Early Childhood Assistant Teacher

About the role

The Assistant Teacher works in collaboration with the Lead Teacher, Director and staff to support families and foster the holistic development of children ages 2-5. They will contribute to the positive development of Breakthrough culture by working to develop relationships with families, children, staff and guests through kind, courteous, and meaningful interactions.

Responsibilities

• Aid in establishing and maintaining a clean, safe, stimulating, and appropriate environment for children based on their developmental levels.
• Promote healthy eating practices through participation in family-style meals and planning and implementing nutritional activities.
• Collaborate with center staff to meet and maintain licensing requirements.
• Assume leadership responsibilities in the absence of the teacher.
• Interact with children in accordance with developmentally appropriate practices as established by NAEYC guidelines.
• Manage the classroom through positive redirection, problem-solving, setting appropriate limits, and active listening.
• Assist in developing and implementing daily, weekly, and monthly lesson plans and assist with their implementation.
• Communicate parents' questions or concerns to the Lead Teacher or Director.
• Communicate concerns about a child's development to the Lead Teacher or Director.
• Welcome each child and family at arrival and departure.
• Maintain the daily schedule of the room.
• Observe and document individual progress through anecdotal notes, development checklists, portfolio assessments, and other screenings.
• Attend staff meetings, parent meetings, and other mandatory professional development meetings.
• Keep open communication with staff and co-workers.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff, families, and children at all times.
• Work collaboratively with staff to adhere to all guidelines provided by partner agencies such as Easterseals, DFSS, and DCFS.
• Assist with documentation into Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must have achieved 60 semester hours of credits from an accredited college or university with 6 semester hours in courses related directly to childcare and/or child development from birth to age six; OR
• 1 year experience in a licensed childcare center and 30 semester hours of credits from an accredited college or university with 6 semester hours in courses related directly to childcare and/or child development, from birth to age six.

Values

• Independently follows agency policy and procedures.
• Fulfills commitments including meeting established timelines.
• Identifies and resolves difficult issues.
• Projects a professional image to all internal and external customers ensuring proper grooming, dress, and hygiene.
• Promotes customer care through all actions and behaviors.
• Has a passion for the mission of Breakthrough.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Must have some classroom experience.
• Knowledge of urban issues regarding youth, children, and families.
• Reliability and demonstration of initiative and follow-through capabilities.
• Physical ability to perform the job of a teacher of young children.
• A warm, supportive attitude toward children.
• Flexibility in receiving assignments or adapting to changes in the program.
• Willingness to consistently improve work performance through relationship and guidance from the supervisor.
• Good interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, professionalism, and problem-solving skills.
• Initiative and follow-through, and comfort working in a dynamic environment.
• An accurate and informed understanding of cultural and urban realities, especially as related to youth, poverty, and community development.

Demonstrated Values

• Follows through with commitments including meeting established timelines.
• Identifies and resolves difficult issues.
• Projects a professional image to all internal and external customers ensuring proper grooming, dress, and hygiene.
• Promotes customer care through all actions and behaviors.
• Has a passion for the mission of Breakthrough.

Supervision

Does not supervise any employees. Direction received from the Director of Breakthrough Beginners.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in a multi-purpose facility and/or outdoors and thus will be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be high depending on the activities in the facility.
• Physical Demands:
  • Frequently required to walk and/or sit;
  • Use hands and fingers to feel objects, tools or controls;
  • Reach with hands and arms;
  • Balance;
  • Stoop;
  • Regularly talk or hear.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, pull, lift as well as have overhead extension of arms.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time;
• Be able to lift, carry or move at least 50 pounds.
• Must adhere to proper handling and lifting techniques.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Safety Requirements

• Before the first day of work, must complete a criminal background and sex offender clearance.

Equipment Used

• General office equipment including but not limited to telephone, computer, calculator, copier, overhead projector, paper shredder, paper cutter, and filing systems.

Benefits

• Sick leave - Part-time employees in this position are eligible for 1 hour of sick pay for every 35 hours worked in a pay period. This leave can be used for medical and safety reasons.
• Paid leave - Part-time employees in this position are eligible for 1 hour of paid pay for every 35 hours worked in a pay period. This leave can be used for any reason.

Compensation

The actual salary within the range is determined by many factors including but not limited to skills, experience, education and internal equity. $18.00-$19.00/hr

Breakthrough is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to apply for this position, please contact us via the telephone number listed above. The decision to grant reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.