Lower School Teacher Assistant – August 2022

University School of Nashville

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Job Summary

 

University School of Nashville is currently accepting applications for Lower School Teacher Assistants for the 2022-23 school year. These positions offer a unique opportunity to be part of a classroom throughout the entire school year, helping teachers build the network of relationships needed to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. Through guided work in the classroom, instruction, immersion, and professional development, the Teacher Assistant will gain a deeper sense of the many responsibilities and joys of the teaching profession. Teacher Assistants take an active part in the life of the school and are integral to helping USN carry out its mission to teach with best practices.

University School of Nashville is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational day school with enrollment of 1,080 students kindergarten through twelfth grade.  In 1915, the George Peabody College for Teachers opened Peabody Demonstration School, USN’s predecessor, which earned acclaim for its curriculum and faculty. In 1974, Peabody College announced plans to close PDS, and a group of parents, alumni, students, and teachers reconstituted and re-chartered the school as University School of Nashville.

USN’s midtown location adjacent to Vanderbilt University and its Peabody College for Teachers reminds us each day of our beginnings 107 years ago in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. It’s a vibrant educational community for both students and teachers in the midst of a dynamic city.

In the USN community, students expect much of each other, and faculty benefit from that high standard. We seek educators who are enthusiastic about their own learning to complement their teaching, and we offer many opportunities for professional development. USN is committed to creating an institutional environment that mirrors the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville. USN encourages a diverse applicant pool and provides equal employment opportunities for employees and job applicants.

Job Responsibilities

Teacher Assistants are appointed to positions in Kindergarten through Second Grade. The Teacher Assistant primarily spends the academic year working closely with a Head Teacher to support the students in the classroom. Assisting the Head Teacher in all areas of classroom life, the responsibilities of the Teacher Assistant include, but are not limited to, classroom management, supporting individual students, preparing materials for projects, assessing students, documenting class activities, supporting the daily maintenance of the classroom, and helping supervise snack, lunch, and recess periods. Teacher Assistants are expected to progress in their abilities towards planning and conducting small group or whole class lessons.

While working as instructors in the classroom, Teacher Assistants learn from faculty mentors and from opportunities for professional development. While engaging in this nurturing learning process, the Teacher Assistant is expected, nevertheless, to exercise professional judgment and responsibility in keeping with the expectations of USN’s faculty.

USN has a deep commitment to equitable and just community spaces. Candidates should possess an openness to learning about ways that implicit biases in race, ethnicity, gender identity and socioeconomic class can shape curricula and pedagogy, classroom culture, and student outcomes. Candidates should further plan to apply knowledge gained to demonstrable actions that promote equitable and just teaching and learning.

Qualifications

We seek talented individuals who want to further their understanding of teaching young children through apprenticeship. Priority is given to aspiring teachers who are motivated to further their knowledge about classroom teaching. A Bachelor’s degree, as well as successful experience working with children in a group setting, is required.

Candidates should be able to devote 4-5 hours per day between the hours of 7:30 am and 1:00 pm Monday-Friday from mid-August to the end of May. Exact hours are dependent upon the grade level to which the Teacher Assistant is assigned. The rate for this position is $16.88/hour.

Please note: There are opportunities to combine the AFTER-SCHOOL staff position with the Lower School Teaching Assistant position for a 30+ hours/week benefits eligible position. If you are interested in being considered for this combination, please apply for both positions and let us know.

To safeguard the health and well-being of the USN community from the risks associated with COVID-19, all employees are subject USN policies regarding COVID-19. As of January 7, 2022, more than 97% of employees and more than 87% of USN students K-12 are fully vaccinated, and the school strongly encourages all families to pursue vaccination.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Interested candidates must complete the online application for this position available at usn.org/jobs. Only those candidates who complete the online application process will be considered for these positions.

Details

• Date Posted: July 14, 2022
• Type: Part-Time
• Job Function: Educator
• Service Area: Children / Youth
• Start Date: 08/10/2022
• Salary Range: 19.00/hour