Address
Form of workEARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANT TEACHER (PreK-3, PreK-4, Kindergarten)
Start Date: August 2023
Role Type: Full-time
Location: Washington, DC
WHO WE ARE
DC Prep is a network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschool through 8th grade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We're proud of being the highest-performing public charter network in Washington, DC - our students deserve our best! - while recognizing that how we support our students to be successful is as important as the results we achieve. That pushes us to reflect on questions such as how we can facilitate our students' academic, social, and emotional development, how we can support our team members' professional growth and personal ability to do this work long-term, and how we can engage our students' families as our own. While this work is hard, it's worth it - we believe in the transformative power of education, the can-do-itness of our students and staff, and the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful work with people we care about and trust!
Here's how we drive results:
- Rigorous academic focus. Our Preppies receive the highest level of academic preparation through standards-based instruction, daily targeted interventions, and meaningful assessments.
- Culture built on character. Success is built upon character, so we build "Prep Skills" (e.g., persevering on tasks and projects, self-advocacy) into every minute of the day. We've built a strong community of Preppies, teachers, and families that are focused on character first.
- Commitment to reflection and refinement. Our results tell us that we are moving in the right direction, but there's further to go to ensure that every student receives a transformative education. As a team, we regularly reflect on our programmatic model to see what's working and where we can get better.
Are you interested in learning more about the DC Prep Way? If so, check out our website to find out more about what we're working towards and how we're doing it.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANT TEACHERS AT DC PREP
As an Assistant Teacher, you will work in partnership with the Early Childhood Lead Teacher or Kindergarten Lead Teacher to support the cultivation of a learning environment and classroom community that is productive, purposeful, safe and equitable for all students. You will contribute positively to the classroom community by supporting the delivery of rigorous instruction, communicating with families and reinforcing classroom expectations and vision as outlined in your partnership with the lead teacher. Additionally, you will seek growth opportunities by working to maximize your impact in the classroom through regular collaboration with the lead teacher, seeking new opportunities for classroom ownership and responsibility and being an active and eager participant in all professional development and coaching opportunities at DC Prep.
This Assistant Teacher position serves as an entryway into DC Prep's lead teacher pipeline and is designed to help novice educators develop into strong early childhood educators. To support our pipeline, we offer ATs the necessary professional development and coaching to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience to become effective educators in urban school environments. Successful Assistant Teachers will have the opportunity to assume a gradual increase in classroom responsibility that will prepare them to assume lead teaching opportunities at DC Prep.
Additionally, you'll be responsible for:
- Supporting instructional planning and delivery by:
- Supporting and co-leading productive, purposeful, inclusive, safe and equitable routines, structures and transitions during various components of the school day
- Reviewing unit maps, lesson plans and materials ahead of time in order to be prepared to effectively support and implement the lessons designed by the Lead Teacher
- Implementing assigned small groups including monitoring progress to drive towards student growth and mastery in literacy and math
- Collaborating with and supporting the lead teacher to implement core tasks and activities that will engage students in targets for Early Childhood learning standards
- Collaborating with the lead teacher to teach with intentional structures that maximize student learning
- Assisting in the creation of core resources that whole class will use
- Reading all IEPs and 504 plans and preparing to support specialized instruction in accordance with plans
- Supporting delivery of assessments
- Prioritizing meeting regularly with lead teacher for "Team Teaching" check-ins to plan collaboratively
- Assisting in collection and grading of classwork and homework
- Assuming lead teacher responsibilities in the event of an absence
- Supporting a strong classroom community by:
- Collaborating with the lead teacher to ensure that the vision for classroom community and strong Tier I supports are in place in the classroom
- Leading various components of the school day while carrying out all aspects of the vision for classroom community
- Assisting in collecting data on student behaviors/academics as needed in support of developing or monitoring the success of an intervention plan
- Implementing student academic and behavior plans with fidelity
- Supporting strong communication by:
- Supporting lead teacher with communication of whole class news and upcoming information/deadlines with families
- Meeting regularly with lead teacher to agree upon and establish classroom norms and expectations
- Engaging in ongoing professional development and coaching by:
- Determining with the lead teacher which weekly lessons to support and execute
- Participating in weekly individual or group professional development and coaching sessions
- Collaborating with lead teacher to plan for more ownership of academic instruction based on performance as the year progresses
WHO YOU ARE
You have a background working with children and want to translate that experience into becoming an Early Childhood teacher who sets a positive tone for students as they embark upon their academic careers. In order to make this career goal a reality, you are eager to participate in DC Prep's development and coaching program where you will work with an instructional coach to develop the skills you need to successfully apply for a lead teacher role over the course of a school year. Above all, you're passionate about the need for students from underserved communities to learn without limits, the importance of addressing the intersection of race and public education in the U.S., and the transformational power of talented, mission-aligned people working together to advance a goal. You're open to feedback, eager to grow, and bring your best to everything you do. You look for joy in your day-to-day and want to work with others who do, too!
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with students in an urban public school with a record of high student achievement highly preferred
- Bachelor's degree from a competitive college or university preferred
JOIN US
Do you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today!
We're an equal opportunity employer, and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply.
