Preschool Early Childhood Support Assistant

Position

We are looking for an individual with early childhood experience through an OT, SLP, Special Ed, Mental Health lenses. The Preschool Early Childhood Support Assistant will support Preschool age children and teachers in developing social-emotional regulation and successful classroom participation.

This role provides proactive, in-the-moment and preventative support across classrooms by working directly with children, supporting teachers and helping implement consistent supportive systems and co-creating and implementing and SEL curriculum.

The position exists to ensure that both children and educators are supported, allowing classrooms to remain successful, regulated and developmentally responsive environments.

The individual will work directly under our Director of SEL/School Counselor and assist her in the development, implementation and daily operationalization of social-emotional and behavioral supports throughout the preschool program. 

Key Responsibilities

• Work under with the Director of SEL/school counselor.
• Provide short-term, targeted support for children experiencing challenging moments, dysregulation, emotional outbursts, aggression or difficulty participating in classroom routines.
• Support emotional skill building.
• Support peer interaction and social skill development.
• Implement support plans for individual children.
• Participate in problem-solving meetings and follow-up planning.
• Promote proactive rather than reactive approaches.
• Assist the Director of SEL in the development, refinement, and implementation of the preschool’s social-emotional learning curriculum
• Help translate SEL concepts into developmentally appropriate classroom practices and routines
• Collaborate in creating resources, visuals, and tools that support emotional regulation, friendship skills, problem-solving and self-awareness.

Qualifications

Required

• Background in early childhood education, child development, psychology, special education, or related field
• Experience working with young children exhibiting behavioral or emotional regulation challenges
• Strong understanding of developmentally appropriate practice
• Ability to coach adults respectfully and collaboratively

Preferred

• Training in behavior intervention, early childhood mental health, or trauma-informed practice
• Experience in preschool classrooms
• Knowledge of sensory regulation strategies
• Experience collaborating with therapists or multidisciplinary teams

Key Skills & Dispositions

• Warm, calm, and relationship-based approach
• Flexible problem solver
• Able to support children without removing teacher authority
• Skilled in co-regulation and modeling
• Collaborative and non-evaluative with staff
• Comfortable working across multiple classrooms daily