SY23-24 Teaching Assistant
About AppleTree
With the mission of closing the achievement gap before students get to kindergarten, AppleTree focuses exclusively on Preschool and Pre-K education. We provide free, full-day public charter school programming for three- and four-year olds in 12 locations across Washington, DC, employing our innovative and award winning instructional model, called Every Child Ready (ECR). This instructional model provides educators with tools and resources for “What to Teach”, “How to Teach” and “How to Measure Success.” Our instructional model is also used with partners across the nation. We continuously test and improve this model through feedback from AppleTree educators, partners and other stakeholders to ensure that children are learning and exploring through play and appropriate instruction.
Position Summary
The Teaching Assistant serves as an integral part of the teaching team, either working with one -person instructional team consisting of a Lead Teacher and Teaching Fellow or with two 2-person instructional teams consisting of two Co-Lead teachers. The Teaching Assistant uses his/her knowledge of the development of young children, the ways in which young children learn and scientifically based practice to support the social, emotional and cognitive development of young children. Teaching Assistants plan for and provide instruction to students enrolled in Before Care and/or Extended Day programming.
What you’ll do…
- Creates environments and instructional opportunities that meet the needs of diverse learners
- Supports the establishment of rich and engaging physical learning environments and encourages children’s ownership and contributions to the classroom.
- Helps to create a safe, clean, attractive and engaging centers that encourage both exploration and complex play.
- Plans and preps daily to ensure the classroom contains sufficient supplies with adequate materials for all children.
- Establishes clear behavior expectations, rules and procedures to maximize learning time. Ensures effective implementation of universal behavior management systems as well as targeted plans to support student behavior.
- Actively supports diverse learners through the development of young children’s early literacy, language, math, science, social studies and social emotional development using intentional, playful and engaging instruction.
- Implements the Every Child Ready (ECR) instructional model with fidelity and collaborates with teaching teams’ members to ensure fidelity.
- Intentionally provides modeling and support for children’s expressive and receptive language throughout the school day including Before Care and Extended Day.
- Collects and uses data from a variety of sources to understand their children’s instructional needs and to improve teaching and learning by the implementation of tiered supports.
- Collaborates with families and communities to support children’s overall social, emotional and cognitive development. This may include communicating the school’s and individual children’s educational goals to families.
Contributes to a community of practice
- Plans collaboratively and shares ideas and resources with instructional teams (including Before Care and Extended Day teams).
- Communicates students’ academic and social-emotional data and information from Before Care or Extended Day to all members of the instructional teams to ensure aligned support.
- Actively participates on at least one site-wide committee.
- Provide informal and formal feedback on instructional materials, school-wide practices and professional development/coaching.
- Actively participates in professional development opportunities provided and seeks out additional professional development, including monthly Professional Learning Community.
- Incorporates coaching and feedback from regular observations conducted by Instructional Leader and AppleTree Leadership Team members.
- Communicates professionally and constructively with colleagues.
- Maintains a professional relationship with families and shares important family information with teaching teams.
- Fulfills the standards of professionalism including appropriate dress, attendance and timeliness.
What we’re looking for…
- Must have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate’s degree (or higher) in any subject
- Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics. Proficient in the use of online technology such as (but not limited to): Google G Suite, Canvas, Zoom
- Access to reliable internet service to support remote work expectations
- Ability to work in a remote or campus-based environment
- Working hours will vary as Teaching Assistants’ duties may include leading Before Care (7:30 am -8:15 am) or Extended Day (3:15 - 6:00)
- IMPORTANT: Per Mayor’s Order 2021-109, on-site staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
What's in it for you…
- Competitive Salary
- Employee Health Benefits that are in the 95th percentile of other schools in the DC Metro Area
- Fully covered Dental
- Benefits for you and all eligible dependents
- Fully covered Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Life insurance with buy-up options
- Free Online Wellness Platform for you and up to 4 eligible dependents
- Competitive Paid Time Off, including early close Mental Health Days
- 5% Employer Contribution to your Retirement Account (whether you contribute or not)
- AppleTree Scholarship to pay for continued education
- Network Professional Development Opportunities
AppleTree’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
At AppleTree, we endeavor to foster an environment where each person’s true self and experience is welcome. We believe that only with a diverse and inclusive environment can you truly celebrate and support all students, families, and staff. Our commitment to diversity is founded on the belief that our community is strengthened by the vibrant exchange that occurs when individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, and heritages share their various perspectives with one another.