After School Program - Assistant Teacher

Position: After School Adventure Program - Assistant Teacher

Type: Part-Time, Non-exempt

Compensation: $18-$21/hour, based on education and experience

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 2:30–5:30 PM (17 hours/week), with occasional 2pm start times when New Haven Public Schools are closed and Leila Day is open.

Location: New Haven, CT (On-site)

Additional Work Opportunities: Additional paid work for substitute shifts may be available based on school needs and employee interest.

Occasional Required

Activities:

Staff may occasionally be asked to participate in professional development or school events outside of their regular schedule; any required hours outside the regular schedule will be paid.

Leila Day is a progressive, play-based, nature-centered school where childhood is honored. We innovate and build on the best traditions and practices of progressive, early childhood education. We believe in teaching and learning grounded in caring relationships, filled with joyful, learning adventures, and powered by the creativity of children chers plan learning experiences around the needs and interests of the children and the opportunities provided by the natural world and our multicultural community.

Our indoor and outdoor classrooms encourage children to explore, wonder, learn, and grow. Located beside East Rock Park in New Haven, we use the woods, trails, streams, and surrounding neighborhood as an extension of the classroom.

Leila Day is seeking an enthusiastic, reliable, and adventurous Assistant Teacher to join our After School Adventure Program, serving children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, ages 5–9.

The After School Adventure Program is a place where children can decompress from the school day, pursue their interests, build friendships, and experience the natural world through play, exploration, art, movement, and adventure. The Assistant Teacher works alongside the Lead Teacher to create an engaging, supportive environment where children have meaningful opportunities to make choices, take appropriate risks, develop confidence, and follow their curiosity.

The ideal candidate brings energy, warmth, creativity, and a genuine interest in spending time outdoors with children. Experience with outdoor activities, nature, art, or other hands‑on learning is especially welcome. We are more interested in curiosity, reliability, and a willingness to learn than in any particular educational background.

• Build positive relationships with children ages 5–9 and support their social, emotional, physical, and creative development through play, conversation, and hands‑on experiences.
• Collaborate with the Lead Teacher to create a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and joyful environment that responds to children's interests, ideas, and needs.
• Engage children in outdoor exploration and adventure, including walks, hikes, nature exploration, and play in East Rock Park and other nearby outdoor spaces.
• Support and facilitate activities in areas such as art, movement, games, science, nature, and other hands‑on experiences, adapting activities to children's interests.
• Help children develop independence, confidence, problem‑solving skills, and responsibility by encouraging curiosity, appropriate risk‑taking, and meaningful choice.
• Support daily classroom operations, including transitions, supervision, organization, cleanliness, preparation of materials, and maintaining a safe learning environment.
• Collaborate with the teaching team through clear communication, shared responsibility, and a commitment to Leila Day's culture of respect, kindness, and cooperation.
• Participate in professional development and ongoing learning about progressive,…