Job Title:  ECE Teaching Assistant

Department: Early Childhood Education

FTE/ Benefits Status: Full Time -  Benefited

Supervisor: Assistant Director of ECE

Visa Eligibility: Not Eligible

International School of Denver (ISDenver) is an independent school that teaches the curricula and fulfills the highest educational standards of the United States, China, France, and Spain to prepare its students to thrive in a diverse and competitive global society.  ISDenver is a prestigious International Baccalaureate World School offering immersion bilingual international education from PreK-High School, and is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and participating governments. To learn more about ISDenver, please visit our website.

Staff and Faculty members are the cornerstone of our school. In addition to driving the school’s operations, they must also embody the school’s values and believe in the school’s mission:

ISDenver Values: Diversity, Integrity, Compassion, Responsibility, Perseverance

ISDenver Mission: Our inclusive, globally minded community develops highly motivated and academically successful bilingual learners who are inter-culturally adept and make positive contributions in a complex world.

Position Summary:  The Teaching assistant is an integral part of the ISDenver student experience, helping to nurture our youngest learners and begin developing their bi-lingual and intercultural skills.

Duties & Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people of color and people who do not identify as cisgender men are less likely to apply to jobs unless their experience specifically matches the qualifications. At ISDenver we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the candidate we are looking for!

Direct Support of Learning and Teaching

• Align with the ISDenver Mission, Vision, Values and Beliefs and be a proactive advocate for the school.
• Support the work of the Target Language teaching staff by working with small groups or individuals on learning tasks designed by the teacher

• Communicate effectively with children through questioning, instructing, explaining and decision making
• Provide feedback on the learning process to the teacher for evaluation and planning purposes
• Supervise the whole class as and when needed.

• Participate in visits and trips to support the curriculum

Social Emotional Support

• Develop nurturing relationships with the children in your care and work closely with the teaching staff to ensure all children feel comfortable and confident in their learning environment
• Supervise and support all children as appropriate and following the School Behavior Management Policy
• Communicate and consult with the Target Language teachers and/or Program Coordinator and Division Director/Principal about any student issues that may require specific or unusual action

• Maintain confidentiality at all times in respect of individual/family circumstances and helps plan any specific education programs being undertaken

• Undertake recess and lunch duties as assigned

Indirect Support of Learning and Teaching

• Assist teacher in management and maintenance of classroom in compliance with requirements of State of Colorado, Department of Human Services licensing requirements and ISDenver policies and procedures.
• Work in close cooperation with assigned teachers, ensuring workload and tasks are managed so that the learning of the students is prioritized and supported fully and appropriately

• Collaborate with assigned teacher to prepare appropriate materials for planned activities
• Collaborate with the assigned teacher to complete administrative duties e.g. photocopying, laminating
• Other duties as assigned

Professional Development

• Know, understand and implement all aspects of Licensing as pertains to the Early Childhood setting at ISDenver
• Be familiar with the purpose and scope of educational activities relating to the target language curriculum
• Actively seek opportunities for Professional Development (PD) in order to keep up to date with current best practice
• Attend all TA PD workshops and training as organized by the school to support the School Improvement Plan as appropriate to the role

• Participate in reflection, evaluation and growth programs for teaching assistants
• Attend any appropriate department or school meetings
• Teaching Assistants (TAs) are required to obtain their Group Lead Qualifications (GLQ) by the end of their second year of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Personal Characteristics we are looking for:

We are looking for people who support our mission and values and want to join us in creating a nurturing, supportive, and caring environment for our students. We take great pride in how much our students love to be at our school and with our staff; a true desire to create an environment where our students are known and cared for is imperative for any candidate. Being kind, compassionate, and open-minded and having a team-first mentality are characteristics integral for anyone joining our community. 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent, preferred
• Native use of the target language (French, Spanish or Chinese)
• Fluent in English with good verbal and written communication skills
• Minimum of two years experience teaching or in a child care setting, preferred
• Must meet State of Colorado requirements for Group Leader qualification (ECE Only)
• Must be computer literate.
• Required to complete ECT qualification by the end of their second school year. Must have an application submitted in the PDIS system. 
• English proficiency with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• • Level B2 required, C1+ preferred (based on Common European Framework of References for Languages) or equivalent certification such as TOEFL or IETLS.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Eagerness to engage with co-curricular, extra-curricular, school community, and PTO activities that promote the school’s programs and reputation
• Lived experience, including international work experience, and an appreciation and respect for all cultures
• Collaborative, team-oriented, globally- and open-minded, innovative, and compassionate
• Professionalism, punctuality, reliability, and an ability to exercise sound judgment and analytical and problem solving skills
• Technological and computer competency (Google Suite, database management, etc.)

Physical Demands:

• Regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee may occasionally be required to bend, stoop or kneel.

Location and Schedule: Expected work hours are 7:45am-3:45pm, M-F. This job does not have remote work flexibility. All employees must be based in or near Denver, CO.

Benefits (please see ISDenver benefits summary information here):

• Generous Time Off: 
• • Paid leave for all full-time staff: Thanksgiving break (3 days), winter break (2 weeks), 4th of july week (1 week)
  • Faculty: summer break (~ 2 months), October, February, and April breaks (1 week each), 6 days FTO (prorated for part-time positions)
  • Year Round Administrative staff: FTO accrued starting first day of work, 20 days FTO/year as base FTO
  • FTO encompasses most time off such as sick, personal, and vacation time
• Cigna Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with significant school contribution to Medical and Dental
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, and AD&D
• Supplemental insurance available through Colonial
• Employer contribution to 401k regardless of employee participation
• Partial tuition remission and discounted co-curricular clubs for children enrolled at ISDenver
• Discounted summer and break camps for children of full-time staff (ISDenver enrollment not required)
• Relocation allowance
• Free daily lunch
• Professional Development opportunities
• Staff appreciation and cultural celebration events
• ...and more! 

Interviews: Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted directly. Interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone or via video conferencing. Only applicants to be invited for an interview will be contacted; no phone calls or emails, please. ISDenver does not consider nor save information sent for non-posted positions.

Notes: 

• Job descriptions are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
• All employees are required to undergo, at minimum, a Colorado Department of Human Services required background check prior to employment.  Certain positions may require more extensive background checks.
• Racism, misogyny, classism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia do not represent the values of ISDenver and will not be tolerated.

ISDenver celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse community. People of color, LGBTQIA+ candidates, and people from other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. ISDenver is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.