The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a Early Childhood Education Intern to join our team! When you work for the Y, you join an inclusive, welcoming, and fun environment where you can do meaningful work and make an impact in the community.
Internship Job Title: Early Childhood Education Intern
Supervisor: Preschool Director
Revision Date: January 2025
Start Date: February 2025/flexible
End Date: June 2025/flexible
Total Hours: 150 hours
Typical Schedule: Consistent weekly schedule, flexible
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.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Early Childhood Education Intern will work within our Preschool for Youth Development program at the West Suburban YMCA, alongside our preschool leadership staff. During the internship, the Early Childhood Education Intern will gain exposure to the basic inner workings of the preschool department. Your time spent learning how the Preschool operates will build skill sets and experience to further set you up for your future!
TASKS/PROJECTS:
- Help assist our teachers and lead teachers deliver daily curriculum based on social/emotional skills and literacy.
- Learn how to build engaging curriculum and lessons plans.
- Encourage children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development skills through positive interactions.
- Assist with the basic needs of children.
- Follow all center policies and guidelines.
- Work with children experiencing difficulty as assigned.
- Assists our teachers in helping make schedules.
- Learn and help with admin responsibilities with an EEC Certified program.
- Develop organizational skillsets to help further your experience as a teacher in the classroom.
- Get CPR and First Aid Certified.
- Organization and taking inventory of preschool supplies.
- Other relevant tasks as assigned by supervisor.
SKILLS ACQUIRED:
We hope to build valuable skillsets during your time at the West Suburban YMCA, which will help build your work experience and resume. These skills include, but are not limited to: Teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, adaptability, communication skills, time management (planning/prioritizing), software/systems education, project management and building your network.
NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
- Interns must be able to work in a team setting with patience, enthusiasm and respect for children.
- Coursework in Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services or related field preferred.
- An awareness of or a desire to learn about the needs and development of children.
- Experience working with diverse populations and young children preferred.
- Ability to apply in practice the knowledge and skills acquired in the academic setting.
- Basic working knowledge of computer and a willingness to learn new technology.
- Commitment to consistent, agreed upon schedule.
- Team player.
- Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an intern encounters while performing the essential tasks listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This internship operates in a professional office environment and/or preschool/playground/gym/pool setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, talk or hear, sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and smell.
- Ability to continuously stand or walk for length of shift.
- Ability to bend, squat, run, climb stairs, and lift up to 25 lbs.
