Job Description

Full-time opportunity available!

Pay: $18.01/hour

The Saratoga Regional YMCA is looking for a warm, enthusiastic Teacher Assistant who loves helping little learners grow. If you’re someone who finds joy in supporting children through early milestones we’d be excited to welcome you to our team!

In this role, you’ll play an important part in creating a nurturing, safe, and playful environment where every child feels valued and supported. You’ll work alongside experienced teachers to plan engaging daily activities, assist with implementing our curriculum, and build meaningful relationships with children and families. As part of the Y, you’re not just joining a staff—you’re joining a mission-driven organization dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

If you’re compassionate, patient, and excited to make a positive impact every day, this is a wonderful opportunity to grow your career while helping our little learners thrive.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains ratio within classrooms to cover for lunch breaks, bathroom breaks, planning, and other duties as needed.
• Assists Teacher in the implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, and actively participates in classroom instruction.
• Adheres to YMCA and/or OCFS guidelines for proper verbal interaction, proper learn and play techniques, as well as age-appropriate redirection as a form of discipline.
• Supports behavioral management plans, and maintains confidentiality, sensitivity and patience with the children and parents through appropriate verbal interactions.
• Completes accurate and timely records of attendance, progress and behavioral reports, as assigned.
• Enforces and leads all YMCA and/or policies, rules, regulations and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures. Completes incident and accident reports as necessary.
• Enforces and leads all emergency procedures and responds to emergency situations immediately in accordance with YMCA policies, procedures, completes related reports as required.
• Builds effective, authentic relationships with members; helps them connect with each other and the Y. Identifies potential volunteers.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of the YMCA and our three areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
• Ability to articulate and model the Y’s four core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
• Attends all staff meetings and in-service training.
• Wears required and approved uniform items at all time.
• Supports other childcare programs when able to ensure ratio compliance across programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB PERKS:

• Fun, interactive atmosphere!
• Competitive pay
• Education assistance*
• No Nights or weekends
• Free YMCA membership!
• Childcare discounts

*The Saratoga Regional YMCA may provide employees with tuition reimbursement to achieve their CDA certification. Tuition reimbursement for CDA certification is contingent upon terms and conditions.

Requirements

• Minimum age of 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1+ years’ experience in childcare setting.
• Working knowledge and understanding of NYS Pre-K curriculum and OCFS guidelines, if in relevant program.
• Current CPR PRO & First Aid certifications.

We’re proud to be recognized as a 2026 USA Today Top Workplace, a national honor awarded based entirely on employee feedback. This recognition reflects our supportive, people-first culture and the passionate team that makes the Y such a special place to work.

The SRYMCA is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law.