Teacher Aide/Paraprofessional

Position: Preschool Teacher Assistant Part Time

Date Revised: July 22, 2021

Reports to: Karen Bedore, Preschool Director

Location: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

861 Wildwood Lane

Grapevine, TX 76051

The Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas includes 90 Parishes, 1 Mission, and 19 schools. It stretches from Quanah, Texas just northwest of Wichita Falls in the West and extends to Penelope, Texas in the Southeast. Its largest metropolitan areas are Fort Worth, Arlington, Denton, and Wichita Falls. It has approximately 1.1 million Catholics in the Diocese, including 108 Priests, 86 Deacons, and 77 Sisters. The principal duty of all employees is to assist in the mission of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.

General Position Summary: Preschool classroom Assistant position- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 2:30pm - Aug. through May. Essential Functions of the position are to provide assistance in teaching preschool students within established curriculum and materials; facilitate a safe environment with a passion for learning and commitment to Catholic Values and assist in implementing the daily program for the classroom under the direction of the Teacher.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Assist in preparing and caring for a classroom environment that embodies and teaches Catholic Values.
• Assist in a manner appropriate for the age level, skill, and social development of the group of children served.
• Be familiar with all health and emergency policies of the program and be ready to implement them if necessary.
• Assist in the preparation and care for the classroom environment in a manner that allows for the proper health and safety considerations of students and employees.
• Supervise and interact with children in all activities while they are at the school to include recess and lunchtime.
• Be available for parent/teacher conferences when necessary. Request absences within timelines and requirements established by preschool policy.
• Be prepared to assist in other classrooms with limited notice when necessary.
• Be ready to appropriately respond to emergencies and intervene in severe classroom discipline problems that may require physically moving (to include lifting) a child between two and five years of age.
• Notify the director of severe disciplinary problems.
• Maintain a level of knowledge and skills required for the position.
• Maintain 20 hours of continuing education per year.
• Report all cases of suspected abuse to proper authorities in accordance with local laws and diocesan policies.
• Maintain confidentiality and refer participants and families to pastoral care when necessary.
• Treat all children, parents and other parties with dignity and respect.

Qualifications and Physical Requirements:

• Active member of a Christian faith community.
• Fully initiated Roman Catholics participating in a Catholic parish community preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and honor diversity within the parish community.
• Be physically able to assist in a classroom to include lifting children two through five years of age.
• Must be able to comply with hiring requirements, both Federal and those of the Diocese of Fort Worth.

Supervision Given and/or Received:

• The person in this position will be evaluated periodically during a 90 day trial period.
• After this period, evaluation will normally occur on an annual basis.

Education and Experience Preferred:

• One year of preschool work or equivalent volunteer experience preferred.

FLSA Designation: Non-Exempt

Job Grade: Occasional 14-19 hrs/wk

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Position Description Approved By Date

Please Be Advised… The position, as outlined above, is subject to change as the needs of the Diocese of Fort Worth change. However, any and all changes will be communicated in advance to the incumbent(s) as is necessary and practical. All questions, concerns and/or requests for revisions concerning this position should be directed to the Director of Human Resources of the Diocese of Fort Worth and must be approved in advance before any requests for changes are incorporated in this position.