Assistant Teacher

About the role

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation in Brooklyn, NY is seeking an Assistant Teacher for Infant/Toddler (0–2) and Preschool (3–5) programs. The position offers $34,503 – $39,950/Yr to qualified candidates.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a learning environment based on the Creative Curriculum approach that helps the children develop physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively and creatively.
• Support the implementation of activities that will promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative development of children.
• Adhere to all Head Start Performance standards in addition to the Agency mandates of United Community Day Care center.
• Assume responsibility for the operation of the classroom, in the absence of the Group Teacher, thus holding the teacher aide and substitute accountable to their duties and responsibilities.
• Share job related knowledge with team members so as to promote and support their professional growth.
• Participate in regularly scheduled staff & team meetings, classroom development workshops on and off site as well as training conducted by UCDCC, ACS and other funders.
• Perform center-related services/activities such as parent/teacher conferences, transition meetings, end of year celebrations, etc.
• Share information regarding children and the program with parents via daily contact and informal/formal interfacings, newsletters, etc.
• Encourage parents in their role as their children’s primary teachers by acting as a resource person (i.e., disseminating information, actively listening to parents, offering suggestions, etc.).
• Elicit input from teacher aide to complete written observations, progress reports, outcomes reporting, CROWD and other documents relevant to the tracking of children’s progress.
• Aid Group Teachers in utilizing information obtained via observations, conferences, tracking, etc. to design developmentally appropriate and individualized lesson plans.
• Adhere to Agency (UCDCC) policies and procedures; seek guidance/clarification from Educational Director re: interpretation, applicability and implementation.
• Strictly adhere to, and enforce, the Agency policy regarding Confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.
• Demonstrate commitment to leadership development, community building, and community organizing as strategies for social change.
• Other related duties as assigned, consistent with the above.

Requirements

• The assistant teacher shall meet the requirements set by the Agency for NYC Department of Education.
• Be at least eighteen years old;
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent (GED);
• Must be willing to obtain the a valid Level 1 or higher NY State Teaching Assistant certification or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential during first 6 months of employment.
• Must clear DOE/DOHMH fingerprinting and background authorizations.
• Daily access to reliable transportation to Brooklyn, NY.
• Physical Requirements - Frequent sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, & crawling. Occasional running. Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Nice to have

• Open-minded, flexible, and willing to experiment (creative)
• Ability to demonstrate proactive leadership, initiative, positive problem solving, decision-making, and work in a team context
• Bilingual Spanish, Benghali a plus