Preschool Teacher

About the Role:

As a Preschool Teacher, you will play a pivotal role in fostering the early development and learning of young children, typically aged 3 to 5 years. Your primary objective will be to create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional growth. You will design and implement age-appropriate lesson plans that promote cognitive, physical, and language development while supporting each child's individual needs. Collaboration with parents, caregivers, and colleagues will be essential to ensure a holistic approach to each child's education and well-being. Ultimately, your work will lay the foundation for lifelong learning and positive attitudes toward education in your students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
• Must be 18 years old and a high school graduate, undergoing professional preparation to work with young children.
• Must have twelve (12) semester units in Early Childhood Education or a related field such as recreation, physical education, or units earned toward an elementary teaching credential
• Experience working with young children in an educational or childcare setting.
• Knowledge of early childhood development principles and age-appropriate teaching strategies.
• Basic first aid and CPR certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Experience with inclusive education practices and working with children with diverse learning needs.
• Familiarity with state early learning standards and assessment tools.
• Training in classroom management and positive behavior support techniques.
• Bilingual abilities or proficiency in a second language.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver engaging, developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities that support early childhood learning standards.
• Observe and assess children's progress, documenting milestones and identifying areas where additional support may be needed.
• Create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming classroom environment that promotes respect, cooperation, and positive behavior.
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians to share updates on their child's development and address any concerns.
• Collaborate with fellow educators and staff to plan events, share best practices, and continuously improve the preschool program.
• Assist the Program Director in the planning and implementation of the daily schedule/curriculum and in their absence assure that the daily schedule/curriculum is implemented as planned.
• Assist in the planning, preparation, implementation, and clean up of the daily curriculum.
• Assist in the planning, preparation, and implementation of the learning environment, and the establishment of interest centers.
• Ensure that materials and supplies needed for the curriculum are present.
• Supervise children in all activity areas, ensuring the proper and safe use of facilities and equipment.
• Attend all staff meetings and training programs.
• Interact with the children being consistent and fair and treating them with dignity and respect.
• Communicate daily with the parents: always greet them and acknowledge them.
• Be sure that all children are signed in and out daily.
• Assist in maintaining required records of program participants.
• Maintain loyalty and professionalism at all times.
• Supports the policies, procedures, and philosophy of the West End YMCA
• Follow all guidelines and regulations of the West End YMCA, Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing, and Title 22.
• Assist in other appropriate ways.

• Complete all other duties as assigned.

• This is an in-person job and duties as such cannot be performed remotely.

Skills:

The required and preferred skills are essential for creating an effective and supportive learning environment. Strong communication skills enable you to engage with children, parents, and colleagues clearly and empathetically. Your knowledge of child development guides the design of appropriate activities that foster growth across multiple domains. Organizational skills help you manage lesson planning, documentation, and classroom logistics efficiently. Additionally, skills in observation and assessment allow you to monitor each child's progress and tailor your teaching approach to meet individual needs, ensuring all children thrive.