Assistant Teacher

$39,000 - $39,000/Yr

World YWCA - Richmond, VA

Full-time - Entry Level

Richmond, VA

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The YWCA of Richmond is seeking a dedicated and passionate Assistant Teacher to join our team. The primary purpose of this role is to support the Lead Teacher in creating a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for children. The Assistant Teacher will play a crucial role in implementing a curriculum that encourages creative growth and allows each child to express themselves in their unique way. This position is grounded in the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of the environment as a third teacher, alongside parents and educators. In this role, the Assistant Teacher will assist in planning and facilitating daily programs that are age-appropriate and cognitively stimulating. This includes arranging classroom spaces and materials to create a clean, orderly, and child-centered environment. The Assistant Teacher will also be responsible for observing children's activities and progress, documenting their experiences, and sharing this information with the teaching team and parents. Knowledge of Virginia's Quality Initiatives and NAEYC accreditation standards is essential, as the Assistant Teacher will enforce licensing regulations and maintain accurate administrative paperwork. The Assistant Teacher will foster a supportive rapport with parents and guardians, encouraging their participation in the classroom and establishing effective communication structures. This role requires a commitment to promoting community and social responsibility through multicultural and anti-bias programming. The Assistant Teacher will manage children's behavior in a solution-focused, trauma-informed manner, demonstrating professionalism and kindness to all children and families, regardless of their backgrounds. This position does not have supervisory responsibilities but requires a strong alignment with the organization's mission and values.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Teacher in planning and facilitating daily programs that are age appropriate and cognitively stimulating.
• Arrange space, setting, and materials in the classroom and outdoors to ensure a clean, orderly, child-centered environment.
• Facilitate a child's learning using a Reggio Emilia inspired educational philosophy.
• Adapt lessons and activities to meet the needs of all children.
• Plan and implement the Creative Curriculum through a Reggio lens if required.
• Observe children's activities and progress, documenting and sharing information with the teaching team and parents/guardians regularly.
• Use observation, documentation, and data from the GOLD assessment tool to inform provocations and experiences.
• Maintain knowledge of Virginia's Quality Initiatives and NAEYC accreditation standards.
• Enforce licensing regulations and national accreditation standards.
• Maintain up-to-date children's portfolios and assessment records.
• Keep accurate administrative paperwork including meal counts and cleaning checklists.
• Develop and maintain supportive rapport with parents/guardians and facilitate their participation in the classrooms.
• Establish communication structures with parents, including classroom conferences and home visits.
• Communicate with parents regarding behavior and sensitive situations as determined by the teaching team.
• Promote community and foster social responsibility through multicultural and anti-bias programming.
• Manage children's behavior in a solution-focused, trauma-informed manner.
• Demonstrate professionalism, engagement, and kindness to all children and families.
• Maintain a professional working atmosphere and confidentiality of information.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age with an ECE Certificate, CDA, or 15 college credits in Early Childhood Education (ECE).
• At least 1 year of direct experience in an early childhood setting (Infant/Toddler - Preschool).
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and techniques of Early Childhood Education.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy.
• Familiarity with Virginia's Quality Initiatives and NAEYC accreditation standards.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance