Support Teacher - Elementary

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

• 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