Lower and Middle School Teacher Assistant
School Description
Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent, Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.
Position Summary
Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized, independent, Catholic school in Monterey, California, seeks an innovative, dedicated, and student-centered Lower and Middle School Teacher Assistant for the 2024-2025 school year. The Lower and Middle School is composed of over 200 PreKindergarten through eighth grade students, whose dedicated faculty and staff collaborate to design and deliver a dynamic learning environment. This is a unique opportunity to join students and teachers who joyfully and actively engage together in creating values-based, intentional community. The Lower and Middle School Teacher Assistant will join a highly collaborative and dedicated faculty that are committed to strengthening and enriching learning through innovative teaching methods that enable students to identify and solve problems, bridge content across traditional “subject” domains, and develop an unshakable growth mindset.
Position Description
The Teacher Assistant is responsible for supervising students, assisting with lesson planning, preparing lesson materials, and maintaining classroom tidiness. This role aids in preparing, constructing, and maintaining materials for the classroom. The successful candidate must enjoy working with children and be devoted to building a nurturing and safe learning environment.
Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.
Essential Responsibilities
Help prepare classrooms during faculty work week prior to the opening of school
Complete all year-end responsibilities before leaving for summer vacation
Assist with small group language arts or math activities under the teacher’s supervision
Assist individual children with following directions and be available on an individual basis for academic and emotional support
Assume responsibility for recess and lunch duties on a regularly scheduled basis and occasionally cover teachers when circumstances require their help
Oversee students during non-classroom times, including between classes, during lunch recess, and field trips
Actively participate in all class activities
Interact with both parents and children
Attend the following school functions outside of the normal work day:
o New Student Orientation
o Family Picnic
o Back to School Night
o Pumpkin Olympics
o Open House
o Christmas Concert
o Carnival
o Spring Concert
o Graduation
o New Student Buddy Barbecue
Pursue professional development to maintain expertise in performance of teaching responsibilities and promote the sharing of best practices with other members of the school’s faculty community
Show genuine concern for students; demonstrate deep investment in student learning and success both in and out of the classroom
Manage student behavior in and out of the classroom by enforcing rules and procedures
Participate in and support the life of the school through various duties as assigned
Attend and engage in department, school, and parent meetings
Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent
A minimum of two years experience as a teaching assistant or similar role
A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School
A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law
Competencies
Demonstrated use of relevant technology to support instruction
Excellent writing, communication, and public speaking skills
Approachable and welcoming demeanor
Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community
Strong interpersonal skills, including good listening, humor, tact, and intuition
Ability to create responsive, caring, and appropriate relationships with students, families, and colleagues
Strong organizational and record-keeping skills and digital literacy
Ability to assess and respond to the needs of the school and act as a representative of the school
Commitment to professional growth and education
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not supervise other employees
Working Conditions and Compensation
Work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time each day
Ability to access buildings and facilities throughout a 36-acre campus, with reasonable accommodations, in order to meet with students and faculty
Work in a school environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and people
Additional time is required beyond a normal day or week for evening and weekend meetings
Santa Catalina School offers competitive insurance and retirement benefits
Pay range: $20–$25 per hour depending on experience
Equal Employment Opportunity
Santa Catalina School is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment at Santa Catalina School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by the law.
To Apply
Interested candidates should visit our website to complete and submit an application, resume, and cover letter:
https://www.santacatalina.org/employment
Electronic submission of candidate papers in .pdf format is preferred.
Santa Catalina provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities.
