Lower Elementary Teaching Assistant

Title: Lower Elementary Teaching Assistant

Purpose of Position: To provide an engaging and enriching educational experience for students 

Employment Status: Full-time Reporting

Reports to: Principal

Location: Audubon Charter School Gentilly campus

Essential Functions:

• Demonstrate Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
• Assist and support lead classroom teacher in providing instructional support to students
• Work with small groups of students to reinforce instruction provided by lead classroom teacher
• Provide clear and accurate classroom explanations as necessary
• Provide accurate answers to students’ questions
• Provide feedback to students that furthers learning

Create an Environment of Respect and Rapport

• Encourage and model respectful talk, active listening and turn taking
• Acknowledge students’ backgrounds and lives outside of the classroom
• Exhibit body language indicative of warmth and caring to students
• Encourage and model politeness and support for all community members
• Encourage and model fairness in all interactions
• Actively assist in the supervision of students

Establish a Culture for Learning

• Demonstrate a belief in the value of what is being learned and the Montessori and French instructional pedagogies
• Encourage high expectations, supported through both verbal and nonverbal behaviors, for both learning and participation
• Encourage and recognize effort and persistence on the parts of students
• Supports a culture that promotes high expectations for expression and work products
• Facilitate smooth functioning classroom routines with little or no loss of instructional time
• Facilitate classroom routines where students play an important role in carrying out the routines

Utilize Effective Instructional Strategies

• Encourage and support student enthusiasm, interest, thinking, problem solving, etc.
• Facilitate an environment where students are actively “working” rather than watching while their teacher “works”
• Gathers and uses evidence of student understanding to assist the lead classroom teacher by using the information to inform instruction and remediation
• Assists students in assessing their own work against established criteria 

Display Professionalism and Commitment to the Audubon Community

• Reflect and refine personal practice based on feedback from others and self-reflection
• Assist the lead classroom teacher in maintaining accurate documentation of student progress
• Assist the lead classroom teacher in preparing materials as necessary
• Regularly work with colleagues to share and plan for student success
• Participate in professional development opportunities that emphasize improving practice
• Regularly participate in or initiate school activities which further the mission of the school
• Regularly participate in or initiate activities which emphasize community service
• Supports students even in the face of difficult situations or conflicting policies
• Fulfills organizational mandates regarding policies and procedures

Education, Training and Experience:

REQUIRED

• High School Diploma required
• Experience working with children in a school or related setting
• Experience in and/or understanding of the public school system including charter schools is desirable

PREFERRED

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education or related field
• CDA