A Teacher Assistant assists classroom teachers by providing extra individual attention and instruction to students. Helps teachers with recordkeeping, preparation for lessons and activities and supervising students. May work with special education students, or work in a school library or computer lab; may be called teacher aide or paraprofessional.
The Middletown Recreation Department is seeking a caring, energetic, and dependable Preschool Assistant Teacher to join our team at the Middletown Preschool, located at the Croydon Hall Annex Building.
The Preschool Assistant Teacher works closely with the Lead Teacher to create a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for preschool-aged children. This individual plays an essential role in supporting children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
This position also assists with our 3-5-year-old Preschool Summer Camp during July and August and helps prepare classrooms and materials for the upcoming school year.
Position Schedule Monday-Friday School Year:
September through mid-
June Hours:
8:00 AM - 3:00
PM Summer:
Preschool Summer Camp (July and August) with reduced summer hours and classroom preparation for the upcoming school year. Responsibilities Assist the Lead Teacher in planning, preparing, and implementing daily lessons and classroom activities. Help create a warm, welcoming, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning environment. Support children's social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical development. Encourage learning through play, hands-on activities, music, movement, storytelling, art, sensory experiences, and educational games. Assist children in learning early academic concepts including letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and early literacy and math skills. Help supervise children during classroom activities, outdoor play, meals, rest time, special events, and transitions throughout the day. Promote positive behavior by using age-appropriate guidance and conflict resolution strategies. Observe children's progress and communicate important information with the Lead Teacher. Collaborate with teachers and Recreation Department staff to ensure a high-quality preschool program. Maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom that meets health, safety, and licensing standards. Assist with classroom setup, decorations, bulletin boards, lesson preparation, and daily cleanup. Build positive, professional relationships with children, parents, coworkers, and community members. Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities as required. Assist with special preschool events, field trips, graduation, and family programs. Support the Preschool Summer Camp program during July and August. Qualifications Previous experience working with preschool-aged children in a classroom, childcare, or early childhood setting preferred. Education or coursework in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field preferred. Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a teaching team. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Patient, nurturing, dependable, and enthusiastic personality. Ability to remain calm, organized, and professional in a fast-paced environment. Ability to positively guide children's behavior and serve as a role model. Current CPR and First Aid Certification (or willingness to obtain certification). Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and actively participate in classroom and outdoor activities. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is someone who: Loves working with young children and helping them learn through play. Demonstrates patience, kindness, and professionalism every day. Is dependable, flexible, and works well with others. Takes initiative and enjoys contributing to a collaborative classroom environment. Maintains high standards of safety, organization, and cleanliness. Is committed to providing every child with a positive, engaging, and supportive preschool experience. The Middletown Recreation Department is committed to providing a high-quality preschool program where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn each day. We are looking for a dedicated team member who shares our passion for early childhood education and helping young learners thrive.
