Schedule: Monday through Friday, scheduled within the center’s operating hours of 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
About Gilda’s Preschool Academy
Gilda’s Preschool Academy is a multigenerational early learning center that has served children and families in New Orleans East since 1984.
We believe the whole child, every child, deserves to be understood, included, and supported. Our classrooms welcome children with different abilities, developmental needs, communication styles, sensory needs, cultures, and family backgrounds.
Children learn through play, exploration, relationships, responsive caregiving, and developmentally appropriate experiences.
Position Summary
The Assistant Infant/Toddler Teacher works alongside the Lead Teacher to provide safe, nurturing, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate care and education.
The Assistant Teacher shares responsibility for active supervision, classroom routines, curriculum activities, developmental observations, child assessments, family communication, sanitation, and maintaining the classroom’s required staffing ratio.
This is a hands-on teaching position for someone who is dependable, caring, observant, willing to learn, and committed to helping young children thrive.
Essential Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with the Lead Teacher to care for and teach infants and toddlers.
- Provide continuous active supervision indoors, outdoors, during transitions, and throughout daily routines.
- Know the location and activity of every assigned child and remain close enough to intervene immediately when needed.
- Build warm, responsive, and respectful relationships with children.
- Participate actively in children’s play, reading, music, movement, art, sensory exploration, outdoor learning, and conversations.
- Assist the Lead Teacher with implementing the approved Tier 1 curriculum and weekly lesson plans.
- Help individualize activities based on each child’s interests, developmental level, abilities, communication needs, and learning style.
- Support children with disabilities, developmental differences, sensory needs, or individualized service plans.
- Observe children and contribute accurate information to Teaching Strategies GOLD documentation, assessments, portfolios, and progress reports.
- Complete documentation and assigned child observations by established deadlines.
- Assist with daily reports covering meals, bottles, diapering, toileting, rest, activities, injuries, and other significant information.
- Follow all procedures for diapering, feeding, safe sleep, handwashing, sanitation, illness, medication, allergies, and emergency response.
- Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate classroom.
- Prepare, sanitize, organize, and restock classroom materials and supplies.
- Greet children and families warmly at arrival and departure.
- Communicate respectfully with families about each child’s day while referring significant concerns to the Lead Teacher or director.
- Support family engagement activities, parent meetings, conferences, and center events.
- Maintain complete confidentiality regarding children, families, employees, and center matters.
- Use positive guidance, redirection, encouragement, modeling, and developmentally appropriate limits.
- Never use physical punishment, threats, yelling, humiliation, food deprivation, or other prohibited behavior-management practices.
- Participate in Coaching, classroom observations, targeted professional development, staff meetings, and required training.
- Learn and appropriately use Frog Street, Teaching Strategies GOLD, Brightwheel, ChildPlus, and other classroom or family-communication systems required by GPA.
- Work cooperatively with coaches, specialists, therapists, and other approved partners.
- Report injuries, incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, health concerns, ratio concerns, or safety concerns immediately.
- Follow GPA policies, City Seats requirements, Louisiana licensing regulations, mandated reporter requirements, and all applicable health and safety standards.
- Perform other duties reasonably connected to the education, care, health, and safety of children.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- At least 18 years of age.
- Previous experience caring for or working with young children.
- Ability to pass the Louisiana Child Care Criminal Background Check and all required eligibility screenings.
- Ability to complete required medical clearance and employment documentation.
- Pediatric CPR and first aid certification, or ability to obtain certification promptly after hire.
- Ability to complete Louisiana Key Orientation Training Modules and required annual continuing education.
- Dependable attendance, punctuality, and reliable transportation.
- Ability to communicate respectfully with children, families, coworkers, and partner-agency staff.
- Willingness to participate in coaching, professional development, and performance feedback.
Credential Expectations
A Child Development Associate credential, Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate, or higher early childhood credential is strongly preferred.
Candidates who do not currently hold an Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate must be willing to enroll in an approved ECAC pathway within 90 days of hire and maintain satisfactory progress toward completion.
GPA will assist the selected employee with identifying an appropriate credential pathway and available professional-development resources.
Preferred Qualifications
- Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate credential.
- Louisiana Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, education, psychology, social work, or a related field.
- Experience in a City Seats, CCAP B-3, ECEF, Head Start, Early Head Start, or other publicly funded early childhood classroom.
- Experience using Teaching Strategies GOLD or ChildPlus.
- Experience implementing Creative Curriculum or another Tier 1 early childhood curriculum.
- Experience supporting children with disabilities, developmental differences, communication needs, autism, ADHD, hearing differences, low vision, or sensory needs.
- Training in Conscious Discipline, trauma-informed care, CLASS, positive behavior support, or infant mental health.
Physical Expectations
The employee must be able to:
- Closely supervise young children throughout the workday.
- Sit and work on the floor.
- Bend, kneel, stand, walk, and move quickly when necessary.
- Participate in indoor and outdoor activities.
- Lift, carry, or assist young children with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Respond promptly during emergencies and evacuations.
Professional Expectations
Successful employees at GPA:
- Arrive on time and ready to work.
- Communicate calmly and respectfully.
- Protect children’s dignity, safety, and emotional well-being.
- Accept coaching and apply feedback.
- Follow procedures even when the classroom is busy.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Ask for assistance before a concern becomes a safety or compliance problem.
- Work as part of a team rather than leaving responsibilities for other teachers.
Compensation and Benefits
- Starting pay of $14.00 per hour, based on credentials and experience.
- Paid required professional development and staff meetings.
- Coaching and professional-development support.
- Assistance identifying CDA and Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate pathways.
- Optional access to available supplemental insurance benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Gilda’s Preschool Academy provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees.
Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, family status, or any other legally protected status.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all legally required child care background checks, health documentation, and onboarding requirements.
Pay: $14.00 - $16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Life insurance
- Professional development assistance
License/Certification:
Ability to Commute:
- New Orleans, LA 70127 (Required)
Work Location: In person
