Early Childhood Support Teacher at YMCA OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY in Frankfort, Kentucky

Job Description:

Under the direction and supervision of the Center Director and by established policies and procedures of the YMCA of Central Kentucky, a Support Teacher shall assist the Teacher with primary caregiving, implementing classroom curriculum, and participating in program activities. The Support Teacher works with the Teachers to supervise and guide each child's development and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans utilizing the Creative Curriculum. Provides a nurturing, safe, healthy, respectful and enriching environment and partners with parents to provide high quality care for the child and family. Works as a team to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. Staff schedules are flexible and set to meet the needs of the staff member, classroom, team, and center.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Assure high standards of program quality and safety by licensing rules and regulations, KY All STARS, YMCA safety and risk management policies.
Provide excellent service to all families, children, and staff.
Communicate with supervisor, staff, members, guests, and volunteers in a clear, concise and positive manner.
Conduct self in a professional and responsible manner.
Work as a team to ensure the best environment for children, families, and staff.
Implement developmentally appropriate activities and assist children in actively engaging in activities.
Use positive guidance techniques at all times.
Supervise children at all times.
Maintain appropriate teacher to child ratios at all times.
Follow health and safety guidelines.
Provide an environment which promotes smooth and orderly transitions which are developmentally appropriate for the child.
Provide a nurturing, enriching and safe environment for all children.
Assist in maintaining a neat, clean, organized and welcoming classroom.
Follow cleaning and sanitizing schedules to ensure a healthy envionment for children.
Provide daily communication with parents and staff.
Promote team building and high morale.
Maintain appropriate and timely records as required by the center such as meal count forms.
Attend all required center meetings, family events, and trainings.
Abide by policies as outlined in the employee handbook and adhere to the Center dress code.
Be flexible in work schedule.
Possess working knowledge of child abuse and neglect laws and proper reporting procedures.
Possess working knowledge of YMCA mission, purpose, and goals and complete required training.
Keep continuing education requirements current including CPR, First Aid, and Abusive Pediatric Head Trauma and annual state required training hours.
Know all emergency procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned by your supervisor or YMCA leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Be 18 years of age
High school diploma.
Meet the licensing requirements for child care staff in a Type I child care center.
Commonwealth Child Care Credential or CDA required.
Associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or related field preferred.
Experience working with young children in a professional setting.

SPECIAL SKILLS OR REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to write reports and complete forms that conform to prescribed style and format.
Ability to effectively present information to families, administration, staff.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret instructions that deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Understand the nature and purpose of the YMCA and be able to administer and discharge the Child Care Center Program's responsibilities accordingly and to ensure that all activities will contribute toward the achievements of the Association's goals.
Child Abuse and Prevention Training

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Employee is regularly required to use hands to fingers, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, run, stoop, kneel or crouch, sit and get up from the floor and occasionally taste and smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, and occasionally move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Characteristics of the work environment are representative of those that may be encountered by an employee while performing the essential functions of the job. The YMCA of Central Kentucky promotes equal opportunity workplace that includes reasonable accommodation of otherwise qualified applicants and employees.
The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and frequent body traffic in work areas. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EFFECT ON END RESULT:
Smooth working relationship with the director, executive director, volunteers, and other YMCA professional staff. Takes initiative in resolving problems. No errors in correspondence. Be a role model for professionalism in attitude, behavior, and communications. All work is completed in an efficient and timely manner.
It is mutually agreed that the job description does not constitute any written or implied contract of employment. The YMCA reserves the right to revise or change job duties as business requirements dictate.