Pre-K Lead Teacher

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 Manager, the Pre-K Lead Teacher will successfully lead a team, plan, administer and evaluate Pre-K and Early Learning Services.  This will play a key role in planning, implementing, and delivering age-appropriate instruction for four-year-old children that will prepare them for kindergarten.

RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

• Provide quality instruction to Pre-kindergarten children that will enable them to learn and demonstrate mastery of Core Standards (GELDS) that will prepare them for kindergarten and school success.
• Behave in a professional manner that is always open, cordial, family and child-centered, and in the best interest of the YMCA Early Learning program.
• Model appropriate use of grammar (verbal and written) when communicating with students, parents, colleagues, and leadership.
• Provide a classroom environment that promotes active learning.
• Exhibits knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for four- and five-year-olds.
• Account for students’ attendance, punctuality, and record accurately in the roll book daily.
• Follow the Operating Guidelines required by Bright from the Start.
• Attends all required training for Pre-K teachers.
• Provide content-related and appropriate instruction based on Y Early Learning Curriculum and Signature Programs.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the developmental stages and needs of young children and support them in a gentle and nurturing manner.
• Administer and record regularly scheduled developmental assessments as required by program guidelines.
• Provide appropriate instruction based on the YMCA Early Learning adopted curriculum and Signature Programs.
• Consistently implements developmentally appropriate practices that are individualized, inclusive of children with disabilities, and age appropriate and integrated across all areas of a child’s development, i.e., cognitive (reasoning), social, emotional, and physical.
• Meet all job-related federal, state, local and program regulations and timelines for compliance, implementation, and documentation.  Meets performance standards, monitoring guidelines, licensure regulations, disabilities service requirements, and the completion of developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits.
• Actively participate in teaching activities by consistently moving around the learning environment both indoors and outdoors; sitting or stooping to communicate at the child’s eye level; actively engaging in imaginative play, creative movement, and songs; facilitating family style dining, and engaging the child in conversations that are interactive, supportive, and stimulating.
• Provide constant supervision of children during all activities (indoors & outdoors) as well as during all times when children are under their direct care.
• Re-direct inappropriate behaviors in a positive manner that is supportive and non-punitive; utilizes discipline methods that do not include hitting, shoving, pinching, pushing, complete isolation, or language that is harmful and hurtful to the child.
• Respond quickly to a child in distress or a crying child by immediately calming them in a nurturing and appropriate manner.
• Create a language rich environment that includes daily story reading, as well as regular writing activities and environmental (basic) print.
• Plan, prepare, and implement age-appropriate activities that are integrated across the curriculum; thematic; real, concrete, and relevant; stimulating and challenging; and based on the child’s individual needs and interests.
• Prepare in advance lesson plans and materials, ensures that the classroom environment is organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, safe, and hands on.
• Plan and implement a balance of open and structured child-initiated and teacher-directed activities.
• Prepare, plan, and implement transition strategies for daily activities.
• Organizes classroom space into functional areas (i.e., interest centers) that are easily recognizable and clutter free.
• Conduct and record ongoing observations that are descriptive of the whole child and his/her developmental milestones rather than just exclusive reports of problem behaviors.
• Consistently utilize information from developmental assessments in the planning, teaching and individualization of classroom activities.
• Based on assessments, observations, developmental milestones, and/or typical behavior immediately refer all suspected disabilities and abuse to the appropriate authority.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field
• Must have some knowledge of project-based curriculum such as Creative Curriculum
• Must demonstrate enthusiasm for working with Pre-K students.
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
• Credentials must be verified in Georgia Professional Development System (PDS) prior to hire.
• Transcript and proof of credentials
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform physical requirements, including, but not limited to, kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry objects or children up to 50 lbs

PREFERRED REQUIRMENTS:

• A Valid GA teaching certification (T4 or T5) in Early Childhood Education

Employment and Benefits package for this job posting is offered through Early Childhood Development Co., LLC, whose sole managing member is 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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