Applications received by Friday, August 7th will be given preference.
Schedule: Part-time afternoon hours during the school year with opportunities for additional hours during school vacations and summer programming
Typical Shift: 1:45pm to 6:00pm or 3:00 to 6:00pm Monday through Friday
Location: Ashland Middle School, 87 West Union Street, Ashland, MA
POSITION SUMMARY:
The School's Out Assistant Instructor supports the daily operation of a licensed out-of-school time program serving elementary-aged children. Working alongside the Instructor and Site Director, Assistant Instructors help supervise children, assist with activities, encourage positive behavior, and create an engaging environment where children have opportunities to create, learn, and belong.
This is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in education, recreation, child development, or youth programming who are looking to gain hands-on experience in a supportive team environment. As a School's Out Assistant Instructor, you'll help create a safe, fun, and welcoming environment where children can learn, build friendships, and discover new interests. Whether this is your first job or you're looking to gain experience working with youth, you'll be supported by an experienced team while developing valuable leadership and professional skills.
OUR CULTURE: Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Child Supervision & Safety
· Assist with supervising and ensuring the safety and well-being of children during program activities, transitions, and dismissal.
· Help maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios.
· Respond appropriately to incidents, injuries, or emergencies while notifying supervisory staff as needed.
· Help maintain a safe, clean, and organized program environment.
Program Activities & Engagement
· Support Instructors in leading engaging activities including arts and crafts, STEAM, sports, games, outdoor recreation, and other enrichment opportunities.
· Assist with preparing activity materials and program spaces.
· Encourage creativity, teamwork, and participation among children.
· Provide homework assistance and support as needed.
Relationship Building & Behavior Support
· Build positive relationships with children and serve as a positive role model.
· Support positive behavior guidance strategies that encourage social and emotional development.
· Help create an inclusive environment where every child feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
Communication & Collaboration
· Communicate effectively with children, fellow staff, and supervisors.
· Participate in staff meetings, required trainings, and professional development opportunities.
· Support the daily operation of the School's Out program.
· Work collaboratively as part of a team to provide a high-quality experience for children and families.
Program Administration
· Maintain required staff certifications and trainings.
· Follow all YMCA, EEC, DPH, and Praesidium policies and procedures, including those related to child safety, medical situations, behavior management, and emergency response.
· Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
· Must be at least 16 years of age.
· High school student in good standing, high school graduate, or equivalent.
· Interest in working with children in an educational, recreational, or youth development setting.
· Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
· Ability to meet all Massachusetts EEC licensing requirements, including required background checks and fingerprinting (when applicable).
· Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid certification within 90 days of employment.
Preferred
· Previous experience working with children in a structured, recreational, educational, or licensed program.
· Interest in Education, Child Development, Psychology, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field.
· Experience participating in or leading activities such as arts and crafts, sports, STEM, music, or outdoor recreation.
· Experience working with children from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
ABUSE RISK MANAGEMENT:
Employees who directly supervise youth will:
· Adhere to policies related to boundaries with youth.
· Attend required abuse risk management training.
· Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
· Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
· Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
· Follow employee and volunteer screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse
risk.
· Provide employees and volunteers with on-going supervision and training related to abuse risk.
· Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with youth.
· Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
· Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary
procedures.
· Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors.
· Follow mandated reporting requirements.
· Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their youth from
abuse.
· Report essential abuse risk management information to the board of directors.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Ability to actively engage with children in both indoor and outdoor environments.
· Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and sit on the floor throughout the program day.
· Ability to maintain continuous visual and auditory supervision of children.
· Ability to respond quickly to emergencies and changing situations.
· Ability to lift and move up to 40 pounds when necessary.
Pay: $16.00 - $17.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
