Floater - Teacher

Position Overview

Floater – Teacher at YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta.

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is a leading non‑profit provider of education, wellness, youth development, and community‑building services. It serves more than 25,000 volunteers and donors and offers high‑quality literacy and STEAM‑infused learning to over 3,000 children ages 6 weeks through Pre‑K, alongside sports, aquatics, camps, leadership programs, and employment opportunities for 58,000 youth and teens. The organization also supports over 200,000 members with programs, services, and facilities.

Under the direction of the Center Director, Assistant Director and Education Manager, the Floater supports the delivery of a high‑quality educational experience for children and families. Responsibilities include implementing the program based on the YMCA’s standards, Bright from the Start licensing, and Quality Rated. Parent involvement is critical to the program’s success.

• Utilize curriculum goals and objectives to assist lead and assistant teachers in developing lesson plans that support early learning standards and include instruction in Language/Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Creative Arts, Social & Emotional, and Physical Development.
• Collaborate as a team member to meet the needs of the classroom and center.
• Develop meaningful relationships with children by providing responsive, consistent, caring, and culturally sensitive care.
• Assist in activities that relate to weekly studies and extend students’ knowledge of their interests and their families.
• Implement family‑style meals, sit and eat with children, and engage them in conversation.
• Maintain daily communication with parents when appropriate.
• Ensure the classroom environment remains clean, organized, and aligned with program goals and philosophy.
• Keep required records and documentation.
• Perform daily tasks such as covering for staff, cleaning toys and equipment, maintaining common areas, disposing of waste, inventorying supplies, and organizing art supplies.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment and comply with the Y’s Way and Creative Curriculum goals.
• Arrange the learning environment to support ITERS and ECERS criteria.

• Follow the design created to protect children’s health and safety at all times, ensuring that all physical hazards remain inaccessible.
• Support an environment that prevents challenging or disruptive behaviors through classroom strategies, effective transitions, and engaging activities.
• Use positive redirection to address inappropriate behaviors; no corporal punishment or behavior charts are permitted in Pre‑K classrooms.
• Provide adequate supervision as defined by BFTS, Quality Rated, and YMCA for all indoor and outdoor activities.
• Obtain and maintain First Aid/CPR & 10‑hour Health & Safety Orientation (BFTS) within 30 days of hire.
• Follow and teach health practices related to hand‑washing and basic hygiene.
• Complete incident reports and follow required documentation steps and protocols.

• Support GOLD, Brigance, or other assessments as needed, following the school’s assessment timeline for evaluating each student’s development and maintaining student portfolios.

• Use a variety of formal and informal strategies to learn from families about their culture and structure.
• Collaborate with lead and assistant teachers to plan activities that encourage family involvement during all branch activities and events.

• Evaluate and improve own performance based on reflection and feedback from supervisors, peers, and families.
• Attend all required BFTS and YMCA training.
• Utilize planning time to develop lesson plans with lead teacher and support program goals.
• Commit to the agreed work schedule and remain flexible with schedule changes.
• Attend pre‑service, in‑service, and any special training sessions required by the program.
• Prepare to meet all partnership training requirements, including Rollins Center and PCA Start for Life.
• Perform other duties related to the delivery of a quality program.

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum age 19.
• Preferr…