Teacher's Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY: Teacher's Assistants (TAs) will work with their assigned teacher(s) to provide students with additional academic support. TAs who are certified teachers may also teach a regular class. TAs will work with teachers to motivate pupils to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to achieve a quality education, in accordance with each pupil's ability and will establish good relationships with parents and with other staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

• Possesses knowledge in the core processes, skills, and content of reading and its relationship to listening, speaking, and writing. They understand the reading process, particularly comprehension, decoding, strategic reading, and the application of these skills.
• Possesses knowledge in the core processes, skills and content of math.
• Knows and supports, through instruction and modeling, the core values of wisdom, justice, courage, compassion, hope, respect, responsibility, integrity.
• Uses instructional and corrective language that is positive and behaviorally descriptive to support the character education goals of the school.
• Supports reading/math instruction using a structured instructional process in accordance with the established curriculum and instruction strategies.
• Uses technology tools for instruction, planning, and communication and is eager to learn new uses and applications of technology tools.
• Assists in the organization and administration of initial and quarterly assessments.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers to identify learning goals for individual students.
• Excepts responsibility for assisting the teacher in maintaining a classroom that is safe, nurturing, and productive, where the TA models the behavior expected of students, and where the school's values are the focus of instruction and discussion wherever appropriate.
• Helps to create and manage a responsive learning environment that enables students to feel safe, to be creative, and to develop to their full potential.
• Works in teams with other TAs and classroom teachers to plan, problem solve and support one another on a daily basis.
• Actively participates in school activities and committees.
• Writes, implements, and evaluates their own professional development plans.
• Solicits constructive feedback from lead teachers, curriculum coordinators, and others who are observing instruction.
• Supports the professional development plans of colleagues.
• Communicates with their students' parents on a regular basis.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITES: Supervises classroom, students and volunteers.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience: Associate's degree or above is required. BA or BS is preferred.

Certification: Valid teaching certificate in the State of Missouri is preferred but not required.

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff and the general public.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plan and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of student to whom assigned. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers and parents; skill in oral and written communication. Ability to effectively present information to parents, community and administrators. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. The employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 pounds such as boxes of books and AV/VCR carts. The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being or work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. Duties are performed indoors and occasionally outdoors.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.