Assistant Teacher

Who We Are

Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC) is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, families, and communities. Our mission is to create a welcoming, safe, and caring environment, nurturing academic, social, and emotional development to empower youth to become engaged, productive citizens. Our holistic approach focuses on positive goal-setting and family mobilization, serving as a catalyst for lasting change in our community. We provide a comprehensive range of educational, recreational, and social programs, equipping young individuals with the skills and confidence necessary for success, and are committed to making a profound impact on the lives of youth in Manchester.

Who We Are Looking For
We invite you to join our team as an Assistant Teacher. This role is pivotal in creating memorable and enriching experiences for our young learners during their after-school hours.

Essential Duties:

• Support Instructional Delivery: Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing engaging lesson plans that align with early learning standards, individual child goals, and MYDC’s mission to empower young learners.
• Facilitate Learning: Support daily classroom instruction through whole-group, small-group, and individualized activities that nurture curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
• Foster a Positive Learning Environment: Promote a safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate classroom where every child feels valued, respected, and supported.
• Prepare and Organize Learning Spaces: Assist in creating and maintaining inviting learning centers and educational materials that encourage exploration and hands-on discovery.
• Model Positive Behavior: Demonstrate and reinforce pro-social behaviors, classroom expectations, and social-emotional learning strategies to help children build empathy, self-regulation, and cooperation.
• Engage in Meaningful Play: Facilitate play-based learning experiences that promote foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
• Ensure Child Safety and Supervision: Supervise children actively and attentively in all settings—including classrooms, playgrounds, field trips, and during transitions—to maintain a safe and nurturing environment.
• Support Daily Care Routines: Assist with serving meals and snacks in accordance with health, nutrition, and safety protocols.
• Maintain Accurate Records: Support documentation efforts by recording attendance, developmental observations, and other required data in compliance with DHS and Pre-K Counts standards.
• Collaborate with Families and Staff: Partner with families, colleagues, and leadership to foster open communication and consistency in children’s care and learning experiences.
• Uphold Health and Safety Standards: Maintain a clean, organized, and well-prepared classroom environment that meets regulatory and programmatic guidelines.
• Engage in Professional Growth: Participate in required trainings, professional development, and credentialing opportunities to support continuous improvement and quality enhancement.
• Provide Classroom Leadership as Needed: Assume instructional responsibilities and classroom management duties in the absence of the Lead Teacher to ensure continuity of care and learning.

Experience/Education Requirement:

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, or a related field required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Certification : Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education Certification (Pre-K–4) preferred or the ability to obtain certification within one year.
• Experience : Minimum of two years of experience working in an early childhood setting. Experience supporting curriculum development and classroom management strongly preferred.
• Obtain and maintain current clearances (PA Child Abuse, Criminal Background, FBI Fingerprint).
• Current Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required or willingness to obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Completion of mandated reporter training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Early Childhood Development: Demonstrates a strong understanding of child development principles, early learning standards, and best practices in early education.
• Instructional Support Skills: Capable of assisting in lesson planning, classroom implementation, and ongoing observation and assessment of children’s progress.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable using Google Workspace (Docs, Drive, Slides, Gmail) and other digital tools to support classroom documentation, communication, and collaboration.
• Collaboration and Communication: Exhibits excellent interpersonal, organizational, and teamwork skills with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues.
• Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion: Committed to MYDC’s mission of nurturing lifelong learners through equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive early education.
• Professionalism and Reliability: Demonstrates dependability, adaptability, and a proactive approach to supporting classroom needs and program goals.

The compensation for this role is starting at $20.25 - $24.00/hour, depending on relevant experience and alignment.