Non-Teaching Assistant (Climate Staff)

Southwest Leadership Academy•Philadelphia, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School (SLACS) is seeking a Non-Teaching Assistant (Climate Staff) to provide assistance to instructional programs. This role involves supporting the Lead Teacher in achieving educational objectives by working with individual scholars or small groups, with a special focus on scholar behavioral supports. The non-teaching assistant helps maintain a well-organized, smoothly functioning classroom environment where scholars can maximize their learning. The position is under the guidance of the Assistant Principal of Climate and Culture, ensuring a focused and high-achieving school climate and culture. The role requires working as part of the climate and culture team to develop a positive, organized, data-driven, and reflective school climate and culture based on best practices. Collaboration with school staff is essential to create a safe and conducive environment for students. The assistant will consistently execute and reinforce school-wide culture systems, maintain ethical behavior and confidentiality, record student behaviors, and administer socio-emotional focused procedures. They will support behavior management programs, assist in preparing materials, and support discipline protocols. Responsibilities also include supervising the lunchroom, assisting scholars with daily routines, transitions, emergency drills, and equipment use, and observing/intervening to redirect inappropriate behavior. Connecting with families and guiding scholars in attention, participation, and task completion are also key duties. An ideal candidate is committed to student success, especially in high-poverty communities or with special needs, desires professional growth, possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and has a flexible, optimistic, and problem-solving approach suitable for a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Minimum of a High School Degree (or equivalent).
Required criminal history background check, physical and proof of U.S. citizenship, or legal resident alien status.

Nice To Haves

Associate or Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university.
Interest in working with urban schools, students, and communities.
Commitment to the success of all SLACS students and specifically to raising the academic achievement of children in high-poverty communities and/ or children with special needs.
Desire to grow professionally and seek out new opportunities to learn; and integrity and clarity in all communications and interactions.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, in addition to computer skills.
Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills, especially when working with students and families in regard to behavioral supports.
Flexible, optimistic approach; committed to overcoming challenges; problem-solving skills.
Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Ensuring a focused and high achieving school climate and culture under the guidance of the Assistant Principal of Climate and Culture.
Working as part of the climate and culture team to develop a positive, organized, data-driven, and reflective school climate and culture, based on best practices.
Collaborating with school staff to create an environment that is safe for students at all times and conducive to achieving the school’s vision and mission.
Consistently and effectively executing and reinforcing school wide culture systems including student arrival, dismissal, transitions, norms, expectations, code of conduct, and incentive systems.
Maintaining a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about scholars and classroom teachers in regard to behavior activities.
Recording student behaviors and administer socio-emotional focused procedures according to positive behavior support plans.
Supporting the implementation of behavior management programs designed by teachers and/or Special Education Coordinator, using reasonable judgment when redirecting and/or reprimanding students.
Assisting in the preparation of materials for class, classroom activities, assignments, and location of supplementary materials.
Supporting discipline protocols, records, and violations (uniform, busing, etc.) assigned by the Dean of Students.
Supervising and monitoring the lunchroom before school and during lunch periods on assigned days.
Assisting scholars in/with admissions and dismissal daily, transitions to and from the classroom for specialty, supervision during emergency drills, use of equipment and in day-to-day activities, and navigating hallways and bathrooms.
Observing and intervening to redirect inappropriate behavior using appropriate socio-emotional focused practices aimed at redirecting students toward positive learning behaviors.
Connecting with student’s family/guardians/Lead Teacher/ Dean of Students as needed to devise practices toward supporting a student in engaging in more positive school-based behaviors.
Assisting, monitoring, and guiding scholars in paying attention, participating in activities, and completing tasks.