Floater: Lead Early Childhood/School Age Teacher

Description

Find More Than Just A Job. Find A Career. Find Your Y. 

At the Ypsilanti YMCA CDC, you can find a rewarding career path with opportunities to grow professionally while making a positive impact in your community.

The Ypsilanti YMCA Child Development Center is hiring full-time Early Childhood Floating Lead EC/SA teacher.. We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success. That's why our child care programs are staffed with people who understand the cognitive, physical and social development of kids, the need children have to feel connected and supported in trying new things and the caring and reinforcement parents and families need to help each other. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Floater is responsible for supervising early childhood participants and implementation of the program designed for infants (6 weeks to 14 months) toddler (14 months to 2 ½ years), early preschool (2 ½ -3 ½ years), preschool (3 ½ to 5 years) or school age (5-12 yrs).  The Floater is responsible for direct leadership of a classroom, including but not limited to implementation of the curriculum; adaptations to curriculum to meet student needs; student observations and parent communication. They must ensure a warm, nurturing, safe and loving environment, where self-concepts are enhanced, independence encouraged, and individuality respected. .

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Floating responsibilities

The imcumbant will float between classrooms as necessary. This position will be scheduled to cover CDC staff's vacation and sick time. As much advance notice as possible will be given when the Floater is subbing for planned vacation/holiday time but some same day scheduling will occur. 

Program and Classroom Management

1. Assist in creating and maintain a staff and program culture that promotes the YMCA’s mission, vision and core values.
2. Develop and implement program activities that provide youth with experiences in the developmental areas of physical, social, emotional, and intellectual.  
3. Plan all daily activities and weekly themes in a developmentally appropriate manner, making use of the resources available to you, including but not limited to: Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies Gold, CATCH, HEPA, etc. 
4. Ensure the program is creative and stimulating and developmentally and age-appropriate. Incorporate Character Development and 40 Developmental Assets into the daily program.
5. Lead, with assistant teachers, age appropriate activities: crafts, games, songs, stories, movement, etc. as required by the curriculums set in place. 
6. Provide and ensure continuous supervision at all times, including during play and game activities with children, as to maintain order and discipline. 
7. Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for all people’s background by incorporating cultural, linguistic and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans.
8. Keep the safety of children as the priority; know how to recognize suspected child abuse and neglect and implementing reporting procedures, as required by the State of Michigan and the Ann Arbor YMCA. 
9. Maintain program and classroom space per the Department of Human Services licensing requirements. 
10. Provide a clean, safe environment for classroom activities. Keep room, work areas, toys and equipment clean at all times.  

General Child Development Expectations

1. Under the direction of the Assistant CDC Director, ensure that local, state and federal guidelines are followed for child care, including food safety, emergency procedures and health care, as well as NAEYC accreditation standards; maintain record keeping for children files according to YMCA, State Licensing, DHS, NAEYC and other accrediting/licensing agencies
2. Work in a collaborative and cooperative manner with other lead teachers to develop and maintain the continuity and excellence of the early childhood program. 
3. Possess working knowledge of child abuse and neglect laws and proper reporting procedures.
4. Encourages everyone to work well with each other, regardless of dimensions of diversity (i.e., gender and race).
5. Create strong morale, spirit and sense of belonging to the YMCA. Manage conflicts constructively so that disagreements lead to useful and productive discussions. Cooperate with others, knowing when to lead and when to follow. 
6. Communicate with the Assistant CDC Director any problems, concerns or suggestions regarding children, parents or the program. 
7. Perform all other duties as assigned by the Assistant CDC Director. 
8. Cell phone calls/texts or social media activities will not be made or answered during classroom hours. 
9. Dress appropriately for teaching and contact with children and parents. Expectations of attire are set by the Regional Child Development Director.
10. Be in assigned area at all times while clocked in.

Our Culture:

Every day and in everything we do, we strive to create a culture that is welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing and determined for all our staff, members, program participants and volunteers.

Full job description is available upon request.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS :

• A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development-family studies, early childhood special education, or elementary education with a concentration in early childhood education is required.  
• At least one-year of experience working with preschool-age youth is required. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, flexibility, and an ability to work in a team-setting are required.  
• Must have a physical examination, including satisfactory TB test, six months prior to beginning work. 
• Must have certification in infant, child and adult CPR and First Aid.
• An interest and ability in developing and implementing creative programming with the goal of teaching YMCA core values is necessary.
• A patient, high-energy, and goal-oriented attitude is essential.  
• Ability to be responsive to the needs, wants, and interests of both the parents and youth enrolled in the Early Childhood Programs.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Ability to walk, stand, and sit (including on the floor) for long periods of time.
2. Must be able to lift/assist in lifting an average size child up to 50 pounds.
3. Must be able to lift and carry food and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.
4. Ability to stand or sit while maintaining alertness for several hours at a time.
5. Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking.
6. Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate.
7. Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency
8. Ability to view/enter data for long periods of time.