Preschool Teacher Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Join our team of nurturing educators who help shape the lives of our youngest learners! The Greater Burlington YMCA is seeking a Preschool Teacher who is passionate about learning through play and ready to create a welcoming, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. This role is essential in supporting the Y’s mission to foster youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility

Schedule and Location: Monday-Friday (no weekends!) at our Burlington location located in the heart of Burlington at 298 College St. Burlington, VT. 

Why You'll Love Working with Us:

Competitive Pay – Starting pay for this position is between $18.00- $19.80/hour based on your experience and qualifications with the opportunity for merit based increases yearly. 

We Invest in You- At the Y, we know early childhood educators are essential—and we treat them that way. We’ve recently made a significant investment to increase wages across our Early Childhood Programs as part of our ongoing commitment to valuing, retaining, and supporting our incredible teaching teams.

Professional Development – Enjoy 8 in-service days dedicated to training, team meetings, and curriculum planning.

Time Off – Get 15 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of Paid Time Off in your first year.

Balanced Workload – One dedicated planning day each week.

Y Perks – Free YMCA membership and discounts on programs and camps.

Health Coverage – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

Loan Forgiveness – Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Growth Opportunities – Ongoing professional development and career advancement.

The City is Our Playground – Our location in the heart of Burlington means children get hands-on learning experiences exploring the waterfront, beaches, woods, and Church Street .

About Our Center:

At the Greater Burlington YMCA, we offer a play-based, emergent curriculum driven by each child’s natural curiosity and interests. With locations in both Burlington and Winooski, our early childhood programs celebrate the unique identities of children and families, nurturing social-emotional growth through meaningful play and authentic connections. At the Y, we:

• Support Social/Emotional Growth
• Celebrate Diversity
• Foster Curiosity
• Strive to Inspire and be Inspired

What You’ll Do:

• Support classroom teachers in planning and leading engaging, age-appropriate activities that reflect YMCA values and curriculum goals.
• Help supervise children during all classroom, gym, swim, and outdoor play activities to ensure a safe and positive environment.
• Build respectful, professional relationships with families and assist with family engagement events.
• Communicate observations and concerns with teachers and leadership, and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Assist in maintaining classroom organization, equipment, and licensing standards.
• Create a calm atmosphere during rest time and provide quiet support to children as needed.
• Attend required trainings and complete annual professional development hours.
• Foster a nurturing, inclusive environment that models the Y’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to be eligible for the starting rate of $18.00/hour. Additional compensation is determined based on experience and education aligned with the preferred qualifications. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age with a High School Diploma or GED
• Ability to pass a federal background check and state fingerprinting
• One year of experience working with children

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of a VT Fundamentals Course or at least 3 college credits in child development
• Certificate of completion of a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)
• Full-time experience working with children or youth in an educational, recreational, or programmatic setting, with milestones recognized at 2, 5, 10, and 15+ years.
• Completion of twelve college credits in child or human development or school age care and education. 
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in any field. 
• Formal training or certification experience in trauma-informed care, basic specialized care, or social work. Including completion of professional development or coursework in trauma-informed practices.
• 2+ years of direct full-time experience in special education or behavioral intervention.
• Coursework or certification in special education or behavioral intervention.
• Completion of DEI-specific training, coursework, or certification, with a minimum of 40 hours or the equivalent of a college course.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those necessary for the role and are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in our care. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Ability to effectively supervise and ensure the safety of children by maintaining visual and auditory awareness in various environments, including classrooms, outdoor play areas, and other program spaces.
• Ability to lift, carry, or support children up to 35 pounds as needed for care, safety, and engagement.
• Ability to engage in active participation in all aspects of the program, including assisting with activities such as swimming and gym lessons. This may involve frequent movement, such as kneeling, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching, and standing for extended periods.
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to the physical and emotional needs of children, including in emergency situations.