Position starts in FALL 2026!

Requirements:

• Qualified Candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Early Ed/Special Ed or related field
• Be knowledgeable about current early childhood issues, trends and teaching strategies
• Have a warm, friendly and outgoing personality. Have previous experience working with children. Work effectively with children, families and other staff
• Be able to be certified in Connecticut Child Care, Adult & Child CPR, Administration of Medication and Epi-pen, and attain certification within 90 days of employment
• Possess good oral communication, written communication, public speaking and organizational skills

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Early Childhood Director, the Senior Teacher is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for all aspects of the classroom including lesson planning, maintaining accreditation and state licensing regulations, curriculum implementation, children’s assessment, parent communication, safety of children and program quality. Ensure the safety of all children
• Communicate with parents through conversation, notes, monthly newsletters, email and via telephone. Be available for questions, concerns and conferences. Appropriately notify parents of any problems or concerns
• Ask for photo identification for any parents/adults picking up a child if you do not recognize them
• Assess and observe child development regularly, using this information to plan curriculum accordingly and meet the individual needs of each child
• Ensure a proper staff to child ratio. This includes finding substitutes when out sick and staying in the classroom or program area until your staff replacement arrives for their shift
• Plan monthly and weekly curriculum based on Connecticut Department of Education’s Preschool Curriculum Framework
• Participate in planning meetings and share ideas with other teachers
• Participate in special events, field trips, parent/teacher conferences, staff trainings and general YMCA events as required
• Responsible for meeting all licensing standards in the classroom. Ensure that the Early Childhood Director and Director of Child Care are notified of any safety or noncompliance issues
• Ensure all policies and procedures of the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA are followed by program staff and leaders. This includes but is not limited to risk management, personnel, technology, and child abuse policies
• Plan, order and purchase classroom supplies
• Create a child centered classroom environment, posting artwork at eye level, weaving objectives into centers, and occasionally rearranging the classroom furniture
• Work with Early Childhood Director and Director of Child Care to implement accreditation standards and be supportive of this process
• Meet regularly with the Early Childhood Director
• Assist in meeting strategic planning objectives as assigned
• Review and make recommendations to current policies
• Report any suspected cases of abuse and/or neglect to the director immediately
• Serve as a YMCA ‘ambassador’ in the Cheshire community
• Follow the YMCA’s behavior management policy. Focus on positive behaviors and helping children work through their difficulties
• Operate all programs with the safety of the participants in mind and abide by all applicable risk management policies
• Follow all Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA policies and procedures
• Follow all State of Connecticut licensing regulations
• Be a staff representative for our program during any required meetings or functions
• Foster a positive; team orientated environment, encouraging staff growth and development
• Be a positive role model for children and other staff
• Assist in evaluating classroom teachers and assistants
• Other duties as required
• I will adhere to all policies and procedures related to child abuse prevention

The information and description above are mutually agreed and understood as the position outlined and may include added responsibilities and duties as needed for the YMCA.