The Sage YMCA is hiring a full-time Early Learning Assistant Site Director in Crystal Lake, IL.  

Our early learning teachers create a child-centered environment that promotes learning, character development, healthy living and positive, nurturing relationships. With a commitment to meeting accreditation standards and extensive training and development in research-based practices, you’ll also learn and grow and positively impact our children, families and communities.

Salary starts at $47,944 per year based on qualifications, Monday-Friday schedule, and opportunities to grow within the organization

The Early Learning Assistant Site Director provides year-round operational leadership and classroom support to the Early Learning Program, including Preschool Enrichment Programs. This role is accountable to ensure that there is high-quality programming to meet the community needs and goals for program enrollment, quality, member experience, and budget. This includes enhancing the member/participant experience and member retention, delivering on program enrollment goals and revenue/budget and ensuring a safe environment for all members, participants and staff. Provides leadership and supervision that drives team engagement, performance and development. The Early Learning Assistant Site Director also provides effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning, assessment, evaluation and related research for children in the early learning program. The Early Learning Site Director is responsible for providing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, supervision of children assigned in the classroom, and providing a supportive and positive classroom climate. This role ensures that we are meeting the individual needs of the children as mandated by DCFS, ExceleRate Illinois, NAEYC, federal, state and local standards, and YMCA standards and policies, as applicable.

Scope of Responsibilities:

Member and Program Experience

Increases member/participant connection and commitment to YMCA programs and ensures the member/participant experience is consistent, integrated and aligned to YMCA goals for member experience, engagement and retention. Addresses members’ and prospective members’ inquiries. Adapts and creates tools and processes to enhance member experience. Monitors program registration goals to understand trends and identify means for development. Adapts and customizes program portfolio to meet community needs. Collaborates with peers and leaders in and outside the Y to promote programs in the community through multiple channels. Participates in special events and activities at the center and within the community. Supports Site Director and coordinates with membership/contact center to ensure all collections, refunds and other transactions are completed accurately and timely. Participates in direct service as needed to facilitate program operations. Collaborates with other teams within center on membership and programming to ensure a high-quality member experience.

Team Management

Supports Site Director to identify, manage and motivate a high-performing team that accomplishes program objectives. Establishes, monitors and evaluates team goals and performance standards. Coaches, trains and develops team members to optimize performance and enhance member experience. Supports the Site Director to Coach and mentor staff to support them in delivering safe, engaging and well-organized program services. Completes formal staff evaluations for performance reviews and provides coaching and intervention as necessary. Supports Site Director with hiring, onboarding and training new staff and provides ongoing trainings in accordance with training designs. Facilitates all-staff meetings and in-services. Responsible for ensuring staff are compliant with required trainings and certifications. Supports Site Director with Managing time and attendance for current staff, ensuring that time is accurately recorded in the HRIS system. Recruits and trains volunteers, where appropriate, to meet the needs of the programs.

Program Management

Supports the Site Director to manage program budget, including forecasting revenue, managing program margins and expenses, to meet financial targets. Monitors and reports on program financial performance. Supports the Site Director with Overseeing maintenance of program guides, customer management system and online registration site to market programs to members and the community. Follows YMCA standards for supervised departments including year-round Preschool and Preschool Enrichments. Works to keep facilities safe, clean and inviting by adhering to association standards. Promotes the value of keeping the center welcoming and safe with staff. Identifies, escalates and rectifies potential risks that could threaten the safety, health or well-being of members, participants or employees. Supports the YMCA’s mission and center operations as needed.

Classroom Teacher Responsibilities

Promotes and models high quality teaching and learning in the classroom that fosters academic readiness. Demonstrates culturally and linguistically appropriate practices that values all children and families and makes them feel welcomed and an essential part of the program. Maintains awareness and supervision of children’s needs and ensure their physical health and safety, at all times. Communicates and develops effective partnerships with parents and families, encouraging parent involvement. Abides by DCFS and all quality standards for maintaining safe, high-quality programming Collaborates regularly with classroom team including families, volunteers and all staff. Collects and uses multiple data sources, both formative and summative, to inform instruction and child centered learning and development. Completes routine professional development annually; utilizes continuous quality improvement (CQI); and identifies different instructional resources and methods to meet children's varying needs and improve the classroom experience for children and families. Participates and supports association/center efforts towards recruitment, enrollment, attendance and retention of families while supporting the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.

Lesson Planning and Classroom Management

Develops lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement. Implements high quality, developmentally appropriate instructional activities and curriculum approaches (like Creative Curriculum™) that facilitate active learning experiences and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child; while ensuring the program follows DCFS, YMCA, ExceleRate Illinois™, and NAEYC accreditation standards, if applicable. Researches, plans, and implements appropriate studies/projects for an in-depth investigation of a topic over time. Establishes and maintains an attractive, clean, safe and engaging classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques and that encourages children's independence and self-selection of activities. Leverages the physical environment and pedagogical documentation to support teaching and learning practices. Uses observational and child data to plan developmentally appropriate and engaging early learning experiences based upon the emergent needs of the child.

Requirements:

Associate’s Degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Must be at least 19 years of age.

21 college semester hours in Early Childhood Education or child development related coursework and either a Gateways to Opportunity Level I Illinois Director Credential (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 50.720(b) or 3 semester hours of college credit or 3 points of credential approved training in administration, leadership or management.

2 years or more experience in early childhood related setting.

ExceleRate IL Director Credential Level 1 preferred.

1 to 3 years or more experience in youth and family programming providing high-quality experience to program participants, with at least 2 years of supervisor or team leadership experience.

Demonstrated ability to accomplish goals through others, whether direct reports or through influence.

Strategic thinking skills including effective planning, setting goals, monitoring progress, tracking results and making appropriate adjustments to plans based on circumstances and context.

Ability to organize and prioritize multiple, competing priorities to maximize personal and team effectiveness.

Budget and expense management experience, with the ability to assist in managing budgets to plan.

Customer service orientation, with the ability to effectively communicate on a regular basis with internal customers, build relationships, manage customer expectations and take responsibility for a high level of service.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively build and maintain relationships with customers, team members and other stakeholders and constituents.

Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, email, video conferencing; ability to learn and adapt to new technology.

Meet physical qualifications required as outlined in job description. The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Based on funding requirements, must be willing to register with the Gateways Registry and complete all required online training for designated program area.

Pre-Employment medical screening and TB test per program requirements. Required to be achieved or maintained once in role: Food Handlers Training

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by:

Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor Completing all child abuse prevention training as required