Infant Teacher Assistant

The Crown Family YMCA located in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago is hiring a full-time Infant Teacher Assistant!

The Teacher Assistant in collaboration with the Lead Teacher provides support in effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning, assessment, evaluation and related research for children 2-5 years old. The Assistant Teacher is responsible for providing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, supervision of children assigned in the classroom, and providing a supportive and positive classroom climate, while ensuring the individual needs of the children are met as mandated by DCFS, ExceleRate Illinois, NAEYC, federal, state and local standards, as applicable

Salary range starts at $22.32 per hour, full-time benefits, and opportunities to grow within the organization

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  We offer salaries that reflect your skills, experience, and the value you bring to our team.
  
  
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  Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans for eligible employees, along with access to wellness programs, mental health resources, and a family gym membership.
  
  
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  Generous paid time off (PTO), including paid holidays. We also offer flexible work hours to help you balance your personal and professional life.
  
  
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  403(b) plan with company contributions after 2 years of service to help you plan for your future.
  
  
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  Opportunities for continuous learning through workshops and training programs.
  
  
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  A supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.
  
  
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  Discounts on programs, employee assistance programs, and company-sponsored events.
  
  

Scope of Responsibilities

• Promotes and models high quality teaching and learning in the classroom that fosters academic readiness.
• Demonstrates culturally and linguistically appropriate practices that values all children and families and makes them feel welcomed and an essential part of the program
• Maintains awareness and supervision of children's needs and ensure their physical health and safety, at all times.
• Assists with communicating and developing effective partnerships with parents and families, encouraging parent involvement.
• Abides by DCFS and all quality standards for maintaining safe, high-quality programming
• Collaborates regularly with classroom team including families, volunteers and all staff.
• Assists with collecting and using multiple data sources, both formative and summative, to inform instruction and child centered learning and development.
• Assists with completing routine professional development annually; utilizes continuous quality improvement (CQI); and identifies different instructional resources and methods to meet children's varying needs and improve the classroom experience for children and families.
• Participates and supports association/center efforts towards recruitment, enrollment, attendance and retention of families while supporting the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.
  

Lesson Planning and Classroom Management

• Collaborates with the Lead Teacher to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate
  health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in implementation of high quality, developmentally appropriate instructional activities and curriculum
  approaches (like Creative Curriculum) that facilitate active learning experiences and promote the social, emotional, physical and
  cognitive development of each child; while ensuring the program follows DCFS, YMCA, ExceleRate Illinois, and NAEYC accreditation
  standards, if applicable.
• Takes the lead in absence of the lead teacher.
• With the support of the Lead Teacher, uses observational and child data to assist in planning developmentally appropriate and 2 YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago engaging early learning experiences based upon the emergent needs of the child.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in leveraging the physical environment and pedagogical documentation to support teaching and learning
  practices.
• Supports and implements planned studies/projects for an in-depth investigation of a topic over time.
• Establishes and maintains an attractive, clean, safe and engaging classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques and that encourages children's independence and self-selection of activities.
• Assists with classroom management, arrangement, organization, and labeling materials.
• Assists with completion of classroom inventory quarterly; and the selection of materials and equipment to support instruction and
  children's learning using environmental assessments to guide decisions.

Minimum & Preferred Requirements

• Must meet DCFS licensing, and program related accreditation/credentialing requirements; Associates Degree or higher in Early
  Childhood Education preferred
• Must provide documentation of Gateways credentialing or apply within 90 days of employment.
• Passion for and commitment to the YMCA's mission and serving the needs of children and families
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to assist in the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices to promote early learning and social-emotional development
• Assist with the application of early learning best practices to create a child-centered, supportive, inclusive and positive classroom
  environment to meet the needs of diverse children.

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required