Child Care Teacher Assistant Full Time

Armed Services YMCA; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 27,483 - 34,715; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on Bonus

Retention Bonuses

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

Join the Armed Services YMCA in Virginia Beach as part of our new childcare development center. You will assist the Lead Teacher in providing a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment. Responsibilities include engaging with children, supporting diverse needs, and ensuring health and safety standards.

We seek a candidate with a high school diploma and relevant experience in childcare. This role offers a sign-on bonus, retention bonuses, and an opportunity to work with military families.

Qualifications

• Must participate in continued professional development related to early childhood education.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have knowledge of childcare regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing a learning environment at the child development center.
• Support each child's learning with developmentally appropriate materials.
• Practice and model sanitation and hygiene procedures.

Skills

Knowledge of childcare regulations

Ability to support children with disabilities

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Understanding of ELM curriculum

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Summary: Join our growing team in a new and state‑of‑the‑art childcare development center! Be a part of helping us set up this brand new center for success and become a part of building a team. Under the supervision of the Child Care Lead Teacher, you will assist in providing a learning environment at the newly built child development center that uses developmentally appropriate practices, ensures the health and safety of each child and staff, and offers resources and support to families.

Salary commensurate with experience: $19.95–$25.20 per hour.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing assessments of children, including observations, portfolio sampling, and developmental checklists.
• Support each child’s individual learning and development by providing an environment with developmentally appropriate equipment and materials.
• Be inclusive of children with disabilities by following the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Assist with the implementation of a daily program that balances adult and child‑initiated activities in both large and small groups, indoor and outdoor play, and timely and predictable transitions.
• Collaborate with the lead teacher to develop and implement lesson plans based on the ELM curriculum.
• Provide opportunities for creative self‑expression through art, music, movement, and dramatic play.
• Support the social and emotional development of each child by building trust, fostering independence, encouraging self‑confidence, and supporting positive adult and peer relationships.
• Encourage positive guidance by setting clear, consistent limits and having realistic expectations.
• Support the home language, culture, and family composition of each child by encouraging feelings and rights of others.

Health, Safety and Nutritional Procedures

• Practice and model sanitation and hygiene procedures, including hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting toys and furniture, and providing children with space to place personal belongings.
• Comply with policies regarding blood‑borne pathogens to protect children and staff.
• Assist the lead teacher with maintaining accurate emergency contact information.
• Follow policies regarding temporary exclusion and physician notification of diagnosis.
• Practice policies regarding medication administration and storage.
• Provide an indoor and outdoor environment supervised in accordance with licensing regulations and free of hazards.
• Comply with the agency‑approved Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting policy.
• Complete daily attendance records when requested by the Child Care Lead Teacher or in their absence.
• Respond to emergency situations by implementing preparedness procedures.
• Assist with the nutritional aspects of the program by serving food in a “family‑style” manner, sitting with children during mealtimes, and scheduling meals into the daily schedule.
• Serve all food on the planned menu unless directed otherwise.
• Serve purchased food replacements for children with specific and physician‑documented dietary needs.

Staff and Parent Responsibilities

• Follow the ELM curriculum.
• Assist the lead teacher in making timely requisitions for health, safety, and classroom supplies.
• Provide adequate coverage in your absence for all approved leave, including personal days and advanced sick leave.
• Attend all scheduled staff development days and additional training sessions.
• Attend all staff meetings.
• Invite parents to become integral to the program.
• Assist the childcare lead teacher in completing two parent‑teacher conferences throughout the year.
• Assist parents with transition from one classroom to another or from the Child Development Center to kindergarten.
• Communicate with parents regularly, verbally and non‑verbally.
• Assist with the preparation of home learning activities.
• Communicate in a professional and respectful manner with parents and guardians.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Must meet all required education and experience to satisfy Virginia State licensing requirements.
• Must have knowledge of childcare regulations.
• Must participate in continued professional development through enrollment in formal and informal educational courses related to early childhood education.
• Must obtain or complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by federal, state or national accreditation institutions.
• Must pass Federal, State, Child Protective Services checks, National Sex Offender Registry and, if living out of Virginia in the last five years, all applicable out‑of‑state checks.
• Must pass a pre‑employment physical, provide evidence of immunization and be free of communicable diseases.
• Must be familiar with accreditation standards.
• Preferred experience with military families and their children.
• Required to do considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds.

Education

Provide a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts (showing degree awarded) when you apply.

Compensation and Benefits

• Sign‑on Bonus: Eligible candidates receive a $500 sign‑on bonus upon hire.
• Retention Bonus: Earn up to $1,750 in retention bonuses, distributed over key employment milestones.

Equal Opportunity

Armed Service YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. We encourage applicants of all ages. Military spouses, veterans, and other military‑affiliated job seekers are encouraged to apply.