Head Teacher - Elementary School Full Time

YMCA of Greater Hartford Job Description

Job Title: Head Teacher - Elementary School

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Job Grade:

Primary Department: SACC

Reports to: Childcare Coordinator

Revision Date: 10/31/2024 Leadership Level: Leader

This position starts August 2025

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Child Development Director and Childcare Coordinator, the Head Teacher is responsible for the overall operations of the classroom and provides a high-quality recreational activities and experiences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises and implements classroom activities, including outdoor play activities using positive discipline techniques to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
• Serve our diverse communities equitably and act with an inclusive, anti-racist lens always; promote a brave, respectful culture at the Y.
• Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculums and submit timely forms and reports.
• Responsible for planning and documenting program according to state guidelines.
• Maintain open lines of communication with families and work with other staff members to ensure that the needs of individual children are met.
• Attend and actively participate in supervision, multi-component, and staff meetings.
• Assists in the preparation of materials, equipment, and information for the daily program, and taking daily attendance.
• Use appropriate food handling, sanitation, and OSHA procedures at all times.
• Conduct monthly fire drills, lockdown drills and other emergencies.
• Maintain classroom and storage materials in neat, orderly, and safe manner.
• Displays and upholds YMCA core values of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. Consistently demonstrates caring for the community we serve, for one another, and for the organization they are part of, and contributes to building trust, pride, and camaraderie.
• Maintain confidentiality of child and family information.
• Supervising a group of children.
• Assist in maintaining all center policies and OEC state regulations.
• Perform other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• School Age: Knowledge of school age development.
• Warm and nurturing personality.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.
• This position may be authorized to have access to protected Health Information (PHI) to perform specific job duties.
• Must be able to work in school-age classroom, possibly work with children with communicable diseases and disabilities.
• Outdoor playground (possibly without handicapped access).
• Personal qualifications as required in Part 407: Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers, emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities.

EDUCATION:

OEC requirements:

Option 1: A high school diploma PLUS completion of the 45 hours of school age (can be done after hire) / elementary education online training via OEC Registry account as designated by the OEC

OR

Option 2: At Least (3) credit school age or elementary education from a regionally accredited higher education institution.

OR

Option 3: A degree in any field from a regionally accredited higher education institution PLUS current (not expired) Connecticut State Department of Education elementary education teacher certification.

OR

EXPERIENCE:

• School-Aged Childcare: At Least 240 hours of documented supervised experience working directly with a group of school age children in a licensed childcare program, licensed youth camp program, or an equivalent program as determined at the sole discretion of the office.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

• The ability to always supervise children by sight and sound provides verbal direction.
• The ability to move around a room and quickly react to safety issues (i.e. climbing, aggressive behavior).
• Ability to remain calm, objective and respectful in potentially stressful
  situations (i.e. crying upset children, upset parents, or upset staff).
• The ability to move around the room to assist children and supervise children
  with daily activities, social interaction, physical and emotional needs, including sitting on the floor, kneeling, bending, crouching.
• Ability to lift objects up to 40 lbs.

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.