Create Your Y Story

At the Y, you can feel more connected to your community, meet new people, expand your knowledge base, and experience one of the most rewarding jobs by helping support our mission of developing individuals, families, and communities, while having fun in a challenging and dynamic atmosphere.

Who We Are

The Greater Valley YMCA (GVYMCA or GVY) is a volunteer-led, nonprofit, community organization. The Y is committed to strengthening community by positively changing lives every day. At each of our branches, we concentrate our efforts in three areas: Healthy Living, Youth Development, and Social Responsibility. And we do so in a way that upholds the Y’s traditional family values of Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Honesty.

For over 100 years, the Y has made tangible differences in the communities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Easton, Forks, Nazareth, those comprising the Slate Belt region and the Lehigh Valley as a whole. Founded as individual YMCAs as early as 1897, the following branches of the Greater Valley Y merged together between 2010 and 2015: the Nazareth YMCA, the Suburban North Family YMCA, the Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity and the Bethlehem YMCA. In 2014, the Forks YMCA Education Center was established. The Slate Belt branch was opened in 2015. In January 2017, the Allentown YMCA joined the Greater Valley YMCA.

What it’s Like to Work Here

Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at GVY is “Fulfilling.” Our team members all share a positive attitude, problem-solving abilities, and patience, enabling them to provide excellent customer service even during fast-paced shifts. Our culture, plus continuous opportunities for growth, have resulted in positive impacts on our communities. Don’t miss out on this rare opening with us!

The GVYMCA Is For Everyone

It's our mission to unleash the potential in every team, and we know that teams perform best when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. It is the unique contributions of all GVY'ers that drive our success, and we're committed to building a culture where everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work and be recognized for their efforts. To that end, we are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination for everyone. You can read more about our commitment to diversity and mission here

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an assistant school-age teacher to support the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

To be able to accomplish the goals set forth in this job description, you will need to possess a will to succeed. "What can I do to advance the Y and help it become more successful?" should be the mindset. The heart of the position will be the ability to look past "what is" and to see "what can/should be." These ideas for new systems, procedures, etc. originate from all YMCA upper management leadership positions, therefore, an elevated level of self-motivation and innovation/creativity is required to be successful at this position.

A Day in the Life as an Assistant School-Age Teacher

As an assistant teacher, you will be responsible for supporting the lead teacher in the classroom to provide a nourishing, positive, safe learning environment for the students. You will be actively engaged with the children during activities. You will also be making sure they are kept safe and always supervised. You will support the lead teacher in direction of the children in the classroom and help implement program curriculum. You will help provide a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on building achievement and belonging in youth and relationships among youth and within families while assisting with maintaining a classroom in accordance with PA Department of Human Services, CACFP and PA Keystone STARS Standards.

Responsibilities As an Assistant Teacher

• Assists with the implementation of curriculum within the established guidelines through lesson planning and a developmentally appropriate classroom environment
• Nurtures children through purposeful programming dedicated to building achievement and belonging in youth and relationships among youth and within families
• Supervises the children, classroom, and all activities including ADA accommodations where appropriate. Follows all procedures and standards
• Complies with PA DHS Regulations and Keystone Stars Standards
• Makes ongoing, systematic observations and evaluations of each child
• Cultivates positive relationships and maintains effective communication with parents. Engages parents as volunteers and connects them to the YMCA
• Maintains program site and equipment
• Maintains required program records, including child portfolios
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, and staff training
• Actively seeking to update skills by attending outside workshops and training
• Performs other duties as assigned and in accordance with the planned Chart of Work and that which supports the branch and association initiatives.
  

Who You Would Report to

• Childcare Director

Expected Hours Per Week

• Part-time
• Monday - Friday
  • 06:30 am - 08:00 am
  • 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm
• 25 - 30 hours a week

Pay Range

• $14.00 - $15.00 / hour

Where You Would Be Working

• Nazareth YMCA-School age off-site location: 4609 Newburg Rd, Nazareth PA 18064

Requirements

• High School degree or equivalent
• 2500 or more documentable hours of experience
• Child Abuse Clearance, PA State Police Clearance, FBI Clearance, NSOR (National Sex Offender Registry Clearance) (paid for by the YMCA/must maintain employment for 6 months from hire date)
• Health Assessment and TB Test
• Two (2) written references documenting your experience with children
• Mandated Reporter Training prior to first (1st) day working with children
• Pediatric First Aid/CPR and AED certifications, Bloodborne Pathogen training, Fire Safety, and 4 hours of Supervision Training within ninety (90) days of hire date.
• 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 diverse backgrounds.
• Familiarity with personal computers helpful
• Ability to respond to safety and emergency situations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good customer service skills, high ethical standards, an appropriate professional image, and a team player
• Must possess sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment skills, and a positive attitude

Work Environment and 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
• Ability to plan, lead and participate in activities
• Understands the YMCA is a public accommodation committed to inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions of position and to safely supervise children’s activities
• Ability to work independently or under direct supervision, strong organizational, communication, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to respond to emergency situations
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device
• The employee is in a classroom, therefore, may be required to lead and participate in activities that require sitting, standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and grasping
• Lift and carry objects weighing up to eighty pounds
• Walking unaided on various surfaces indoors and outdoors, wet, dry, and in moving or stationary vehicles
• Seeing written directions, with or without correction devices
• Hearing the spoken word in person or through a telephone, with or without amplification
• The employee is mostly in an environment protected from weather conditions, but subject to temperature changes. At times, the employee may be outdoors and subject to temperatures below 30 degrees F and/or above 100 degrees F for periods of more than one hour
• Some weekend or evening work may be required as well as working extended hours.

Benefits

• Free Membership to the Y
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Retirement Plan (403b)

Start Your Y Journey Today!