Job description

Position: After School Associate
Reports to: Auxiliaries Coordinator; Head of School
Location: The Discovery School, 102 15th St., Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250

About the School
The Discovery School is a private, non-profit school that offers a unique educational experience through a gradual evolution from pure Montessori, to a blended curriculum, to pure International Baccalaureate (IB) over the course of the child's academic career, serving children ages 18-months through eighth grade.

Through a progressive and internationally-minded framework, students receive a firm foundation in academic skills and participate in a wide variety of enrichment opportunities from a dedicated and caring faculty. Students in our toddler and primary program engage in learning in a Montessori prepared environment with Montessori trained teachers. Students in our elementary school are a part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our middle school seeks to challenge students with academic rigor in a low-pressure environment.

Who we are looking for
Discovery seeks a dynamic, creative, and dedicated After School Associate with a strong passion for learning, a growth mindset, and a commitment to innovation in education. Our culture is about having the freedom and latitude to discover your passions and thrive on encouraging this mindset. The Toddler Associate teacher should have a deep love of and respect for our students and believe that Discovery School students are:
a. Explorers pursuing their passions
b. Spirited and reflective risk-takers
c. Peacemakers
d. Resourceful and persevering innovators
e. Leaders who inspire others to discover and act on what is possible
f. Responsible, courageous world citizens

Summary of Position
The Discovery School Toddler, Primary, or Elementary/Middle School After School Associate understands and promotes the school’s mission, vision, core values, and policies both within and outside the immediate school community. The Toddler, Primary, or Elementary/Middle School After School Associate is responsible for managing the aftercare environment. The After School Associate is flexible and adapts to the needs of the environment in which they work.

The After School Associate is responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school’s program, develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family in the school community. The After School Associate is expected to be prompt with a cheerful disposition and a love of children.

This job requires the employee to spend the majority of work hours actively attending to young children. This will include but is not limited to standing, bending at the waist, kneeling, sitting, and lifting.

Normal Hours
1. Monday through Friday that school is in session 2:45 pm - 5:45 pm (or when complete) for Aftercare.
2. Other hours as required and deemed necessary by the Auxiliaries Coordinator and/or Head of School, including Early Release Days when Aftercare is provided.

Aftercare Accountabilities:
1. Is responsible for the safety and well-being of the children left in their charge, within the classrooms, and on the playground, based on respect and consistent with the teachings of Montessori and IB, until dismissed to a responsible adult.
2. Models integrity, curiosity, responsibility, creativity, and respect for all persons, and an appreciation for racial, cultural, and gender differences and diversity.
3. Prepares and cleans the environment for Toddler, Primary, or Elementary/Middle School students.
4. Collaborates and communicates with all Lead Teachers.
5. Coordinates activities of interest to students.
6. Monitors and assists children with work, self-care, and social relationships/interactions with peers.
7. Assists with arrivals and dismissals as required and with strict adherence to Emergency Contact protocol, including completing electronic attendance records according to policy.
8. Establishes positive relationships with students, which, while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child, are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
9. Supervises students in their care. No child should ever be left unsupervised either inside or outside the classroom, except when directed by the teacher.
10. Phrases directives positively when speaking with the children.
11. Reports all accidents/incidents immediately. Prepares a written report and makes the Auxiliaries Coordinator and Lead Teacher(s) aware of the accident/incident.
12. Attends full staff meetings and any other meetings as and when requested.
13. Shares questions and observations with the Lead Teacher.
14. Establishes positive relationships with students while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child that are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
15. Notifies the Auxiliaries Coordinator and/or Head of School immediately of personal or professional difficulties with children, parents, or staff.
16. Models integrity, curiosity, responsibility, creativity, and respect for all.

Professional Responsibility:
The Toddler, Primary, or Elementary/Middle School After School Associate is involved in ongoing self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth.
1. Is committed to Discovery’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence:
a. Models the Portrait of the Graduate
b. Passionately pursues their own professional growth and development
c. Unabashedly holds children at the center of all decisions and actions
d. Cultivates an inclusive and vibrant learning community
e. Discovers and acts on what is possible
2. Participates in the establishment and maintenance of an atmosphere of collegial support and adherence to professional standards.
3. Participates in a regular evaluation process, including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the Auxiliaries Coordinator and/or Head of School.
4. Participates in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age-level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc.
5. Participates in and shares information from professional development activities with colleagues to benefit the learning community.
6. Is responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the personnel handbook and all school policies.
7. Is responsible for complying with all state regulations and requirements of accrediting organizations.
8. Initiates growth and change in their own intellectual and professional development, seeking out conferences, courses, and other opportunities to learn.
9. Is responsible for keeping the Auxiliaries Coordinator and/or Head of School updated on events, personal and professional issues, schedules, and curricular coordination that could impact their performance.
10. Enthusiastically supports new initiatives.
11. Performs other duties as assigned by the Auxiliaries Coordinator and/or Head of School.
12. Manages communication between Classroom Teachers and parents, and caregivers.

Qualifications:
1. High School Diploma, Bachelor's degree in education a bonus but not required.
2. Experience with children between 18 months and 35 months is preferred but not required.
3. Experience with Montessori, IB, and/or progressive learning approaches is preferred but not required.
4. Comfortable with the integration of technology as a tool enabling learning.
5. Experience with (or willingness to learn and leverage) the Altitude Learning software platform.
6. Deep capability to engage in differentiated instruction strategies for reading and writing.
7. Able to make connections across disciplines, and respond to students' ideas and inquiries by adapting lesson plans.
8. Exceptionally strong spoken and written communication and interpersonal skills.
9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage in a collaborative community.
10. Strong English language & literature skills, scaffolding reading / writing-related work, and providing an evaluation of work to students.
11. Adept at communicating Discovery’s story to various constituencies.
12. Is committed to Discovery’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence
a. Model the Portrait of the Graduate
b. Passionately pursue their own professional growth and development
c. Unabashedly hold children at the center of all decisions and actions
d. Cultivate an inclusive and vibrant learning community
e. Discover and act on what is possible

Work Authorization: The candidate must be authorized to work in the US.
Compensation: This is a part-time position, paid at an hourly rate, competitive, and commensurate with experience.
Benefits: This is a part-time position that could grow into a full-time position, based on need. Full-time employees receive health, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b), LTD and STD, paid leave, and life insurance.
Start Date: August 1, 2022
To Apply: https://www.thediscoveryschool.org/about/employment

The Discovery School is an equal opportunity employer.

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