Career Pathways Academy - Entry Level/Emerging Early Childhood Educators
Upon successful completion of the program, you may be considered for available part- time and full-time opportunities with the organization.
Summary:
The Emerging Educators Pathway is a six-week program. This program is available for those with little or no experience in the Early Childhood Education field to gain practical knowledge and training through on-the-job experience and mentorship opportunities. Our learning environment at the Armed Services YMCA Norfolk Child Development Center will expose pathway participants to developmentally appropriate practices, ensuring the ability to experience how Armed Services YMCA provides for the education, well-being, and safety of each child and staff, and offers resources and support to families.
What Can A Pathway Participant Expect?
This program will allow you to quickly gain skills and knowledge which can be applied to launching a career within the early childhood education field. During the Emerging Educators Pathway, you will:
- Participate in the on-going assessments of children including completing observations, and developmental checklists.
- Observe effective ways to support each child's individual learning and development by providing an environment offering developmentally appropriate curriculum and materials.
- Learn about being inclusive of children with different abilities and following the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- Assist with the implementation of a daily program which balances adult and child-initiated activities in both large and small groups, indoor and outdoor play, nutrition-focused family style dining, and timely and predictable transitions.
- Collaborate with a lead teacher to develop and implement lesson plans based on ELM curriculum.
- Provide opportunities for creative self-expression through art, music, movement, and dramatic play.
- Support the social and emotional development of each child by building trust, fostering independence, encouraging self-confidence, and supporting positive adult and peer relationships.
- Encourage positive guidance by setting clear, consistent limits, and having realistic expectations.
- Support the home language, culture, and family composition of each child by encouraging the feelings and rights of others.
What Training Do Emerging Pathway Participants Receive?
Our experienced Training and Curriculum Specialists and Lead Teachers will deliver training through online resources and in person sessions related to:
- Learning sanitation and hygiene procedures which include but are not limited to hand washing, diapering, cleaning and disinfecting toys and furniture, and providing children with space to place personal belongings.
- Providing an indoor and outdoor environment supervised in accordance with Child Care Administration licensing regulations
- Completing daily attendance records
- Responding to emergency situations by implementing emergency preparedness procedures.
- Assisting in the administration of nutritional aspects of the program including food replacements for children with specific and physician documented dietary needs.
- Communicating with parents verbally and non-verbally.
You can expect to earn the following certificates to take with you upon completion:
- Blood Borne Pathogens to adequately protect children and staff.
- Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
- Medication administration and storage.
- First Aid & CPR
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must have a high school diploma or GED.*
- You must pass Federal, State, Child Protective Services Checks, National Sex Offender Registry and if living out of the State of Virginia in the last 5 years all applicable Out of State checks applicable.
- A commitment to attending 90%+ of academy program activity is required
- Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
- Required to do considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, standing, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
Military spouses, veterans and military affiliated job seekers encouraged to apply.
Armed Services YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ASYMCA is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. ASYMCA encourages applicants of all ages.
Armed Services YMCA acknowledges the minimal use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in our initial recruitment stages. All AI use is coupled with human review and is designed to assist our team in building efficiencies and excelling at focusing on timeliness and communication in our hiring process. Our hiring teams thoroughly evaluate skills and qualifications and make all final hiring decisions.