Primary & Precare Associate Teacher

The Discovery School of Jacksonville•Jacksonville Beach, FL

1d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

The Discovery School is a private, non-profit school that offers a unique educational experience through a gradual evolution from pure Montessori to a blended curriculum, to pure International Baccalaureate (IB) over the course of the child's academic career, serving children ages 18 months through 8th grade. Through a progressive and internationally-minded framework, students receive a firm foundation in academic skills and participate in a wide variety of enrichment opportunities from a dedicated and caring faculty. Students in our toddler and primary program engage in learning in a Montessori-prepared environment with Montessori-trained teachers. Students in our elementary school are a part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our middle school seeks to challenge students with academic rigor in a low-pressure environment. The Discovery School Primary Associate Teacher understands and promotes the school’s mission, vision, core values, and policies both within and outside the immediate school community. The Primary Associate Teacher assists the Lead Teacher in preparing and maintaining the environment in the classroom, on the porches, and on the playground. The Primary Associate Teacher is responsible for supporting a classroom/instructional program that incorporates both Montessori and International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) methodologies while respecting the children's individual needs in accordance with the school’s mission and vision. Associates are primarily responsible for student hygiene. The expectations of both the Lead Teacher and the Associate must be consistent. The Lead Teacher and Associate will work together to create a peaceful atmosphere, and the Associate Teacher must become familiar with and imitate the Lead Teacher’s model. The Associate is responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school’s program, developing positive relationships within the school community, and protecting the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family in the school community. The Primary Associate Teacher will manage all aspects of the classroom and supervise a substitute teacher in the event that the Lead Teacher is absent. This job requires the employee to spend the majority of work hours actively attending to young children. This will include but is not limited to standing, bending at the waist, kneeling, sitting, and lifting. The Primary Associate Teacher will be flexible, as the staffing needs will vary.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED equivalent.
Collaboration & Teamwork
Integrity and Trust
Adaptability
Attentive listener
Commitment to Discovery’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence: Model the Portrait of the Graduate
Passionately pursue their own professional growth and development
Unabashedly hold children at the center of all decisions and actions
Cultivate an inclusive and vibrant learning community
Discover and act on what is possible
Planning & Organizing
Work Authorization: The candidate must be authorized to work in the US.

Responsibilities

Assist the Lead Teacher as directed in: The preparation, care, and maintenance of the environment, i.e., maintaining an orderly environment and keeping it clean and in good condition.
Preparing and making curriculum and classroom materials.
Working with individual and small groups of children.
Supervising students, inclusive of managing snack/lunch, supply refills, assisting an injured child, dressing/undressing children, and toileting as necessary.
Independent supervision of children while in the Outdoor Environment.
Helping to maintain strong relationships with the parents, characterized by mutual respect and goodwill, including communicating with parents in the absence of the Lead Teacher.
Helping with the maintenance of the inventory of the classroom.
Helping with students' observation and maintaining current, accurate classroom records.
The execution of emergencies and emergency drills per the established protocol.
Supervising children en route to/from and while in Enrichments.
Immediately corrects and reports safety issues, accidents, and incidents to the Lead Teacher, the Program Coordinator, and the Director of Lower School.
Is directly responsible for cleaning the environment according to Lead Teacher directives and storing all classroom supplies properly.
Monitors and assists children with work, self-care, and social relationships/interactions with peers.
Per the Lead Teacher's direction, assists with arrivals and dismissals as required and with strict adherence to Emergency Contact protocol, including completing electronic attendance records according to policy.
Is responsible for the safety and well-being of the children left in her/his charge, within the classrooms, and on the playground, until dismissed to a responsible adult.
Models the Lead Teacher’s method of interacting with children and adults, per Discovery’s policies, including respectful communication and positive directives and phrasing.
Is required to attend team meetings and any other meetings when requested.
Assists with other projects, programs, and planning as assigned or requested by the school's leadership.
Shares questions and observations with the Lead Teacher.
Establishes positive relationships with students, which, while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child, are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
Notifies the Primary Program Coordinator and/or the Director of Lower School immediately of professional difficulties with children, parents, or staff, and/or personal difficulties that may affect the Primary Associate Teacher’s role/responsibilities.
Completes required DCF and other required and related training.
Participates in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of collegial support and adherence to professional standards.
Participates in a regular evaluation process, including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the Lead Teacher and/or in conjunction with the Primary Coordinator and/or Director of Lower School.
Takes pictures/videos that have been previously requested by the Lead Teacher.
Participates in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age-level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, and mentoring.
Is responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the personnel handbook and all school policies.
Is responsible for complying with all state regulations and requirements of accrediting organizations.
Is responsible for keeping the Lead Primary Teacher and/or Director of Lower School updated on events, personal and professional issues, schedules, and curricular coordination that could impact their performance.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Primary Coordinator and/or the Director of Lower School.
Is responsible for the safety and well-being of the children left in her/his charge, within the classrooms, and on the playground, based on respect and consistent with the teachings of Montessori, until dismissed to a responsible adult.
Models integrity, curiosity, responsibility, creativity, and respect for all persons and an appreciation for racial, cultural, and gender differences and diversity.
Prepares and cleans the environment for students.
Collaborates and communicates with all Lead Teachers.
Coordinates activities of interest to students.
Monitors and assists children with work, self-care, and social relationships/interactions with peers.
Assists with arrivals and dismissals as required and with strict adherence to Emergency Contact protocol, including completing electronic attendance records according to policy.
Establishes positive relationships with students, which, while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child, are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
Supervises students in their care. No child should ever be left unsupervised either inside or outside the classroom, except when directed by the teacher.
Phrases directives positively when speaking with the children.
Reports all accidents/incidents at once. Prepares a written report and makes the Aftercare Coordinator aware of the accident/incident.
Attends full staff meetings and any other meetings when requested.
Shares questions and observations with the Lead Teacher.
Establishes positive relationships with students, while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child, characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
Notifies the Aftercare Coordinator immediately of personal or professional difficulties with children, parents, or staff.
Models integrity, curiosity, responsibility, creativity, and respect for all.