Student/Recess Monitor

South Fayette Township School District•McDonald, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Monitor (lunch/recess) at South Fayette Township School District is responsible for helping to establish and maintain a calm and pleasant atmosphere in the cafeteria and providing active, attentive, and developmentally appropriate supervision of students during lunch, outdoor recess, indoor recess, and related transitions. The goal is to maintain safe, orderly, welcoming, and positive environments that support appropriate social interaction, independence, and student well-being.

Requirements

Possesses a High School Diploma
Demonstrates patience, dependability, sound judgment, and a positive attitude.
Communicates respectfully and effectively with young children and adults.
Can provide clear directions and positively redirect student behavior.
Can supervise large groups of students in active and potentially noisy environments.
Maintains confidentiality and exercises appropriate professional boundaries.
Meets all district employment, clearance, and training requirements.
Can stand and walk for extended periods and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Can respond promptly to student safety concerns and emergencies.
Available to work the posted hours each school day, with adjusted hours on delayed start days.

Responsibilities

Reinforces schoolwide behavioral expectations through clear directions, positive acknowledgment, proximity, redirection, and developmentally appropriate consequences.
Addresses minor concerns when appropriate and promptly refers repeated, serious, unsafe, or sensitive concerns to the principal or designated staff member.
Reinforces safe, respectful, and age-appropriate cafeteria routines, including remaining seated, using an appropriate voice level, handling food safely, and cleaning up trash from the assigned eating area.
Assisting students with opening packages, containers, and utensils when needed.
Monitoring students for signs of choking, allergic reactions, illness, or distress and immediately following district emergency procedures.
Responding promptly to spills and other safety hazards.
Supporting students in becoming increasingly independent.
Avoiding comments that shame, pressure, or draw unnecessary attention to a student’s food choices or eating habits.
Responsible for organizing students into orderly lines for purchasing food and directing them to assigned tables.
Responsible for assisting students with the use of utensils, when needed.
Responsible for organizing students for orderly disposal of food waste, trays, and utensils.
Responsible for organizing students for orderly dismissal from the cafeteria.
Responsible for circulating among the tables during the meal period so as to be available to help children who need assistance and resolve minor behavioral problems as they arise.
Responsible for communicating any concerns to the respective teacher in a timely fashion (within 24 hours).
Responsible for supervising students at recess and maintains a safe atmosphere on the playground or during indoor recess.
Responsible for directing movement of groups to and from the playground and recess area.
Continuously scan and circulate throughout the assigned areas.
Position themselves so all students and high-risk areas remain visible.
Avoid personal phone use and other distractions while supervising.
Maintain assigned supervision zones and communicate before leaving an area.
Closely monitor entrances, exits, playground boundaries, equipment, and isolated areas.
Never leave students unsupervised.
Inspecting the assigned area and playground equipment for visible hazards and promptly reporting concerns to the Main Office.
Intervening early when play becomes unsafe, overly physical, exclusionary, or conflict-driven.
Supporting students in resolving minor peer conflicts through calm, age-appropriate problem-solving.
Following established procedures for injuries, missing students, severe behavior, weather emergencies, and other urgent situations.
Supervising indoor recess according to classroom and building expectations.
Accounting for students during transitions to and from the cafeteria, playground, classrooms, and other assigned areas.
Distributes, monitors, collects, and appropriately stores recess equipment; reinforces safe equipment use; and reports damaged or unsafe equipment.
Report to assigned areas on time and remain for the full supervision period.
Follow daily schedules, supervision assignments, and administrator directions.
Work cooperatively with teachers, cafeteria staff, custodians, nurses, office personnel, and other monitors.
Maintain confidentiality concerning students and families.
Participate in required orientations and training.
Follow district policies related to student safety, mandated reporting, emergency procedures, technology use, and professional conduct.