Assistant Teacher I (Long Island City YMCA)

YMCA of Greater New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Medical coverage

Paid time off

Free YMCA membership

Job summary

YMCA of Greater New York is seeking an Assistant Teacher to support the Head Group Teacher with lesson plans, classroom activities, and family engagement in our Long Island City program. The role emphasizes health, safety, and a positive learning environment for young children.

Responsibilities include assisting with developmentally appropriate lessons, guiding student growth, and maintaining accurate classroom documentation.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent required.
• Teacher Assistant certificate preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience with young children in a group setting.
• Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.

Responsibilities

• Ensure health, safety, and well‑being of children with close supervision.
• Assist with implementing developmentally appropriate lessons and activities.
• Guide students in their academic growth.
• Engage and communicate with parents/guardians and families.
• Collaborate with YMCA teams and maintain a safe classroom environment.
• Prepare food and maintain family‑style meal setting to support development.
• Maintain program documentation and incident/attendance records.
• Keep equipment and supplies organized; follow health and DOE guidelines.
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and events.

Skills

Experience with young children

Parent communication

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Teacher Assistant certificate

Job description

Full-Time / Regular

$17.34 Hourly

The YMCA of Greater New York is here for all New Yorkers — to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community. Founded in 1852, today the Y serves a diverse population of more than half a million New Yorkers who learn, grow, and thrive through programs and services at our 24 branches. Community is the cornerstone of the Y. Together, we connect active, engaged New Yorkers to build stronger communities.

To help fulfill our mission, we cultivate a culture of learning, leading, and collaboration to enhance community impact. Through our talented staff and “LEAP” career framework (Leadership, Empowerment, Accountability, Personal Growth), we are committed to a people-first approach that fosters trust, inclusion, growth, and development for all.

The Long Island City YMCA is seeking an Assistant Teacher who will support the Head Group Teacher/Group Teacher with implementing lesson plans and classroom activities, parent/family engagement, classroom management, and adherence to all internal and external policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the health, safety, and well‑being of children in the program by providing close supervision of all activities.
• Assist the Head Group Teacher/Group Teacher with implementing developmentally appropriate lessons and activities, including, but not limited to, literacy, arts, math, cooking, science, outdoor/indoor recreation, field trips, etc.
• Guide students in their academic growth.
• Actively communicate with and engage parents/guardians and families.
• Work as a supportive team member within the Early Childhood Learning Center and the YMCA Branch.
• Maintain a clean and safe classroom environment by reporting and/or removing all potential hazards and by setting up spaces and materials with a focus on supporting children’s learning.
• Prepare food for children and maintain a family‑style setting for eating, conducive to language, cognitive, and social development, as well as the development of healthy habits.
• Maintain accurate program documentation, including, but not limited to, incident/accident/behavior reports, attendance sheets, sign‑in/sign‑out sheets, development/growth forms, documentation of eating and sleeping habits, parent/guardian surveys, etc.
• Maintain equipment, storage, and supply inventory, as needed.
• Ensure that all YMCA of Greater New York, Department of Health, and Department of Education (if applicable) guidelines are followed.
• Actively participate in designated meetings, training sessions, and special events.

Desired Skills & Experience

• High School Diploma/GED and/or a study plan required.
• Teacher Assistant certificate preferred.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with young children in a group setting.
• Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.

Benefits

The YMCA of Greater New York offers a variety of benefits to its staff members, including retirement benefits, medical, paid time off, free YMCA membership, and more! Benefit eligibility is determined by an individual’s employment status (i.e., full‑time or part‑time), tenure, and/or the number of hours scheduled to work. Click here for more information.

How to Apply

If you would like to be a member of our dynamic team, please complete our online application and submit your résumé and a thoughtful cover letter that explains your interest in the role and our organization.

If you are a current YMCA employee, please submit your application through the Internal Career Site in Cornerstone.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.