(Part-Time) Assistant Preschool Teacher - PM Shift (Union-AFSCME)

City of Evanston; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Evanston is hiring a Part-Time Assistant Preschool Teacher (PM Shift) for the Robert Crown Community Center. This union position offers afternoon hours from 12:45 pm to 6:00 pm and a salary range of $19.02 to $24.36 per hour.

Under supervision, you will assist in delivering developmentally appropriate activities, supervise children, communicate with parents, and help maintain a safe, clean classroom environment. Prior childcare experience and CPR/First Aid are preferred.

Qualifications

• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience in Child Care / Education preferred.
• CPR, AED and First Aid or obtain within six months of employment.
• Must possess or be willing and able to obtain ECE Level 1 within six months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in development and implementation of a developmentally appropriate preschool program for young children.
• Supervise and conduct group activities when Lead Teacher is absent.
• Attend to the needs of the children in the program.
• Communicate with parents about their child’s progress.
• Maintain safe, clean, and well-maintained equipment and facilities.

Skills

Communication

Supervision

Curriculum support

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

(Part-Time) Assistant Preschool Teacher - PM Shift (Union-AFSCME) JobID: 1355

• Position Type: Parks and Recreation/ Part-Time Preschool Instructor
• Date Posted: 3/27/2026
• Location: Robert Crown Community Center
• Closing Date: 11/08/2026

SALARY RANGE: $19.02 - $24.36/ hour *Starting salary is dependent on qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for the range.

Scheduled Hours: Monday – Friday (PM SHIFT 12:45 pm-6:00 pm)

NATURE OF WORK

Under the direction of the Early Childhood Education Operations Supervisor and/or their designee, this position is responsible for providing a safe and developmentally appropriate preschool program in accordance with all policies and procedures. The Assistant Preschool Teacher will be responsible for assisting in the planning and implementing a program to teach young children. They must ensure the development and safety of these children in accordance with policies. The Assistant Preschool Teacher will be respectful of children, parents, and co-workers to ensure that equipment and facilities are clean, safe and well maintained. Failure to provide adequate services may place children at risk. They will provide basic preschool instruction; including assisting in the planning and leading of games, small group projects and innovative activities for these children.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF WORK

(Specific assignment may include some or all of the following):

• Assist in the development and implementation of a developmentally appropriate preschool program for young children:
  • Assist in planning and implementation of educational activities to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual and social
  • To supervise and conduct group activities and participants in the temporary absence of the Lead Teacher as needed.
  • Attend to the needs of the children in the program.
  • Supervise the use of equipment and activities
  • Ensure equipment and the facility is clean, well maintained and safe at all times
  • Provide the weekly and monthly schedules of activities
  • Ensure culturally appropriate programs and activities are held in accordance with policy and procedure.
  • Assist in facilitating activities that introduce math and literacy concepts
  • Enforce policies and procedures including acceptable disciplinary policies
  • Be familiar with emergency procedures
  • Assist in meal service
• Supervise children in the Pre-school:
  • Ensure children are supervised at all times
  • Ensure teacher/student ratios are always appropriate
  • Provide various experiences and activities for children including songs, games and small group activities
  • Build children's esteem in an appropriate manner
  • Comfort children in an appropriate manner
  • Establish routines and provide positive guidance to the children
  • To report and accidents/injury safety concerns immediately to direct supervisor
  • Provide a safe and secure environment for children to feel comfortable
  • Implement positive discipline when required
  • Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that children understand
  • Observe children and make notes of progress
  • Integrate special needs children in a positive and respectful manner
  • Assist in and lead indoor and outdoor recreational and educational activities.
  • Possess good judgment, emotional maturity, decision making skills, and willingness to accept responsibilities.
  • Provide personal care or support in personal care/diapering to participants enrolled in programs.
• Communicate with parents and members of the community:
  • Discuss children's development with parents or guardians
  • Discuss identified problems and needs with professionals as appropriate
  • Participate in community activities
  • Promote literacy and early education with parents and guardians
  • Keep parents informed of program expectations, program activities and their child's progress
  • Ability to greet the public/families in a courteous manner and engage in good communications skills.
• Maintain program administration:
  • Assist in the development and maintain current, accurate and confidential client files
  • Complete student observations by appropriate deadline as directed by your supervisor.
  • Keeping supervisor informed of material and supplies necessary to conduct programs
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, and the public.
  • Required to attend staff meetings, training sessions and workshops when directed
  • Comply with Gateways continuing education requirements
• Perform other related duties as required

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

Assist in the maintenance of records and the completion of reports. Conduct regular safety checks and report any problems immediately to your supervisor. Assist with setting up and cleanup of program rooms (moving tables, chairs, equipment and supplies)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK

• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience in Child Care / Child Development / Education monitoring children ages 2 -5 yrs. preferred.
• Minimum 3 months of experience in childcare within a group/classroom setting, overseeing/supporting children preferred.
• CPR, AED and First Aid or obtain within six months of employment
• Must possess or be willing and able to obtain ECE Level 1 within six months of employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS

• Knowledge of computer programs, including Word, Excel and Internet.
• Ability to read staff manuals, memoranda, and attendance sheets.
• Ability to complete attendance sheets, accident reports, incident reports and behavior reports using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, and style.
• Ability to give verbal direction to subordinates, communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, citizens, and the public as well as other employees; speaking extemporaneously.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form; to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, and the public, to greet the public in a courteous manner and good communication skills.
• Ability to attend staff meetings, training sessions and workshops, when requested.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK

Ability to work primarily indoors and is occasionally subject to outdoor environmental conditions – no effective protection from the weather conditions or temperature changes. The employee performs tasks outdoors related to recreational programs, weather can be hot in the summer, etc., while in the fall and spring can be cool/cold. Employee should have the ability to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly, in addition to the ability to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Have the ability to lift, reach handle, finger, kneel, bend, stand for long periods of time, talk, hear, feel, smell, climb, maintain balance, stoop, crouch, crawl, and see the nature of the object by the eye. There are no environmental hazards associated with this classification. Occasional heavy lifting of program equipment may be necessary. (Ability to lift a child (up to 50 lbs) when necessary). The worker is subject to prolonged standing while conducting programs. Environmental conditions (physical surroundings) usually associated with this classification: includes recreation centers, gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms, kitchens, swimming pools, athletic fields, parks, playgrounds, office space, conference rooms, beaches, and field trip sites. Classroom includes a variety of animals which must be maintained as part of each classroom science area. Environmental conditions (hazards) usually associated with this classification the worker is subject to inside environmental conditions approximately 75% of the time and outside work 25% of the time, with no effective protection from the weather conditions or temperature changes. Machines, tools, equipment, and work aids which may be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those commonly associated with this type of work: pen, pencil, ruler, blueprints, charts, contracts, diagrams, directives, documents, forms, manuals, publications, reference books, schedules, and specifications. Art/craft supplies, sports equipment, games and toys appropriate for preschool age children.

SUPERVISION

Work is performed under the general direction/supervision of the Recreation Program Coordinator/Preschool Director and/or their designee (Lead Teacher and Lead Supervisor). Assignments may vary from season to season and day to day. Assignments can be either verbal or written, with the employee determining proper procedure and work methods and is responsible for completing the work according to City work rules and safety regulations. Work is reviewed through ongoing observation, written and verbal communication, meetings and feedback from supervisors and other department employees. Guidance is provided through rules, regulations, policies and procedures, Unified Work Rules, Union Contract, Personnel Rules and OSHA. Work is evaluated at least annually for the safe and skilled operation of equipment, quality of tasks, adherence to work rules, and performance in accordance with this classification standard.

PUBLIC CONTACT

The employee will have contact with the general public in city-owned buildings. The employee may need to respond to questions and complaints and provide general direction to the public; the employee has regular contact with other City employees in order to share information and complete work assignments.

The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person's race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at 847-448-8204 (voice) or 847-866-5095 (TTY)