Assistant Teacher - Kindergarten Prep in Hartford, Connecticut at Boys and Girls Club of Hartford Inc

The Assistant Teacher works alongside the Head Teacher to provide a safe, structured, nurturing, and academically engaging classroom experience. The position reinforces instruction, leads small-group and individual activities, supervises children, documents progress, and supports classroom routines.

The Assistant Teacher helps children strengthen the academic, social-emotional, communication, behavioral, and independence skills necessary to transition successfully into kindergarten and first grade.

Key Job Responsibilities

Instructional Support

• Assist the Head Teacher with implementing daily and weekly lesson plans aligned with program standards and first-grade readiness expectations.
• Reinforce early literacy, writing, mathematics, communication, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills.
• Lead assigned small-group, learning-center, individual, and enrichment activities.
• Help children practice listening, following directions, completing tasks, working independently, cooperating with peers, and participating in classroom routines.
• Prepare instructional materials, learning centers, displays, student work, and classroom activities.
• Provide individualized assistance to children who need additional support or enrichment.
• Share observations with the Head Teacher to help inform lesson planning and instructional decisions.

Student Progress and Documentation

• Observe and document children’s academic, developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional progress.
• Assist with maintaining student portfolios, assessment records, progress notes, attendance information, and other required documentation.
• Support the Head Teacher in identifying changes in student performance or behavior.
• Maintain accurate documentation of health concerns, illness, injuries, incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, and other required matters.
• Follow all reporting timelines and immediately communicate concerns to the Head Teacher or Director.

Supervision, Safety, and Classroom Environment

• Actively supervise children during instruction, play, meals, transitions, bathroom breaks, outdoor activities, field trips, arrival, and dismissal.
• Maintain required child-to-staff ratios and account for children at all times.
• Use positive, developmentally appropriate behavior-management practices.
• Help children manage emotions, resolve conflicts, communicate needs, and make safe choices.
• Assist with maintaining a clean, organized, healthy, and welcoming classroom.
• Follow all BGCH and applicable OEC, DCF, School Readiness, NAEYC, licensing, health, and safety requirements.
• Respond promptly and appropriately during emergencies, incidents, and classroom disruptions.

Teamwork and Family Engagement

• Work collaboratively with the Head Teacher and Part-Time Assistant Teacher.
• Participate in classroom planning and communicate important student information to the Head Teacher.
• Provide appropriate daily information to parents and caregivers while referring significant academic, behavioral, or developmental concerns to the Head Teacher.
• Maintain professionalism, consistency, warmth, and confidentiality in all interactions.
• Help create a classroom culture in which every child and family feels welcomed, respected, and supported.

Professional Responsibilities

• Arrive on time, prepared, and ready to actively participate throughout the assigned workday.
• Participate in staff meetings, family activities, professional development, and program-improvement efforts.
• Follow assigned schedules and classroom responsibilities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Expected Hours of Work: Monday through Friday, primarily 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Physical requirements

• Work is performed in classroom, gym, meal-service, outdoor, and community settings.
• Must be able to actively supervise children throughout the workday.
• Must be able to respond promptly to safety needs, participate in classroom and outdoor activities, and lift or assist with up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, or at least 12 college credits in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• Candidates actively pursuing required coursework may be considered when permitted under applicable program and licensing requirements.
• Previous experience working with young children in a school, childcare, camp, or youth-development setting preferred.
• Ability to reinforce lesson plans and lead small-group activities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated patience, dependability, emotional maturity, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to work effectively with children, families, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required background checks, health clearances, certifications, and registration through the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Professional Registry.
• Ability to provide required transcripts, references, health documentation, and other licensing records.