Child Development Assistant Teacher

Skills:

Knowledge of Child Development

Teaching Methodologies

Lesson Planning

Classroom Management

Interpersonal Skills

Assessment Skills

Adaptability

Empathy

Communication

Positive Attitude

The Child Development Assistant Teacher supports the Teachers and the Director by helping create a caring, safe, developmentally appropriate environment for the children and assisting in activities to improve the overall care and quality of education. S/he must be able to communicate, listen, and work well with others in a classroom team environment. S/he assists the teachers in implementing a quality educational program, providing active supervision, and developing positive relationships with the children and their parents. The Assistant Teacher observes and documents children’s interests and progress, and relays that information to the teaching staff and supervisors. The Assistant Teacher is responsible for implementing developmentally appropriate activities based on children’s interests and needs under the direction of the Teacher, Infant/Toddler Coach Specialist, and Managing Director. The Assistant Teacher is responsible for the operations of the classroom in the absence of the teacher.

This position reports to the Managing Director. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Assist in the implementation of curriculum activities and encourage participation by children.
• Actively engage in activities with children; manage cleanliness, maintenance, and availability of classroom materials.
• Provide active supervision
• Maintain communications with parents through informal discussions.
• Encourage self-help and good hygiene through behavior modeling.
• Help ensure smooth, daily transitions for children while at the center.
• Provide emotional and behavioral support to children as indicated by creating a positive environment that supports emotional connections between children and adults and between children and their peers. Manage the classroom to support children’s development as indicated by setting clear age-appropriate expectations for children’s behavior.
• Provide engaged instructional support for learning as indicated by using interactions and discussions to promote higher-order thinking skills and cognition.
• Follow all center policies and state regulations.
• Maintain a personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement.
• Coordinate and conduct developmental screenings and ongoing child assessment following center guidance. 
• Ensure all center policies, federal, state, and local regulations (45 screenings, home visits, parent/teacher conferences, alignment with IELG, etc.) for education are met.
• Maintain a personal professional development plan to ensure compliance with requirements and continuous quality improvement.

Educational Requirements

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, or an associate's degree and a CDA credential
• Level III: Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Credential (within a year of employment) required or the ability to attain certification upon hire.

Employment Type 

• Year-round, Full-time, 40 hours per week