Pre-K Teacher Assistant

                                             Five Star Kids Pre-K Program 

Position: Salary: Status: 

Hours: 

Pre-K Teacher Assistant  

$16.00 an hour  

Hiring for the 2024-2025 School Year, orientation and training to begin mid-July. 

Pre-K TA: 6:30am-1:15pm Monday-Friday. Holidays, nights and weekends off.* 

Location: Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Regional Office. 1465 Lakeside Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (off Independence Blvd., ½ mile outside of JEBLC Gate 5) 

The Pre-K Teacher Assistant, under direction of the Early Learning Director and Pre-K manager, will assist the Pre-K lead teacher to provide for appropriate learning experiences for students. Provide an atmosphere and environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of individuals to ensure success for every student. Supervise students in a variety of school-related settings. 

Monitor and evaluate student outcomes. Communicate and interact with students, parents, staff and community. Maintain appropriate records and follow required procedures and practices. Monitor appropriate use and care of equipment, materials and facilities. 

Education and Experience Requirements 

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma and meet one of the following education/experience requirements: 

• Have six credits in early childhood education (ECE) or early childhood development (ECD) and six months’ experience as a teacher; OR 

• Have three credits in ECE or ECD and one-year experience as a teacher; OR 

• Hold a national competency-based credential such as the Certified Childcare Professional® (CCP) or Child Development Associate™ (CDA; or an approved state equivalent*) and one year of experience as a teacher. 

Additional Requisites 

• Complete background checks and comply with all Virginia Department of Social Services licensing requirements; 

• Knowledge of curriculum and techniques for integrating curriculum, ASYMCA policies and effective instructional practices; 

• Thorough understanding of the teaching and learning process; 

• Ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and multicultural education; 

• Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, parents and community; 

• Excellent oral and written communication and human relations skills; 

• CPR and First Aid required. Daily Health Observations and MAT training desired; 

• Must possess a basic understanding for technology to include Outlook, Word, Excel; 

• Must have valid driver’s license; 

• Knowledge of the military lifestyle and community social services agencies (a plus); and 

• Significant standing, walking, moving, climbing, carrying, bending, kneeling, crawling, reaching, handling, pushing, and pulling. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. Must be able to lift up to 55 pounds and go up and down stairs. Must be able to be outdoors at least 60 minutes a day. 

Behavioral Success  

Attendance & Punctuality: Absences are infrequent and do not place an undue burden on supervisor or colleagues. Arrives within enough time to be ready to be fully engaged for agreed upon schedule.  

Organizational skill: With a large group of young children, teachers need to be organized. This includes having well-planned lessons, easily accessible materials, and a safe and inviting classroom. Having a designated area for supplies creates a sense of order in the classroom. When everything is in place and there is a routine, children feel more comfortable and focused on learning.  

Communication skills: Teachers must clearly and concisely explain activities, expectations, and rules to young children. They also need to be good listeners to understand what children are saying and identify any problems they may have. When speaking with families, clear and frequent communication builds a strong partnership. Avoid using jargon and speak in a clear, direct manner when discussing their child’s progress with families.  

Classroom management skills: A skilled preschool teacher uses effective classroom management strategies to create a positive learning environment for all children while still providing individualized attention. This includes things like choosing the optimal classroom layout, establishing daily routines, and managing transitions between activities. Avoiding downtime and creating consistent daily schedules will help keep children busy and engaged.  

Lesson planning skills: Teacher’s Assistants must follow developmentally appropriate lessons that meet each child's needs. This includes knowing what skills must be taught and how to teach them in an engaging and fun way. Teachers need to be flexible in their planning and be able to adjust lessons quickly if necessary. This might mean adding an extra activity or modifying an existing one to meet the children’s needs more successfully.   

Behavior management skills: Children may get physical or throw tantrums at some point during their preschool years. Therefore, teachers need a system to respond to challenging behavior effectively, including using positive reinforcement and redirection and establishing rules and boundaries in the classroom.   

Record keeping skills: Teacher’s Assistants must keep track of each child's attendance. 

Time management skills: Time is of the essence in a preschool classroom. There are always things to do. Thus, teachers must manage their time wisely. For example, they must plan and organize the day, knowing when to delegate tasks to other staff members. It also means keeping the class on track while allowing flexibility.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

• Ensure the Five Star Kids Pre-K Program meets or exceeds all state operations, safety and licensing standards and regulations for child day centers; 

• Support the curriculum-based lesson plans and activities that are creative, engaging and age- appropriate for students to promote STEAM, literacy, health and safety, environmental awareness, character development, incorporating the YMCA character values of caring, respect, responsibility and honesty; 

• Adhere to and enforce all policies/procedures as set forth in the parent/guardian and employee handbooks; 

• Plan to attend school and other community-sponsored events (which could periodically involve weekends and evenings*) to promote programs and the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads organization; 

• On a regular and consistent basis, meets and instructs assigned class in the location and at the times designated; 

• Create a classroom environment that provides for student involvement in the learning process and enable each student to achieve learning objectives; 

• Guide the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals and in harmony with the goals, establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, projects and the ability to communicate these objectives to students; 

• Establish learning objectives consistent with appraisal of student needs, requirements of curriculum framework and knowledge of human growth and development; 

• Utilize instructional methods, resources and evaluation techniques which motivate and enable each student to achieve learning objectives; 

• Take all necessary and safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities; 

• Maintain accurate and complete records as required by law, ASYMCA policy and administrative regulation; 

• Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct, and for the classroom, develop reasonable rules of classroom behavior and procedure to maintain order in the classroom in a fair and just manner; 

• Make provision for being available to students and parents for education-related purposes outside the instructional day when required or requested to do so under reasonable terms; 

• Establish relationships with colleagues, students, parents and community which reflect recognition of and respect for every individual; 

• Assist in purposeful assignments as set forth by the teacher and Early Learning Director; 

• Appraise his/her own effectiveness and demonstrate successful application of skills and information acquired to increase effectiveness. Strive to maintain and improve professional competence; 

• Check ASYMCA email twice daily and respond promptly to requests; 

• Dress professionally, wearing ASYMCA name badge, keeping in mind that this position serves as the role model for students and staff and represents the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads at all times; 

• Log work hours daily using the ADP electronic time card for approval by supervisor (pay is directly deposited every two weeks); 

• Attend staff meetings as required; and 

• Perform other duties as required. 

For more information, please contact Early Learning Director Tessa Davis by email at [email protected] or call 757-363-1884, ext. 8769. 

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.