Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K through Grade 9 living in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Our mission is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. A talented and devoted faculty engages our students in developmentally appropriate ways, delivering a challenging curriculum that builds intellectual skills and fosters creative and critical thinking. We lead by example and challenge students to fulfill their potential, find their path, and follow their passions, whether in the classroom, on the playing fields, on the stage, or serving the community.

The Early Childhood program at Country School serves children in Grades Beginners (age 3) through Kindergarten. In Early Childhood, we are passionate about children believing in themselves and their great potential. We are a place where imagination and curiosity are valued and childhood is respected, all while children are well-prepared academically. Teachers intentionally prepare a space that will excite, invite and encourage children to explore. Our Kindergarten program provides opportunities for hands-on inquiry, direct instruction, and differentiated groupings during lessons. The children are encouraged to take risks in a safe environment where relationships are built on trust.

About the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Position

The Kindergarten Assistant Teacher serves as a member of our Early Childhood faculty.  Our Early Childhood teachers are experienced, dynamic and possess a strong sense of pedagogy.  They demonstrate a commitment to bringing out the best in each student and ensure that each child is known, seen, loved, and valued. Responsive Classroom is robustly used as our social-emotional curriculum across all Kindergarten classrooms.  Assistant Teachers are responsible for partnering with the Lead Teacher to cultivate a joyful and kind classroom community, as well as delivering a high-caliber of instruction across disciplines. 

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Lead Teacher to cultivate a joyful, vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming classroom community supported by strong classroom management skills
• Provide whole group and differentiated small group instruction across homeroom subject areas, guided by the Lead Teacher 
• Attend, participate and contribute at weekly grade level team meetings and Early Childhood meetings 
• Prepare and organize materials for lessons, centers and activities
• Support the lead teacher in maintaining a clean and inviting classroom to serve as the child's third teacher
• Support children in developing independence, social-emotional skills, and problem-solving abilities
• Communicate regularly with the Lead Teacher to stay informed about classroom priorities
• Assist with documentation, observations and record-keeping as needed 
• Collaborate with colleagues to construct curriculum, share teaching methods, and review assessment data in the service of the children
• Seek out professional growth and participate in professional development opportunities 

• Understanding of the social, emotional and academic needs of students of this age
• Demonstrates joy in teaching and an ability to connect with young children 
• Well-developed classroom management skills 
• Understanding of instructional methods and curricular implementation 
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with colleagues 
• Highly developed organizational skills 
• Relevant experience teaching the age group
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Competencies

• Is an active steward in helping to create a positive, encouraging, and respectful culture
• Demonstrates a true sense of joy in being in a school environment
• Is organized, collaborative, flexible, responsive and adaptive
• Models inquiry, curiosity and risk-taking
• Is reflective of teaching practice and seek  feedback
• Demonstrates cultural competency
• Demonstrates lifelong learning