduling meals into the daily schedule.
• Serve all food that is on the planned menu, unless directed otherwise.
• Serve purchased food replacements for children with specific and physician documented dietary needs.

Staff and Parent Responsibilities

• Follow the ELM curriculum.
• Assist the lead teacher in making timely requisitions for health, safety, and classroom supplies.
• Provide adequate coverage in your absence for all approved leave, which includes personal days and advanced scheduled sick leave.
• Attending all scheduled staff development days and any additional training sessions. 
• Attending all staff meetings.
• Invite parents to become an integral part of the program.
• Assist the childcare lead teacher in completing two parent and teacher conferences throughout the year.
• Assist parents with transitioning from one classroom to another or from the Child Development Center to kindergarten.
• Communicate with parents regularly, verbally and non-verbally.
• Assist with the preparation of home learning activities.
• Communicate in a professional and respectful manner with parents and guardians.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Must have all required education and experience to meet current Virginia State licensing requirements for qualifications.  
• Must have knowledge of childcare regulations. 
• Must participate in continued professional development through enrollment in formal and informal educational courses related to early childhood education.
• Must satisfactorily obtain or complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by federal, state or National Accreditation institutions as used by the CDC.
• Must pass Federal, State, Child Protective Services Checks, National Sex Offender Registry and if living out of the State of Virginia in the last 5 years all applicable Out if State checks applicable.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
• Must be familiar with accreditation standards. 
• Preferred to have experience with military families and their children
• Required to do considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, standing, and lifting to 40 pounds.

Education
**Must provide a copy of your H.S Diploma, GED or College Transcripts (Showing degree awarded/conferred) when you apply**

Compensation and Benefits:

• Sign-on Bonus: Eligible candidates will receive a $500 sign-on bonus upon hire.

• Retention Bonus: Earn up to $1750 in retention bonuses, distributed over key employment milestones as part of our commitment to employee satisfaction an longevity.

Armed Service YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.  ASYMCA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws of regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. ASYMCA encourages applicants of all ages.
 

Military spouses, veterans and military affiliated job seekers encouraged to apply.

Armed Services YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ASYMCA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. ASYMCA encourages applicants of all ages.

Armed Services YMCA acknowledges the minimal use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in our initial recruitment stages. All AI use is coupled with human review and is designed to assist our team in building efficiencies and excelling at focusing on timeliness and communication in our hiring process. Our hiring teams thoroughly evaluate skills and qualifications and make all final hiring decisions.