"Assistant Early Childhood Teacher"

Assistant Early Childhood Teacher

Vassar College is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by promoting an environment of transparency and respect for differences. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who meet the qualifications of a posting. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact careers@vassar.edu.

Job Description

Schedule: Full-time, Academic year (44.5 weeks/year)

Position Summary: As an assistant teacher, you will support a team approach, working with other educators to develop and implement a high-quality early education and care program that reflects the goals of our laboratory nursery school for children ages 2-5.

Position Responsibilities:

• Have a foundation and evolving philosophy regarding child social-emotional development, discipline, and guidance and a growing understanding of the principles of responsive caregiving
• Participate in planning and implementation of daily curriculum and care for the environment according to developmentally appropriate practices under the guidance of the lead teacher
• Communicate with parents regularly
• Organize and arrange classroom environment and materials with care, under the guidance of the lead teacher
• Engage in reflective team meetings, be open to feedback
• Support a positive team teaching approach
• Teach outside in all seasons and weather

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:

• High school diploma and experience working with young children (ages 0-5).
• Desire to grow and increase knowledge in the field of child development.
• Cheerful, nurturing, positive team player with collaborative work ethic.
• Able to organize and care for the classroom environment, prepare and arrange materials, clean up and set up.
• Participate in school events such as parent night, family socials, teacher training.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared with a background check through the NY State Office of Children and Family Services before beginning employment.

Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities

• CDA or Associate's Degree.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This position requires the candidate to be able to care for children's physical needs on a consistent basis. Candidates must interact with children on their level; frequent bending, squatting and playing on the floor is expected. This position requires that the infant/toddler educator perform emotional labor for children who are learning language, developing emotional regulation, and social skills. Candidate must be able to lift 30 pounds. Candidate must remain alert and productive and able to supervise by sight and hearing at all times. The ideal candidate will be comfortable teaching outside in all seasons and all weather.

The Assistant Teacher must be capable of managing and supervising small groups of children (up to 7) alone at periods of the day such as when other teachers take lunch breaks. The Assistant teacher may, at times, act as the lead teacher and must have the skills to supervise and manage groups of children in the lead teacher's absence.

Pay Rate: $18.51 hourly