Pre-K GROUP TEACHER & LEAD

Group Teacher

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Under the direction and supervision of the Site Director or Multi-Site Director, and in harmony with the Christian nature and purposes, and the established policies, goals and objectives of the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley, the Group Teacher works as a supportive leader among staff to provide effective programs and a warm, safe, loving and nurturing environment in which the child can grow physically, emotionally and intellectually.

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

Essential Functions:

• Establish positive relationships with parents, children, school personnel and other staff members.
• Be a positive role model.
• Group Teacher assists the Site Director or Multi-Site Director in planning and implementing quality program curriculum and lesson plans of the daily program, including arts and crafts, active games, and snack.
• Group Teacher is responsible for assisting with supervision of children. Maintain that children are never left alone. Make sure all children are watched at all times.
• Head of Group is responsible for maintaining a physically and mentally safe environment for the children. Maintaining housekeeping at each site.
• Actively support and participate in YMCA functions as notified by the SACC Director or Multi-Site Director.
• Attend all required staff meetings and give input on programming issues.
• Head of Group is responsible for record-keeping including daily attendance, newsletter information; lesson plans and maintaining adequately stocked first aid kept and meet all required deadlines for such paperwork.
• Follow and enforce Association and departmental policies, including the substitute policy.
• Attend YMCA program for snow days and other school holiday/vacation days/days off as needed by the YMCA.
• Observe that all policies and procedures are being upheld including NYS Regulations.
• Maintain required number of children to adequately maintain budget.
• Substitute at other YMCA SACC sites as required.
• Actively pursue training and learning opportunities and certifications relating to the position. Maintain current certifications required by the position.
• Is committed to maintaining a workplace free from all forms of harassment
• Adheres to policies related to boundaries with youth.
• Attends required abuse risk management training.
• Adheres to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
• Reports suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follows mandated abuse reporting requirements.

Leadership Competencies:

• Engaging Community : Builds bridges with others in the community to ensure the Y's work is community-focused and welcoming of all, providing community benefit.
• Collaboration : Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community.
• Communication & Influence : Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y's cause.
• Inclusion : Values all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making : Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment.
• Functional Expertise : Executes superior technical skills for the role.
• Innovation : Creates and implements new and relevant approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y's work and impact in the community.
• Program/Project Management : Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.
• Developing Self & Others : Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential.
• Emotional Maturity : Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• CPR, First Aid and AED Certification
• Over the age of 18 years old
• Must meet all Association-Wide training requirements in addition to those set forth by their Supervisor.
• Must be able to pass a Nationwide Criminal and Sex Offender Registry Background Screening.
• Must ensure that the physical and social environments for program delivery reflect the Y's definition of character and values
• Must meet the qualifications to be a Group Teacher according to New York State Office of Children and Family Services Licensing requirements.

Associate's degree in Child Development, Elementary Education, Physical Education, Recreation or a related field AND No additional experience required OR CDA-Child Development Associate Credential for PreK AND One year direct experience working with children under 5 years of age

Specialized Knowledge, Skills & Certifications:

• Human relation skills with the ability to relate to staff, volunteers, children, parents and community members.
• Knowledge of school age children's development.
• Experience implementing programming for school age children.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Stand; walk; sit; run; use hands and fingers; handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, twist, bend; and talk to hear.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.