Preschool Assistant Teacher

Position Hours: 9am to 6pm (Full-Time) Position Overview: The Assistant Teacher supports the daily operations of the classrooms by assisting lead teachers, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment, and helping maintain compliance with New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) regulations. This role requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and a team-oriented mindset to support consistent routines and classroom consistency and predictability. The Assistant Teacher plays a key part in upholding expectations in the classroom, licensing regulations, and stepping in as the lead teacher during an absence. Key Responsibilities: Professional Expectations: Serve as a positive role model for students and colleagues. Maintain punctuality and a professional appearance. Use respectful and appropriate language at all times. Uphold student and staff confidentiality. Punctual, and reliable: ensures classrooms retain consistency Support a nurturing classroom atmosphere through calm and respectful interactions. Patience and positive attitude: Ability to interact with young children in a calm and supportive manner. Treat all students fairly and with dignity. Reacts calmly and in a poised manner to student behavior. Encourage students to improve their sense of responsibility, self-discipline, cooperation and respect for others. Actively contribute to a positive and inclusive school culture. Attend required staff meetings and training sessions. Demonstrates effective communication with all stakeholders; Ability to communicate concerns constructively with teachers or supervisors. Observational skills: Ability to monitor children's behavior and identify potential developmental concerns Flexibility and adaptability: Willingness to adjust to changing situations and needs of children Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with the lead teacher and other staff members Strong work ethic, and ability to be trusted to lead a classroom in the absence of the lead teacher Classroom Support Duties: Assist with the arrival, daily health checks, attendance, and dismissal of students. Supervise children during classroom activities, transitions, playtime, and meals. Perform basic caregiving tasks including diapering, toileting, handwashing, and snack preparation. Maintain classroom cleanliness and follow the OCFS 3-step sanitation procedures. Ensure refrigerators are operational and temperature logs are completed. Support lead teachers with instructional materials and classroom organization. Provide additional assistance to students under teacher supervision. Monitor and report on student progress and behaviors as needed. Promote social-emotional development by encouraging positive peer interactions and problem-solving skills. Follow classroom routines and assist with activities such as naptime and transitions. Maintain appropriate student-to-teacher ratios at all times. Active supervision: must always know the number of children being supervised in the classroom at all times Next Up: Takes over the classroom responsibility when the lead teacher is absent. Communication: Record all child’s daily activities in the ProCare Engage App. Student progress: Recording and reporting student progress to the teacher Student well-being: Looking after students who are upset, unwell, or have special needs Enforcing rules: Enforcing rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order Classroom preparation: Setting up learning centers, preparing materials for activities, organizing supplies, and ensuring the classroom is clean and safe. Implementing lesson plans: Assisting the lead teacher in carrying out planned activities, including reading stories, singing songs, and facilitating group learning experiences. Individualized support: Working with individual children who may need extra attention, providing support with developmental skills, sensory needs, or addressing specific needs. Regulatory Compliance & Teamwork: Understand and adhere to all OCFS regulations. Ensure the health and safety of all children at all times. Collaborate positively with lead teachers and team members. Participate in maintaining licensing and safety standards. Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the lead teacher or program administrator. Some qualifications for a childcare assistant may include: Some college coursework in early childhood development Experience working in an early childhood setting Demonstrates a respectful and unbiased approach when working with families from diverse backgrounds. Manual dexterity and visual skills Auditory and verbal skills for communication Lifting 50lbs Benefits: Paid Snow Days Paid Holidays (6 out of the 12) in the year 401k 40 hours of sick time each year, accrued based on hours worked