ELC Assistant Teacher

About the Role

The Early Childhood Assistant Teacher serves as a member of the Montclair Y staff team, assisting the classroom teacher in instructional, clerical, and classroom tasks. This role ensures a safe, fun, and positive environment for children while supporting their education, health, welfare, and safety. The Assistant Teacher must demonstrate a commitment to the YMCA’s four Core Values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Greet each child and parent upon arrival and visually scan for illness, disease, or physical impairment.
• Demonstrate warmth toward children and set a positive example with a calm speaking voice.
• Comfort children when needed and assist the teacher with instructional lessons.
• Accompany children to supervise outdoor play, fire drills, and other activities.
• Set up cots/mats in the classroom and reinforce skills using puppets, flannel boards, and manipulatives.
• Read and sing with the class daily and supervise fine and gross motor activities.
• Help plan free play and afternoon activities, using positive reinforcement.
• Assist children with personal hygiene and prepare materials for lessons.
• Help maintain the classroom, including cleaning toys and organizing materials.
• Provide input on children’s progress and record incidents for teacher evaluation.
• Attend required meetings and assist with classroom records.
• Adhere to policies related to boundaries, abuse risk management, and mandated reporting procedures.
• Ensure proper sign-in/sign-out procedures for members, volunteers, and vendors.
• Perform other duties as requested by the teacher or designee.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment at all times, following YMCA policies and guidelines.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years or older.
• High school diploma and 2 years of classroom experience as an aide or equivalent experience with children.
• Must enroll in and complete a CDA program within the first year of employment if only a high school diploma is held.
• Must possess, maintain, and renew CPR for the Professional Rescuer, EPI, Asthma, and First Aid within 90 days of hire.
• Ability to lead children in activities and improvise games/activities as needed.
• Physical stamina and flexibility, including walking, sitting, standing, bending, lifting (up to 50 lbs), and accompanying children up and down stairs.

Skills

• Communication & Influence
• Developing Self & Others
• Functional Expertise in early childhood education