Child Care Teacher Assistant Part-Time

Job 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, ensuring the health and safety of each child and staff, and offering resources and support to families.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing assessments of children, including observations, portfolio sampling, and developmental checklists.
• Support each child's individual learning and development by providing an environment with developmentally appropriate equipment and materials.
• Be inclusive of children with disabilities by following their Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• 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.
• Practice and model sanitation and hygiene procedures, including hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting 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.
• Absorb and follow emergency contact information.
• Follow policies regarding temporary exclusion and physician notification of diagnosis.
• Practice policies regarding medication administration and storage.
• Maintain 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.
• Implement emergency preparedness procedures in emergency situations.
• 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.
• Follow the ELM curriculum.
• Aid 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.
• Attend all scheduled staff development days and any additional training sessions.
• Attend 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.

Qualifications

• 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 of State checks.
• 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.

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 and longevity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 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.