Pre-K Teacher Assistant Immediate Opening! - Harmony DC PCS

Harmony DC and Apple Tree Partnership

*This is an in-person job, virtual/online work is not available.

*All candidates should be fully vaccinated.

Job description

Harmony DC Public Charter School is a public charter school located in NE Washington, DC. serving students in PK through 5th Grade. The mission of Harmony School of Excellence-DC is to prepare students for higher learning in a safe, caring, and collaborative atmosphere through a quality learner-centered educational program with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are seeking energetic, experienced educators to join our Pre-K team!

Every Child Ready (ECR) is the instructional model developed by AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation. Used in classrooms across the country, it is a well-respected model for its comprehensive approach to developing students’ academic and social emotional skills before Kindergarten. ECR classrooms are engaging, intentional, and playful.

The Pre-K Teaching Assistant collaborates with a Lead teacher and contributes to the growth and development of a classroom of students. It is a non-supervisory position, and reports to the Principal.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the teaching assistant align to Every Child Ready’s Guiding Principles. ECR teachers and classrooms are:

• Nurturing and provide early-learning experiences that contribute to children’s positive feelings about school, teachers, and their communities.

• Reflective and use multiple data sources to make day-by-day decisions about instruction.

• Inclusive in ensuring that a child’s family, culture, and previous experiences are celebrated and incorporated into the classroom community.

• Playful and design classrooms in which children can learn through exploration and purposeful play.

• Intentional in engaging in ongoing professional learning and have dedicated time for planning, practice, and reflection.

• Diverse; classrooms are rich with materials and print that represent diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Balanced to support children’s development across social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and academic competencies.

Teaching teams design and maintain developmentally-appropriate classroom learning environments in which children:

• Learn through exploration and purposeful play (playful)
• Contribute to the classroom environment

• Within these classrooms, children have access to:

• Materials and print that represent diverse backgrounds and cultures (diverse)
• Varied spaces in the classroom in which to learn both independently and cooperatively, as well as space to rest and relax.

• A variety of books and writing utensils throughout the classroom

Teaching Assistants support instructional opportunities that meet the needs of diverse learners and support the development of young children. Specifically, teaching assistants:

• Implement the Every Child Ready (ECR) instructional model and collaborate with the lead teacher, coach and/or principal to ensure fidelity.

• Plan and prep daily to ensure the classroom contains sufficient supplies with adequate materials for all children.

• Actively support diverse learners through the development of young children's early literacy, language, math, science, social studies and social emotional development using intentional, playful and engaging instruction.

• Provide early-learning experiences that contribute to children’s positive feelings about school, teachers, and their communities (nurturing).

• Support children's development across social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and academic competencies (balanced).

• Apply a variety of strategies to promote both concept and skill development.

• Provide modeling and support for children's expressive and receptive language throughout the school day.

• Collaborate with related service providers and student support staff (SPED, ELL, PBS, etc.) to ensure the needs of all children are met, as needed.

Teaching Assistants collaborate with families and communities to support children's social, emotional and cognitive development, specifically teachers:

• Ensure that a child's family, culture, and previous experiences are celebrated and incorporated into the classroom community (inclusive)

• Actively seek to make connections with their children’s family members and other important people in their lives.

• Support school-wide family engagement activities

ECR teachers contribute to a community of practice, specifically teaching assistants:

• Engage in ongoing professional learning and have dedicated time for planning, practice, and reflection (intentional).

• Share best practices with others throughout the ECR network.

• Incorporate coaching and feedback from regular observations to improve instruction.

• Communicate professionally and constructively with colleagues.

• Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect the students, equipment, materials, and facilities.

• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.

• Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct.

• Participate in campus staff development.

• Attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees

• Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate’s degree (or higher) in any subject.

• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics. Proficient in the use of online technology such as (but not limited to): Google G Suite, Canvas, Zoom

• Experience working with children in a preschool setting is preferred.

Disclaimer
The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of a Teaching Assistant.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $20.30 - $26.80 per hour