Early Learning Lead Teacher/Asst. Site Director

Scope of Responsibilities:

Member and Program Experience

• Increases member/participant connection and commitment to YMCA programs and ensures the member/participant experience is consistent, integrated and aligned to YMCA goals for member experience, engagement and retention.
• Addresses members' and prospective members' inquiries. Adapts and creates tools and processes to enhance member experience.
• Monitors program registration goals to understand trends and identify means for development. Adapts and customizes program portfolio to meet community needs.
• Collaborates with peers and leaders in and outside the Y to promote programs in the community through multiple channels.
• Participates in special events and activities at the center and within the community.
• Supports Site Director and coordinates with membership/contact center to ensure all collections, refunds and other transactions are completed accurately and timely.
• Participates in direct service as needed to facilitate program operations.
• Collaborates with other teams within center on membership and programming to ensure a high-quality member experience.

Team Management

• Supports Site Director to identify, manage and motivate a high-performing team that accomplishes program objectives.
• Establishes, monitors and evaluates team goals and performance standards. Coaches, trains and develops team members to optimize performance and enhance member experience.
• Supports the Site Director to Coach and mentor staff to support them in delivering safe, engaging and well-organized program services. Completes formal staff evaluations for performance reviews and provides coaching and intervention as necessary.
• Supports Site Director with hiring, onboarding and training new staff and provides ongoing trainings in accordance with training designs. Facilitates all-staff meetings and in-services. Responsible for ensuring staff are compliant with required trainings and certifications.
• Supports Site Director with Managing time and attendance for current staff, ensuring that time is accurately recorded in the HRIS system.
• Recruits and trains volunteers, where appropriate, to meet the needs of the programs.

Program Management

• Supports the Site Director to manage program budget, including forecasting revenue, managing program margins and expenses, to meet financial targets. Monitors and reports on program financial performance.
• Supports the Site Director with Overseeing maintenance of program guides, customer management system and online registration site to market programs to members and the community.
• Follows YMCA standards for supervised departments including year-round Preschool and Preschool Enrichments.
• Works to keep facilities safe, clean and inviting by adhering to association standards. Promotes the value of keeping the center welcoming and safe with staff.
• Identifies, escalates and rectifies potential risks that could threaten the safety, health or well-being of members, participants or employees.
• Supports the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.

Classroom Teacher Responsibilities

• Promotes and models high quality teaching and learning in the classroom that fosters academic readiness.
• Demonstrates culturally and linguistically appropriate practices that values all children and families and makes them feel welcomed and an essential part of the program.
• Maintains awareness and supervision of children's needs and ensure their physical health and safety, at all times.
• Communicates and develops effective partnerships with parents and families, encouraging parent involvement.
• Abides by DCFS and all quality standards for maintaining safe, high-quality programming
• Collaborates regularly with classroom team including families, volunteers and all staff.
• Collects and uses multiple data sources, both formative and summative, to inform instruction and child centered learning and development.
• Completes routine professional development annually; utilizes continuous quality improvement (CQI); and identifies different instructional resources and methods to meet children's varying needs and improve the classroom experience for children and families.
• Participates and supports association/center efforts towards recruitment, enrollment, attendance and retention of families while supporting the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.

Lesson Planning and Classroom Management

• Develops lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement.
• Implements high quality, developmentally appropriate instructional activities and curriculum approaches (like Creative Curriculum) that facilitate active learning experiences and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child; while ensuring the program follows DCFS, YMCA, ExceleRate Illinois, and NAEYC accreditation standards, if applicable.
• Researches, plans, and implements appropriate studies/projects for an in-depth investigation of a topic over time.
• Establishes and maintains an attractive, clean, safe and engaging classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques and that encourages children's independence and self-selection of activities.
• Leverages the physical environment and pedagogical documentation to support teaching and learning practices.
• Uses observational and child data to plan developmentally appropriate and engaging early learning experiences based upon the emergent needs of the child.

Requirements:

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  Associate's Degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

  
  
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  Must be at least 19 years of age.

  
  
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  21 college semester hours in Early Childhood Education or child development related coursework and either a Gateways to Opportunity Level I Illinois Director Credential (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 50.720(b) or 3 semester hours of college credit or 3 points of credential approved training in administration, leadership or management.

  
  
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  2 years or more experience in early childhood related setting.

  
  
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  ExceleRate IL Director Credential Level 1 preferred.

  
  
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  1 to 3 years or more experience in youth and family programming providing high-quality experience to program participants, with at least 2 years of supervisor or team leadership experience.

  
  
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  Demonstrated ability to accomplish goals through others, whether direct reports or through influence.

  
  
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  Strategic thinking skills including effective planning, setting goals, monitoring progress, tracking results and making appropriate adjustments to plans based on circumstances and context.

  
  
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  Ability to organize and prioritize multiple, competing priorities to maximize personal and team effectiveness.

  
  
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  Budget and expense management experience, with the ability to assist in managing budgets to plan.

  
  
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  Customer service orientation, with the ability to effectively communicate on a regular basis with internal customers, build relationships, manage customer expectations and take responsibility for a high level of service.

  
  
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  Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively build and maintain relationships with customers, team members and other stakeholders and constituents.

  
  
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  Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, email, video conferencing; ability to learn and adapt to new technology.

  
  
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  Meet physical qualifications required as outlined in job description. The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

  
  
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  Based on funding requirements, must be willing to register with the Gateways Registry and complete all required online training for designated program area.

  
  
• Pre-Employment medical screening and TB test per program requirements.
• Required to be achieved or maintained once in role: Food Handlers Training

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required