Sun Valley Academy·Phoenix, Arizona
The Assistant Teacher supports the Lead Teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for preschool children. Responsibilities include assisting with daily lesson plans, supervising classroom activities, and maintaining positive communication with families and staff.
Salary Range: $18/hour
Sun Valley Education is seeking a caring, dependable, and student- and family-centered professional to support the daily operations of our Preschool program. The Preschool Assistant Teacher plays an important role in creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment where young children can learn, grow, and thrive. The Assistant Teacher works under the direction of the Preschool Lead Teacher and supports the planning, organization, and implementation of daily activities, weekly lesson plans, special events, and family engagement opportunities. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with young children, families, and school staff while contributing to a positive early childhood learning environment.
Responsibilities may include: Support the Preschool Lead Teacher with the daily supervision, care, and coordination of the preschool program, maintaining a warm, safe, and inclusive environment for children and families. Assist with planning and implementing developmentally appropriate daily activities and weekly lesson plans aligned with the school's curriculum. Actively engage children in learning activities and play that promote development, exploration, independence, and positive social interactions. Maintain active supervision of children at all times, ensure appropriate staff-to-child ratios, and position staff to maintain clear visibility of all children. Assist children with age-appropriate activities of daily living, including hand washing, family-style meals, and caring for their classroom environment. Prepare and maintain organized classrooms, activities, materials, and learning environments for daily programming. Monitor classroom supplies and inventory and submit supply requests to the Director for approval. Establish positive and professional relationships with children and families through daily interactions, Class Dojo, and other appropriate communication channels. Maintain open communication and collaboration with Preschool staff, school personnel, and leadership. Assist with attendance records, sign-in/out documentation, child assessments, and other required program records. Support parent-teacher conferences, family participation events, school functions, and other program activities. Report concerns involving children, coworkers, families, or program operations to the Lead Teacher or Director in a timely manner. Follow all school policies, procedures, licensing requirements, and program expectations while proactively responding to issues that may affect program safety or quality. Attend required trainings, staff meetings, school functions, and occasional events outside of regular work hours.
Essential
FUNCTIONS: Knowledge of preschool-aged children and developmentally appropriate practices. Strong verbal and written communication skills with children, families, coworkers, and school personnel. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to follow written and oral directions. Ability to work independently, take initiative, and effectively manage classroom responsibilities with minimal supervision. Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to respond professionally to questions and concerns. Strong work ethic, reliability, punctuality, and professional judgment. Ability to maintain a positive, collaborative, and professional attitude in a fast-paced early childhood environment. Commitment to providing high-quality, student- and family-centered care and serving as a positive role model for children and staff.
High school diploma or equivalent. Actively working toward an Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or degree in a related field. Minimum of two years of previous experience working with preschool-aged children. Must be at least 18 years of age and capable of independently caring for a large group of children in a classroom environment. Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card or ability to obtain one prior to employment. Successful completion of required background checks. Current TB test results dated within the previous year. Must maintain current CPR and First Aid Certification - Required to be completed in person. Valid Food Handler's Card. Must register with the Arizona Registry upon hire. Must complete required annual training to fulfill applicable licensing and professional development requirements. Proficiency with Microsoft programs. Dependable transportation.
Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field. Current CDA or other Early Childhood Education credential. Experience working in a preschool, childcare, school, or early childhood education setting. Experience developing and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans and activities. Experience communicating with families and supporting family engagement. Experience with child assessments, parent-teacher conferences, or classroom documentation. Familiarity with Arizona early childhood education requirements and licensing standards. Experience using Class Dojo, Microsoft programs, or other classroom communication and administrative tools. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Positions in this classification typically require standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Employees must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment and lift up to 40 pounds as required for classroom and child-care activities. Employees must be able to physically manage an active preschool classroom while maintaining the safety and supervision of children at all times. Employees may be exposed to varying weather conditions and indoor and outdoor temperatures and must be able to perform duties in these environments. ABOUT US Sun Valley Education (SVE) is a premier charter school district serving students in the Avondale, Glendale, and South Mountain communities. We believe in educating the whole child by focusing on academics, leadership development, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and creating a nurturing environment. As a Leader in Me School, our students began learning and implementing leadership principles in Kindergarten and continue throughout their academic career. At Sun Valley Education , we celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion, build community partnerships, and seek sustainable practices to preserve our environment. ABOUT YOU - OUR NEW SVE TEAM MEMBER! You are an enthusiastic team player who is looking to grow your career with an expanding organization. You are talented and love working with students, families and teachers. You enjoy making a difference in the lives of children and you thrive in a fast-paced environment! Not only are you a highly qualified, motivated, self-starter; you work well with others, you seek solutions to challenges, and you are a proven leader. WHAT WE OFFER YOU At SVE, we offer smaller class sizes (for teacher postings), competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, a warm and loving environment, opportunities to lead after school clubs and programs, and future growth opportunities. NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Sun Valley Education provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Sun Valley offers competitive salary, full medical benefits and a 401K retirement program. We are a warm, caring, supportive environment where all team members work hard to give our students the best possible academic outcomes. BACKGROUND SCREENING PROCESS To ensure safety for all students, all staff members may be fingerprinted. Background checks will be conducted on all school staff prior to their service as employees. INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM? Apply through the link below. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR INTERVIEWS.
Candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of experience working with preschool-aged children. Applicants are required to hold or be working toward an ECE certification or CDA credential and must possess a valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Market context
Teaching assistant roles in Arizona are typically in steady demand, especially in K-12 settings that need classroom support, student supervision, and help with instruction. Competition can be strong because employers often look for a high school diploma plus a paraprofessional exam or associate degree, experience with children, and the ability to obtain a Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your documents and clearance status before applying.