Preschool Afternoon Teacher Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

Employment Details

Position: Preschool Afternoon Teacher Assistant

Employment Type: Part-Time, Non-exempt

Compensation: $18 — $21/hour, based on education and experience

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 2:00–5:30 PM (17.5 hours/week)

Location: New Haven, CT (On-site)

Additional Work Opportunities: Additional paid work for substitute shifts may be available based on school needs and employee interest.

Occasional Required Activities: Staff may occasionally be asked to participate in professional development or school events outside of their regular schedule; any required hours outside the regular schedule will be paid.

About Leila Day

Leila Day is a progressive, play-based, nature-centered school where childhood is honored. We innovate and build on the best traditions and practices of progressive, early childhood education. We believe in teaching and learning grounded in caring relationships, filled with joyful, learning adventures, and powered by the creativity of children at play. Teachers plan learning experiences around the needs and interests of the children and the opportunities provided by the natural world and our multicultural community. 

Our indoor and outdoor classrooms encourage children to explore, wonder, learn, and grow. Located beside East Rock Park in New Haven, we use the woods, trails, streams, and surrounding neighborhood as an extension of the classroom.

Position Summary

The Afternoon Assistant Teacher supports the preschool teaching team in creating an engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environment rooted in children's interests, meaningful relationships, and joyful exploration. Working alongside lead teachers, this role helps implement an emergent curriculum that encourages curiosity, creativity, experimentation, and play. The Assistant Teacher contributes to a classroom culture that reflects Leila Day's commitment to progressive early childhood education, emphasizing inquiry, emotional intelligence, outdoor learning, collaboration, and respect for every child.

Key Responsibilities

• Support lead teachers in implementing classroom activities, learning experiences, and an emergent curriculum responsive to children's interests and needs.
• Engage actively with children during play, exploration, routines, and transitions, helping create a welcoming, joyful, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Support children's social-emotional development by encouraging positive self-concept, respectful relationships, and an appreciation for each child's cultural background, language, interests, and individual learning style.
• Help prepare and maintain indoor and outdoor learning environments, including setting up materials, organizing supplies, and caring for classroom equipment and shared spaces.
• Support daily classroom routines and group management under the direction of lead or co-teachers, including transitions, limit-setting, behavioral expectations, and other practices that promote children's safety and well-being.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with lead teachers, co-teachers, families, and colleagues to support children's experiences and the work of the teaching team.
• Participate in ongoing professional learning and engage with current research and best practices in early childhood education.
• Contribute to the broader Leila Day community through collaboration with colleagues and participation in relevant staff meetings, professional development, and school activities.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Minimum 1-2 years of childcare, classroom, camp, babysitting, or youth development experience.

• Physical & Safety Requirements
• Ability to lift, move, or assist children weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to walk, squat, climb, kneel, and sit on the floor.
• Ability and willingness to spend significant time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to respond appropriately to children's health and safety needs and to emergency situations.
• Ability to meet applicable Connecticut licensing and Leila Day health and safety requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) coursework or credits
• Experience teaching or learning in an outdoor education setting

Professional Growth & Additional Opportunities

• Professional Development
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Opportunities to work substitute shifts based on school needs and employee interest
• Opportunities for career growth within Leila Day
• Daily opportunities to learn and work alongside children in Leila Day's outdoor classrooms and surrounding natural environment.

Leila Day is an accredited, nonprofit child care center serving children of working families from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds from New Haven and surrounding towns. In operation since 1878, this celebrated program's mission is to foster children's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development within a warm and nurturing environment built on sound

principles of child development. Leila Day emphasizes nature and outdoor education. The children and teachers spend time learning outside every day.