Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Competitive salary
- Dental insurance
- Employee discounts
- Health insurance
- Opportunity for advancement
- Paid time off
- Training & development
- Vision insurance
- Wellness resources
- Flexible schedule
- Free food & snacks
- Parental leave
- Savings bank
Job Title: K-5 (School Age) Teacher
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time, 40 hrs/week
Shifts: School Year: 6:30AM-9:00AM & 11:00PM-4:30PM and Summer: 7:30AM – 4:30PM
Supervisor: Senior Director, Early Education
Age Groups: Kindergarten – 5th Grade age students
Location: Pottstown, PA
WHO WE ARE:
YWCA Tri-County Area is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YW serves more than 3,000 people annually in Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties as a leader in advocating for girls, women, and families. YW’s quality programs and services focus on education, designed to build individual, family, and community success: early childhood education; Youth Education & Prevention Programs that include enrichment, STEM learning, and recreation; adult education and English as a Second Language; workforce development; Foster Grandparent Program; and holistic wraparound services. Mission-based advocacy efforts raise awareness, offer issue education, and build social capital around women's empowerment, racial and social justice, and safe and healthy communities.
YWCA Tri-County Area is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering competitive salaries and benefit packages.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
YWCA Tri-County Area is looking for dedicated individuals to serve as teachers in our STARS 4 Early Education Center in Pottstown. Our EEC vision is to create a community of learning where children experience a sense of wonder and exploration – where everyone feels a sense of connection and participates with others in ways that create new possibilities for making the world a better place.
Position opportunities are based on candidates’ individual educational qualifications. We currently have assistant infant/toddler, preschool, and school age opportunities available.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:
YW’s Early Education School Age Teachers create a safe, nurturing environment while leading activities that elevate the overall quality of care and education. In this role, effective communication, active listening, and strong collaboration within a team environment are essential. Teachers implement quality educational programs, build positive relationships with children and families, and observe and document children’s progress to share with parents and staff. Additionally, School Age Teachers are responsible for designing and delivering developmentally appropriate activities tailored to children’s interests and needs. Each K-5 School Age Teacher is expected to understand, embody, and promote early childhood development principles in alignment with the YWCA Tri-County Area’s (YW3CA) policies, procedures, and mission statement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop, prepare, and organize engaging lesson plans that align with curriculum standards and support children's developmental goals.
- Actively supervise and ensure the safety of children during swimming activities and water play during summer camp sessions.
- Provide reliable break coverage across all age groups, adapting quickly to the specific routines and needs of infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age classrooms.
- Implement curriculum activities and encourage active participation by all children.
- Lead and engage in classroom activities while managing the cleanliness, maintenance, and availability of all materials.
- Model and foster self-help and good hygiene habits among children.
- Ensure a smooth, welcoming daily transition from home to the childcare center for children and families.
- Execute all center policies and state regulations to ensure full compliance.
- Maintain a personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement.
- Manage daily communications with parents through informal discussions and detailed daily reports.
- Maintain a healthy, safe, and secure classroom environment by upholding strict hygiene and cleanliness standards.
- Conduct and record daily observations of children's progress and interests.
- Attend and participate in all in-service training and monthly staff meetings to continuously increase job performance and competency.
- Uphold strict confidentiality regarding all children and family records.
- Complete special projects specific to the service area as directed by the supervisor.
- Guide and support families and staff using the P.E.A.C.E. model for problem-solving.
- Utilize inclusive language and Conscious Discipline skills and powers across all communications.
- Other duties as assigned within the scope of position expectations.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE POSITION:
- Minimum of 1-2 years of professional education experience.
- An understanding of child development.
- Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- High energy and the ability to work well with others (team members, children, families).
- Ability to work with others including families and community members
- Understanding of diverse family dynamics and cultural differences with the ability to work with and empower families
- Understanding of YW3CA mission, goals, and objectives and ability to work independently with a high level of energy and contribute as part of a larger team.
- Knowledge of the concepts and practices associated with early childhood education and child development issues
- Knowledge of and sensitive to the issues facing the community served.
- Strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups of co-workers, families, and members of the community.
- Oral and written communication skills and basic computer skills including Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, and customized databases.
- Ability to follow and implement lesson plans using daily observations
Other Position Factors The other position factors described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential tasks of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Requirements include:
- The ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels.
- The ability to kneel, bend, squat or crawl and stand for periods of time in both indoor and outdoor environments
- A specific vision ability including the ability to see up close and up to a certain distance, to see colors, have peripheral vision and depth perception.
- The ability to lift 50 pounds.
- The ability to sit on the floor and/or ground outside to be actively involved with the children.
- Position may require occasional trips to attend conferences, seminars, and meetings.
- May require working non-traditional hours based on operational needs.
Education & Experience:
- High School Diploma or GED and college credit in early childhood education or related field of study, or CDA, or 9 hours of ECE credit (required).
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with children.
- Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification.
- Must be willing to submit to background checks, in accordance with local laws and regulations.
- Current Health Assessment and TB test
- Familiar with Keystone STARS (a plus)
- Familiar with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Regulations a plus
- Familiar with ITERS and ECERS Rating Scale
- Ability to work independently; goal oriented.
- Commitment to the mission and values of the YW3CA
Equal Opportunity Employer YWCA Tri-County Area is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy that employees and applicants will not be subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment based on race, col-or, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran’s status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable state, federal or local laws.
Accordingly, YWCA Tri-County Area will hire, train, and promote individuals in accordance with this Equal Employment Opportunity Policy; make decisions according to the principle of equal opportunity by imposing only bona fide occupational qualification requirements for employment opportunities; and administer all personnel practices and programs (including, but not limited to, compensation, benefits, transfers, and training) in accordance with this Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
YWCA Tri-County Area is interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. Unfortunately, YWCA Tri-County Area is unable to sponsor employment for international candidates at this time.