Community Program Assistant Jobs in Sterling, VA

Why Work for Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day?

Play isn't just fun, It's fundamental! Children need playtime, it is crucial for healthy development. Children learn about the world by exploring ideas, manipulating objects, investigating creative materials, and problem-solving with others. Using imagination and creativity, children take on new roles and test new concepts. Wonders teachers use observation and planning to create learning experiences that are intentional and provide meaningful context for children to practice skills and express ideas.

Join the Wonders family of caring, dedicated, and fun educators!

About Wonders

Our Mission - To cultivate curiosity, resilience, and social responsibility in children by fostering high-quality, nurturing, and inclusive educational communities led by skilled professionals

Since our inception in 1976, our goal has been to provide non-profit, quality child care to working families. Over the years, we have grown from a single center in the basement of All Saint's Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland to multiple accredited early learning, extended day, and summer camp programs across the DC Metropolitan Region.

Our programs support today's workforce, while growing the workforce of tomorrow.

Benefits & Compensation

Our benefits package includes paid time off, holidays, winter break, medical with HRA, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, critical illness, accident insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, Wonders tuition discounts, and professional development training. Benefits eligibility is dependent on job type status.

We provide paid pre-employment background checks, fingerprinting, medical exams, & drug screens as well as paid New Hire Orientation.

Wonders values its educators and leaders and we invest in our workforce by prioritizing compensation and nurturing meaningful careers. Our educators are regularly engaged in efforts towards continuous improvement in their skills and knowledge in the classroom. Approximately 80% of our annual budget is directed to staff compensation.

Job Summary

The Program Assistant is a teacher in a Wonders program who assumes additional responsibilities which are critical to the success of the program. The Program Assistant works with the Director and Assistant Director to provide organizational, programming and operational support to the program.

Essential Functions

• Placing orders for snacks, office supplies, classroom supplies and playground materials for the program.
• Manages, distributes and stores all supplies.
• Tracking usage for each classroom and keeping accurate inventory of all supplies.
• Communicating with all staff in reference to upcoming classroom needs.
• Assuming program responsibility in the absence of the Program Director and Assistant Director.
• Assisting Program Director and Assistant Director with filing classroom and children's paperwork with appropriate state and local agencies.
• Remaining at the program with other scheduled staff members until all children have left the building.
• Ensuring the facility is secured and all children have exited the building.
• Making sure all electrical appliances have been turned off and the kitchen is prepared for the next business day.
• Communicating with building maintenance when necessary to ensure all program needs are met.
• Assist in answering phones and taking messages when necessary.
• Assisting visitors with building entry when needed.
• Giving building tours in the absence of Program Director or Assistant Director.
• Participating with Open House planning, set-up and clean-up.
• Assisting Program Director and Assistant Director in maintaining a clean, well-organized facility.
• Attend a minimum of 18 hours of staff training yearly (MSDE/OCC approved for MD staff).
• Other duties or responsibilities as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Creative, nurturing, and fun
• Dependable and detail oriented
• Thrives in a high-pressure environment
• People oriented - enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects
• Adaptable - enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
• Innovative - prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience working with children in an educational, recreational, or camp setting.
• Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent is required. BA or AA in Education or related field is preferred.
• Coursework must include a minimum of 6 semester or 90 clock hours or the equivalent of approved school-age coursework in child development and curriculum planning.
• If no college courses taken for credit, at least 9 clock hours of approved training in communicating with staff, parents and the public.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Are you worried you don't meet all of our qualifications for this position? We still encourage you to apply!

EEO Statement

Wonders provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, citizenship, current or future military status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

ADA Compliance

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Wonders to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Human Resources.

Additional Information

Job Type: Full-time /Non-Exempt

Program Length: 12 Month

Work Schedule: Before Care (6:45a - 8:45a) + After Care (2:00p - 6:00p)

Work Location: Before Care - Horace Mann or Murch and After Care - Garrison Extended Day