Classroom Assistant- Mill Hall After School Program Mill Hall, PA

About the Role

The Assistant Teacher functions as an integral part of the teaching team, assisting with the planning and implementation of a developmentally appropriate daily program of activities. This role promotes each child's affective, cognitive, physical, perceptual-motor, communicative, and social competence under the close supervision of the Lead Teacher.

Involvement includes maintaining contact and open communication with parents, program staff, and community resources.

Schedule

Part-time: 1:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Responsibilities

• Assists in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful learning environment:
  • Maintains an efficient, well-arranged classroom with organized interest areas.
  • Keeps equipment and materials in good repair and stored safely.
  • Cleans and sanitizes toys and cots weekly or as needed.
• Assists in providing developmentally appropriate materials and activities for children’s progress and learning styles.
• Supports a multi-sensory classroom environment (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.).
• Supports children’s social-emotional development and provides positive guidance.
• Provides opportunities for success through individual, small group, and large group activities, including free play.
• Involves children in self-help training (dressing, toileting, handwashing, eating, etc.).
• Utilizes appropriate group management techniques.
• Eats with children, modeling proper table manners and sharing the same menu.
• Encourages daily health routines, including tooth brushing and hand washing.
• Provides adequate supervision to ensure children’s safety.
• Maintains emergency information and initiates emergency action when necessary.
• Assists in curriculum planning with multi-cultural and multi-ethnic materials, displays, and activities.
• Provides educational opportunities through hands-on food experiences integrating curriculum areas (reading readiness, science, math, language, etc.).
• Guides nutritional experiences, including family-style meals (self-service, passing, pouring, table setting, cleaning).
• Assists in establishing positive and productive communication with families:
  • Maintains contact with parents through verbal and written communication.
  • Speaks with families in a friendly, courteous, and respectful manner.
• Carries out supplementary and planning responsibilities:
  • Provides input into daily curriculum.
  • Maintains accurate, up-to-date records (children’s files, time sheets, attendance, meal participation forms, inventories, etc.).
  • Assists in maintaining classroom cleanliness (washing tables, sweeping floors, cleaning spills promptly, etc.).
  • Attends and participates in monthly staff meetings.
  • Prepares classroom materials, bulletin boards, and learning centers.
  • Assumes responsibility for the classroom in the supervisor’s absence.
• Reports immediately any child suspected of being abused to the Director.
• Follows the agency’s dress code.
• Completes the required number of training hours annually.
• Adheres to policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook and Policy and Procedure Manual.

YMCA Competencies

• Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values; supports fund-raising.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and opinions; builds rapport; seeks understanding; listens and communicates effectively.
• Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments; embraces new approaches; establishes goals; strives to meet or exceed goals.
• Personal Growth: Pursues self-development; demonstrates openness to change; assesses personal strengths and limitations.
• Communication: Listens and expresses self effectively; adapts communication to different audiences.

Physical Demands

• Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 35 pounds.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to interact with children at their level (e.g., sitting on the floor).

Requirements

This job description is not all-inclusive. The Assistant Teacher may perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the supervisor or management. The YMCA reserves the right to review or change job responsibilities to meet organizational needs.