Position Description Support Teacher
REPORTS TO- EDUCATION DIRECTOR
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
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Serve as a “second set of eyes” in classrooms, observing and documenting student engagement, work cycles, and behavioral patterns
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Record observations to support individualized lesson planning and classroom management
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Monitor students during work periods, play, and transitions to ensure safety and engagement
Classroom Intervention and Support
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Provide intervention and support as directed by the Education Director
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Assist in classrooms as needed to support the Lead Teacher and maintain classroom flow
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Help redirect students to preserve the concentration of all members of the classroom community
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Support students’ independence of thought and movement through scaffolding and gentle reminders
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Assist with teaching as directed by the Lead Teacher
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Assist with conflict resolution and modeling of grace and courtesy
Environment Preparation and Maintenance
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Assist in maintaining the prepared environment by keeping classrooms clean, orderly, and beautiful
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Assist with the setup and cleanup of classroom activities
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Support overall classroom aesthetics in alignment with Montessori principles
Procedural Support
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Help implement and reinforce classroom procedures to enable student independence
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Support students in following established routines for academic work and classroom navigation
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Ensure procedures are consistently followed so the lead teacher can focus on individual lessons
Flexibility and Coverage
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Maintain flexibility to respond to daily classroom needs and staffing requirements
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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
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Transition seamlessly between support role and Lead Teacher role as needed
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Adapt daily responsibilities based on school-wide needs and priorities
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
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Assist with supervision during lunch, recess, and transitions
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Support school events
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Attend staff meetings, professional development sessions, and parent meetings as required
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Model Catholic values and Montessori principles in all interactions
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Perform other duties as assigned by the Education Director
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
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Commitment to supporting the Catholic Faith and Montessori philosophy as part of Divine Mercy Academy’s mission
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Brings joy to daily interactions with students and to the work of teaching
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Ability to work collaboratively with Lead Teacher and administration
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills
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Patience, flexibility, and genuine love for children
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Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
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Pass background check and comply with diocesan Safe Environment requirements
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES
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Serves as a positive ambassador of Divine Mercy Academy
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Models grace, courtesy, and respect in all interactions
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Demonstrates compassion, reliability, dependability, and punctuality
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Maintains a positive attitude and seeks continuous professional growth
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Works as a collaborative team member
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Approaches challenges with flexibility and problem-solving mindset
