Toddler 2 Assistant Teacher - Downtown

Ymc; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Millworks YMCA Early Learning Center in Bellingham on the waterfront is seeking a full-time Assistant Toddler Teacher for the Toddler 2 classroom. Work with Lead Teacher and teammates to support 14 children ages 20–30 months.

The role focuses on language development, social-emotional skills, independent routines, and potty training, with early childhood best practices and ongoing feedback from mentors.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for toddlers in a group setting is preferred.
• Ability to organize activities and support language development.
• Comfortable working in a team-teaching environment and taking direction.
• Willingness to engage with families and follow safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children and maintain a safe, welcoming classroom.
• Collaborate with Lead Teacher to deliver a play-based curriculum.
• Support routines including meals, diapering, potty training, and naps.
• Document observations for assessments and portfolios.
• Communicate with parents about children’s progress and needs.
• Keep materials and surfaces clean and organized; assist with first aid when needed.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and program activities.

Job description

Millworks YMCA Early Learning Center | Bellingham WaterfrontFull-Time | Monday–Friday | 6:30 AM–3:00 PMDo you love the energy, curiosity, and wonderfully messy world of toddlers? Are you a morning person who enjoys helping little humans learn how to communicate, make friends, explore their world, and become more independent?Our Millworks YMCA Early Learning Center, located on the Bellingham waterfront, is looking for a full-time Assistant Toddler Teacher to join our Toddler 2 classroom!Welcome to Toddler 2Toddler 2 is home to 14 busy, curious children ages 20–30 months, supported by a team of 2–3 teachers throughout the day.This is a lively classroom where you'll spend your days helping toddlers:Build their growing language skillsLearn how to make friends and be gentle with othersExplore through play and hands-on activitiesDevelop independence and new routinesBegin potty-training skillsNavigate all the big feelings that come with being a toddler!And yes—there will be toddler messes. Lots of them. If you can embrace the chaos, celebrate the small wins, and still find the missing shoe, you might be exactly who we're looking for.Calling All Morning People!This position works 6:30 AM–3:00 PM, so we're looking for someone who is ready to greet our earliest families with a smile and help get the classroom off to a great start.You'll work closely with the Lead Teacher and other classroom teachers in a collaborative, team-teaching environment. Being able to communicate well, take direction, jump in where needed, and receive feedback with an open mind will be important to your success.What You'll DoAs an Assistant Toddler Teacher, you'll help create a safe, nurturing, engaging environment where toddlers can learn and thrive. You'll:Supervise children and help maintain a safe, welcoming classroom.Work alongside the Lead Teacher to provide a play-based curriculum focused on language development, social-emotional skills, exploration, and early learning.Support daily toddler routines, including meals, diapering, potty training, and naps.Help create an engaging classroom environment using early childhood best practices and the ITERS-R environmental rating scale.Observe children and assist with documentation for assessments and portfolios.Build positive relationships with parents and caregivers and communicate about children's needs and progress.Keep classroom materials and surfaces clean, sanitized, organized, and ready for play.Administer basic first aid and complete required incident documentation when needed.Participate in staff meetings, trainings, family nights, and program activities.Follow YMCA policies, licensing requirements, mandated reporting requirements, and youth protection practices.What We're Looking ForYou could be a great fit if you:Have experience caring for multiple children ages 1–4—professional experience is preferred.Genuinely enjoy working with toddlers and understand that learning at this age can be joyful, messy, loud, and unpredictable.Are organized, dependable, and ready to start your day early.Work well as part of a team and are comfortable taking cues and direction from a Lead Teacher.Communicate positively with coworkers and families.Are open to learning, coaching, and feedback.Believe every child deserves to feel safe, supported, included, and valued.Why Work at the Y?At the YMCA, you're doing more than working in child care. You're helping children build confidence, relationships, independence, and skills that will stay with them as they grow.You'll be part of a team committed to creating a place where children and families feel like they belong—and where teachers have the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact every day.Our Commitment to EquityEverything we do at the YMCA is based on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, diverse abilities, age, religion, socioeconomic status, or other identities.Our work focuses on eliminating barriers to access, reducing disparities, providing educational support, supporting working families, and helping grow the next generation of changemakers.QUALIFICATIONS:Must be 18 years of age or older and a high school graduate (or equivalent).Previous experience working with children in a developmental setting preferred.Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.Previous experience with diverse populations. Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.Current CPR (Adult, Infant & Child) and First Aid, AED certifications.Complete Praesidium Child Abuse prevention training within 15 days of hire.STARS 30 Hour Childcare Basic Training (Must be completed within 3 months of hire date)Must have or be in the process of obtaining the following:___ Negative TB Test___ HIV/Bloodborne Pathogen training___ Safe Sleep___ MERIT ID account___ Food Handlers Card___ Cleared Portable Background Check from MERIT___ MMR Immunization RecordWillingness to obtain the ECE initial certificate or equivalent (approximately 12 credits).WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise program activities.The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.