Preschool Teaching Assistant

JOB OVERVIEW:
The Teaching Assistant at EAC is dedicated to the school’s mission, vision, and core values, demonstrating respect for diverse cultures and learners. Teaching Assistants (TAs) play an essential role in supporting high-quality, inquiry-based international education within the Montessori and IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Assigned to one classroom or one subject area for the school year, Teaching Assistants collaborate closely with the Specialist, Homeroom, and/or Brazilian Studies teacher to support student learning, provide individualized assistance, and foster an environment of care and belonging.

Teaching Assistants contribute to planning, instruction, assessment, and supervision, ensuring students are safe, engaged, and supported academically, socially, and emotionally. As active members of the Professional Learning Community, they participate in professional development and continuous reflection to enhance their effectiveness in supporting student growth.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESULTS:
Contribute to a safe, inclusive, and caring learning environment aligned with EAC’s mission and values.
Support the effective delivery of the school curriculum and programs by reinforcing learning and differentiated instruction.
Foster student well-being, independence, and positive relationships within the classroom and broader school community.
Model professionalism, collaboration, and ethical conduct in alignment with school policies and expectations.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Instructional Support and Student Learning
Collaborate with the classroom teacher to plan and deliver structured learning experiences for the whole class, small groups, and individual students.
Support students in understanding and reinforcing concepts introduced by the teacher, promoting independence and confidence in learning.
Prepare and organize resources, adapting materials and strategies to meet diverse student needs and cultural backgrounds.
Assist in providing formative feedback and collecting academic and behavioral data as directed by the teacher.
Participate in meetings and conferences, sharing relevant insights on student learning and providing translation or language support, when needed.

Student Care and Learning Environment
Help establish and maintain a positive, proactive, and fair classroom environment that promotes respect and self-management.
Supervise and support students to ensure safety and engagement during class and non-class times (breaks, lunch, transitions, etc.).
Apply logical and natural consequences in alignment with teacher expectations and school guidelines.
Communicate concerns about student well-being or behavior to the classroom teacher promptly and appropriately.

Operational and School Support
Assist in daily classroom routines including attendance, organization, and resource management.
Provide administrative support such as photocopying, filing, and preparing materials.
Request, organize, distribute materials and resources for the classroom or department as needed.
Supervise students during assigned duties (e.g., car pickup, lunch, recess) and assist during school trips and events.
Substitute for the classroom teacher as needed and ensure continuity of learning and care.
Support translation and communication between school and families when necessary, ensuring the teacher remains the primary point of contact.
Support and guide new Teaching Assistants as needed.

Professional Conduct and Growth
Model professionalism, punctuality, confidentiality, and responsible communication, including social media conduct.
Follow EAC policies, procedures, and safeguarding expectations as outlined in the Faculty/Staff Handbook.
Engage in professional development opportunities and participate in the Teaching Assistant Professional Growth and Evaluation process.
Collaborate positively with colleagues, offering support to new teaching assistants and contributing to a culture of collegiality and continuous improvement.

Additional Responsibilities
Engages in regular meetings and professional learning as part of the school’s commitment to continuous growth and collaboration.
Engage in the behavioral norms and expectations of the school.
Support student toileting needs, as per school norms, as assigned.
Follow the EAC Safeguarding Guide.

Working Conditions
Walk on paths and rough terrain
Lifting backpacks and school materials

Other duties, as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Degree in Pedagogy, preferred
Five years experience working with children, preferred
PYP and inquiry-based teaching and learning experience (preferred)
English level required: B2 or above
Portuguese level required: B2 or above

Other Skills (Desirable):
Proven capacity to build relationships of trust and respect
Proven capacity and confidence working within a collaborative, team-oriented environment
Strong written, verbal, and digital communication skills
Strong professional organization skills

Child Safeguarding
Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and have developed and adopted written guidelines (Code of Conduct) for appropriate and inappropriate behavior of adults towards children. We expect all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment and to review and affirm that they have read, understood, and will abide by the Code of Conduct. At our school, we use safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks, to maintain the highest standards of safeguarding and child safety.

EAC’s Statement of Diversity and Inclusion
EAC embodies inclusion and diversity. As a community, we embrace the truth that diversity enriches us as individuals and as a community. Diversity includes recognizing individual differences in relation to cultural backgrounds, age, abilities, religious beliefs, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. The multiplicity of backgrounds and perspectives within our community reflect the entire world. Thus, we work to ensure that all members of our community enjoy mutual respect, are valued for who they are, and share a sense of belonging.