REPORTS TO- EDUCATION DIRECTOR

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POSITION SUMMARY  

The Support Teacher is responsible  for supporting the  educational mission of Divine Mercy Academy by assisting classroom teachers and  the Education Director in maintaining a prepared learning environment that  promotes the spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and academic development of  each child in accordance with Montessori philosophy and Catholic values.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

 Observation and Monitoring

• Serve as a "second set of eyes" in classrooms, observing and documenting  student engagement, work cycles, and behavioral patterns
• Record observations to support individualized lesson planning and classroom  management
• Monitor students during work periods, play, and transitions to ensure safety  and engagement

 Classroom Intervention and Support

• Provide intervention and support as directed by the Education Director
• Assist in classrooms as needed to support the Lead Teacher and maintain  classroom flow
• Help redirect students to preserve the concentration of all members of the  classroom community
• Support students' independence of thought and movement through  scaffolding and gentle reminders
• Assist with teaching as directed by the Lead Teacher
• Assist with conflict resolution and modeling of grace and courtesy

 Environment Preparation and Maintenance

• Assist in maintaining the prepared environment by keeping classrooms clean,  orderly, and beautiful
• Assist with the setup and cleanup of classroom activities
• Support overall classroom aesthetics in alignment with Montessori principles

Procedural Support

• Help implement and reinforce classroom procedures to enable student  independence
• Support students in following established routines for academic work and  classroom navigation
• Ensure procedures are consistently followed so the lead teacher can focus on  individual lessons

 Flexibility and Coverage

• Maintain flexibility to respond to daily classroom needs and staffing requirements
• Serve as substitute lead teacher when regular classroom teachers are  absent, whether for a single day or extended period, with support and direction from the Education Director
• Transition seamlessly between support role and Lead Teacher role as needed
• Adapt daily responsibilities based on school-wide needs and priorities

 ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Assist with supervision during lunch, recess, and transitions
• Support school events
• Attend staff meetings, professional development sessions, and parent  meetings as required
• Model Catholic values and Montessori principles in all interactions
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Education Director  

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Commitment to supporting the Catholic Faith and Montessori philosophy as  part of Divine Mercy Academy's mission
• Brings joy to daily interactions with students and to the work of teaching 
• Ability to work collaboratively with Lead Teacher and administration
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Patience, flexibility, and genuine love for children
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
• Pass background check and comply with diocesan Safe Environment  requirements

 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to supervise children in indoor and outdoor settings
• Stamina to remain active throughout the school day

 PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Serves as a positive ambassador of Divine Mercy Academy
• Models grace, courtesy, and respect in all interactions
• Demonstrates compassion, reliability, dependability, and punctuality 
• Maintains a positive attitude and seeks continuous professional growth
• Works as a collaborative team member
• Approaches challenges with flexibility and problem-solving mindset