Head Teacher

We are seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Head Teacher to join our team at the YMCA Of Greater Hartford. As a key member of our early childhood education program, you will be responsible for creating a safe and engaging learning environment for children aged 0-6 years.

• Supervise daily classroom activities, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for children.
• Develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculums, meeting state guidelines and regulations.
• Maintain open lines of communication with families, working collaboratively with other staff members to meet individual children's needs.
• Assist in the preparation of materials, equipment, and information for the daily program, including attendance and lunch counts.
• Use appropriate food handling, sanitation, and OSHA procedures at all times.
• Conduct monthly fire drills, lockdown drills, and other emergencies, ensuring the safety of children and staff.
• Display and uphold YMCA core values of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring, consistently demonstrating a commitment to the community we serve.

• Early Childhood: Minimum of two years of early childhood experience required.
• School-Aged Childcare: Minimum of one year of early childhood experience required.
• Knowledge of infant and toddler development, Early Childhood Education, School Readiness, and Connecticut Early Learning and Development standards.
• Warm and nurturing personality, with the ability to work with children with communicable diseases and disabilities.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.
• Ability to work in a preschool or school-age classroom, possibly without handicapped access.

• OEC requirements: Twelve (12) credits in early childhood education or child development from a regionally accredited higher education institution, and over not less than a nine (9) month span of time: At least one thousand and eighty (1,080) hours of documented supervised experience working with children in a program that serves children under the age of 6 years.
• School Readiness Requirements for Early Childhood Only: Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education related field required (a minimum of 12 early childhood credits). Connecticut Early Childhood Teacher credential is required by June 1, 2025.

• Ability to supervise children by sight and sound at all times, provide verbal direction.
• Ability to move around a room and quickly react to safety issues (i.e. climbing, aggressive behavior).
• Ability to remain calm, objective, and respectful in potentially stressful situations (i.e. crying upset child, upset parent, or upset staff).
• Ability to move around the room to assist children and supervise children with daily activities, social interaction, physical and emotional needs, including sitting on the floor, kneeling, bending, crouching.
• Ability to lift young children and objects up to 40 lbs.