Early Childhood Teaching Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

FLSA Status : Non-Exempt

Reports to : Lower School Division Director and Auxiliary Programs Director

Salary : $23.00 per hour, plus full benefits

Anticipated start date : As soon as possible

Location : All positions are in person

Hours : Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week

Hours include workshop days but does not include all-school holidays/vacation breaks when the teaching faculty does not report with the exception of Mustang Vacation Program time.Teaching Assistants are expected to support Mustang Vacation Program for one week of winter and spring breaks for additional compensation.

Teaching Assistants are expected to participate in Lower School Back to School Night, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Baccalaureate, and Commencement.

Breck Overview

Breck School is a preschool through twelve, coeducational college preparatory, Episcopal day school located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, with a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Our School’s Episcopal roots are lived through an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging where we respect the dignity of every human being. We prioritize lifelong learning and a commitment to the greater good.

We are a community of highly engaged and motivated students, faculty, staff, and school leaders focused on building trusting relationships and strong academic scholarship through a practice of bridging research to practice. Upon graduation, Breck students are prepared for a life of intellectual curiosity, self-knowledge, and social responsibility, matriculating to colleges and universities throughout the world.

Position Overview

The purpose of the Early Childhood Teaching Assistant (TA) position is to provide an opportunity for those interested in early childhood education and teaching to expand their curriculum knowledge and instructional proficiencies. The Early Childhood TA position is designed to give the assistant opportunities to work alongside a variety of experienced, mentor teachers. Breck School takes great pride in preparing and mentoring new teachers for the classroom experience.

The primary role of the Teaching Assistant is to assist and support teachers in developing and implementing the instructional program, support student learning, and contribute to a positive climate in the classroom and community.

At Breck, our Early Childhood program is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on the environment as the 'third teacher. In this role, you will support daily outdoor learning experiences that honor student interests and observations. Our nature-based pedagogy is designed to spark inquiry, foster creativity, and cultivate a deep, lasting connection to the natural world.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist classroom teachers by providing input in planning learning experiences, contributing materials for the classroom, supporting instruction, and maintaining a positive environment.
• Collaborates with the classroom teacher to implement daily outdoor learning experiences, managing resources and supervising students to ensure a productive and safe environment for experiential learning
• Develop instructional skills through observations of classroom teaching, work with various groups of learners, and respond to constructive feedback and self-reflection.
• Participate in the TA mentorship program to broaden curricular knowledge through reading/research, collegial conversation, and lesson implementation.
• Develop a collaborative relationship with the early childhood teachers by demonstrating initiative, accepting responsibility, and maintaining honest, open communication.
• Support student learning by understanding developmental readiness, working effectively with small/large groups, and communicating clear and consistent expectations.
• Demonstrate positive interactions with students through modeling respectful behavior, creating meaningful connections to build relationships, displaying enthusiasm for learning, and communicating effectively with students.
• Be present and engaged in the learning experiences of the young child.
• Serve as a team member who supports collaboration, contributes ideas, demonstrates a willingness to learn, uses good judgment, maintains confidentiality, exhibits flexibility, and follows-through with responsibilities.
• Show flexibility to step into a lead teaching role when classroom teachers are absent and/or supporting coverage needs throughout the Lower School.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education or Early Childcare preferred
• Experience working with young children