Early Childhood Teacher

YMCA of Rock River Valley; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a community-focused organization dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. As an Early Childhood Teacher, you will play a vital role in creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive. This position involves developing and implementing high-quality early childhood activities, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and building strong relationships with children and families. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, you will help shape the future of our community while enjoying a supportive workplace that values your contributions. Embrace the opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families in Rockford.

Benefits

Complimentary YMCA Membership

Program Discounts

Retirement Contribution

Qualifications

• Must be at least 19 years old with a High School Diploma or GED.
• 60 semester hours in childcare or CDA required for this role.

Responsibilities

• Lead developmentally appropriate practices in a structured learning environment.
• Create lesson plans and maintain relationships with enrolled students.

Skills

Child Development

Lesson Planning

CPR and First Aid

Relationship Building

Diversity and Inclusion

Education

High School Diploma or GED

60 Semester Hours in Childcare

Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)

Tools

Creative Curriculum

ECERS/ITERS Quality Rating Scale

Job description

Career Opportunities with YMCA of Rock River Valley

POSITION SUMMARY
This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Early Childhood Teacher develops, organizes, and implements high-quality YMCA early childhood activities. This position shall be able to demonstrate skill and competence necessary to contribute to each child’s physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development. Provides a quality classroom experience to children and parents that focuses on building achievement and belonging in youth and relationships among youth and within families. Provides age-appropriate direction for the children in the classroom and implements daily program curriculum. Regardless of your primary classroom placement, this role will be expected to assist with all ages in the program.

LOCATION

YMCA Children's Learning Center
2918 Glenwood Ave.
Rockford, IL

OUR CULTURE
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The Y is made up of people of all ages, from all walks of life, working side-by-side to strengthen communities. Together, we strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender expression, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race, or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith — they guide everything we do.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUTH PROTECTION
The YMCA of Rock River Valley has a responsibility to provide safe and secure programs and services for our community. The YMCA is a leader in child abuse prevention to support the safety of children in our care.

• You'll support the commitment of the YMCA 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads and implements developmentally appropriate practices supporting a structured learning environment. Ensures high quality, developmental activities and establishes new interactive learning opportunities.
• Writes and creates lesson plans that support widely held expectations and development.
• Works hands-on inside the program equipping and leading the children and staff.
• Helps lead and develop program new hires and volunteers. Helps review and evaluate staff performance as needed.
• Develops and maintains relationships with enrolled students. Creates an attentive, nurturing environment for participants in which they can thrive.
• May assist in the marketing and distribution of program information.
• Helps operate program within pre-determined budget.
• Assures compliance with state and local regulations as they relate to program areas. Ensures that YMCA program standards are met and safety procedures followed.
• Provides for upkeep of assigned program facilities, supplies, and equipment and ensures the physical environment is supportive for youth development.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with parents. Responds to all parent and community inquiries and complaints in a timely manner. Leads parent-teacher conferences twice per year.
• Helps maintain proper records such as incident reports, developmental screenings, and children’s files. Responsible for developmental screening and milestone assessments, e.g., Ages and Stages questionnaires and Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Helps organize and deliver special events for parents and children.
• Responsible for all cleaning and sanitizing of the classrooms and equipment. Maintains tidiness of all activity spaces and classrooms.
• Provides an environment in which children can feel comfortable, relaxed, happy, and involved in play, recreation, and other activities.
• Provides active and constant supervision at all times including free play, structured learning, and nap time.
• Provides support to all classrooms and age-groups as needed.
• Ensures a strong focus on character development and diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout programming.
• Reports damaged equipment or safety hazards promptly.
• Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Rock River Valley.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum age of 19 years old.
• High School Diploma required or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have completed 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 6 semester hours in courses directly related to childcare and/or development from birth to age six; or a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA); or 1 year of child development experience and 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 6 semester hours directly related to child care and/or development from birth to age six.
• CPR, AED and First Aid Certifications required within 90 days.
• Praesidium Academy trainings.
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations.
• Proven track record of developing authentic and deepened relationships with others.

Upon Hire:

• Medical Release form CFS 602 filled out by physician, including proof of negative result of 2-step TB test.
• Must submit to a DCFS background check (Form CFS 718-B) and be fingerprinted (if necessary).
• A minimum of 3 written references.
• Register with Gateways to Opportunity.
• Ability to participate in a minimum of 15 clock hours of in-service training per calendar year.
• Complete Mandated Reporter Training, as well as all required Gateways training per DCFS.
• Training in ECERS/ITERS Quality Rating Scale trainings and assessments.
• ExcelleRate Illinois Early Childhood Credential Level 3 or higher preferred.
• Training in Creative Curriculum and Assessment preferred.

SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION

1 Position

Note: This position has a lead time of 6-8 weeks before placement.

Regardless of your primary classroom placement, this role will be expected to assist with all ages in the program.

Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
$18.50-$21.50 per hour (includes $15.75 base rate and $2.75 grant-funded differential)
Wage differentials are contingent upon the continuation of funding received from the Smart Start Workforce Grant which is reviewed quarterly.

The Y is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer more than just a job, rather the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around you. The Y offers work/life balance and excellent membership & program benefits.

• Complimentary YMCA Membership
• Program Discounts
• 8% Retirement contribution following 2-year vesting requirement

The Y: We're for Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility