Extended Care Instructor

Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc.; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Paid time off

Training and professional development

Job summary

Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc. in Newark seeks an energetic Extended Care Instructor to provide high-quality care after the school day.

You will help children transition to a structured, nurturing, and joyful extended care setting where they can relax, connect with peers, and continue learning through play and exploration. This role emphasizes relationships, emotional safety, and positive interactions that help children thrive beyond the classroom.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates understanding of or commitment to supporting social-emotional development in group settings.
• Enthusiasm for planning and leading hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities.
• Ability to maintain appropriate expectations while building warm, responsive relationships with children.
• Dependability, sound judgment, flexibility, and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead engaging activities including art, literacy, STEM, music, and outdoor play.
• Create a safe, welcoming environment that supports positive social skills.
• Model respectful communication and help with conflict resolution and self-regulation.
• Maintain active supervision during all activities, meals, and transitions.
• Follow schedules, lesson plans, safety procedures, and keep records up to date.
• Prepare activity materials and maintain clean, organized spaces.
• Assist with snacks or meals and follow health and food-safety procedures.
• Communicate professionally with children, families, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Complete attendance, incident, dismissal, and other required records on time.
• Participate in required training and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Social-emotional development

Planning activities

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Background checks compliance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Education/child development coursework or credentials

Job description

About Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc.

Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc. is a nonprofit early childhood education organization dedicated to preparing children for lifelong success through exceptional educational experiences, strong family partnerships, and a culture of continuous improvement.

We serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children through a variety of high-quality early childhood programs designed to foster academic achievement, social-emotional development, and school readiness.

Our team is united by a commitment to professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and excellence. We believe that every child deserves educators who are knowledgeable, compassionate, and committed to creating safe, engaging, and inclusive learning environments where children can thrive.

At Clinton Hill, we invest in our employees through professional development, coaching, and opportunities for growth while maintaining high expectations for performance and ethical conduct. We seek individuals who embrace continuous learning, demonstrate initiative, communicate with professionalism, and are passionate about making a lasting impact on children, families, and our community.

If you are looking to join an organization where your work matters every day and excellence is the standard—not the exception,we encourage you to apply.

About the role

The learning day may be ending, but children still need a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where they can continue to grow.

Clinton Hill is seeking an energetic and dependable Extended Care Instructor to provide high-quality care in an environment that promotes appropriate social-emotional development . In this role, you will support children as they transition from the school day into a structured, supportive, and joyful extended care setting where they can relax, connect with peers, and continue learning through play and exploration.

This position is ideal for someone who understands the importance of relationships, emotional safety, and consistent, positive interactions in helping children thrive beyond the classroom.

What you’ll do

• Lead engaging activities that may include art, literacy, STEM, music, movement, games, and outdoor play.
• Create a safe, welcoming, and emotionally supportive environment where children can unwind, build friendships, and develop positive social skills.
• Promote healthy social-emotional development by modeling respectful communication, supporting conflict resolution, and encouraging empathy, cooperation, and self-regulation.
• Maintain active supervision and account for children throughout activities, transitions, meals, and dismissal.
• Use positive, age-appropriate guidance strategies to support appropriate behavior, independence, and group participation.
• Follow established schedules, lesson plans, safety procedures, and individual child-support information.
• Prepare activity materials and maintain clean, organized, and inviting program spaces.
• Assist with snacks or meals and follow all health, sanitation, and food-safety procedures.
• Communicate professionally and respectfully with children, families, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Complete attendance, incident, dismissal, and other required program records accurately and on time.
• Participate in required training, meetings, and ongoing professional development focused on quality care and child development.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with children in a school, child care, camp, recreation, youth-development, or community setting.
• Strong understanding of or commitment to supporting social-emotional development in group settings .
• Enthusiasm for planning and leading hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities.
• Ability to maintain appropriate expectations while building warm, responsive relationships with children.
• Dependability, sound judgment, flexibility, and strong communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respond constructively to feedback.
• Successful completion of all required background checks, health clearances, and program training.

College coursework or credentials in education, early childhood education, child development, recreation, social work, or a related field are valued.

At Clinton Hill, extended care is more than supervision—it is a critical part of a child’s day where high-quality care and intentional support for social-emotional development help children feel safe, valued, and successful.

You will join a team committed to creating enriching environments where children build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop lifelong skills.

• Eligible employees may receive benefits, paid time off, training, and opportunities for continued growth.

Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

We welcome qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds who share our commitment to children, families, and the Newark community.