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.