Lower Primary Educational Assistant

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Instructional Support

• Collaborate with teachers to provide instructional assistance to students on an individual, small group, or whole class basis.
• Teach small group activities (e.g. art projects, math, language arts)
• Confer with individual students to assist with ongoing assessment through observational notes (or other) in various areas (e.g. guided reading, writing, math groups) or with independent work (e.g. publishing stories).
• Use technology to document student work and support teaching (e.g. videos) or communicating (e.g. updating web pages).
• Motivate and encourage students in and out of the classroom.
• Assist students on technology devices (e.g. computer, iPad) for a variety of activities (e.g. internet access, reading).

Supervision and Safety of Students

• Ensure the safety of students by providing appropriate supervision of students during recess, lunch, on the playground, in the library, during transitions (e.g. to/from the bus, up/down stairs, to/from nurse’s or principal’s offices, hallways), school gatherings (e.g. assemblies, chapels), on field trips and at other times as may be required.
• Ensure the orderly entry and exit of students during arrival and departure (e.g. exiting classrooms, getting on and off the bus, going up/down stairs, in the hallways).
• Follow up on special student needs including medications.

Clerical and Administration

• Assist teachers with the preparation of classroom materials (e.g. photocopying, filing, classroom decoration, art supplies, materials for units of study) and teaching resources (e.g. stationery).
• Prepare other ancillary documents/items as necessary (e.g. labels, bus tags, student folders, Student Information Packets, student portfolios).
• Communicate with parents as necessary.
• Document student work, support teaching, and communications through the use of technology (e.g. video cameras, updating web pages).
• Report attendance through the Student Information System.
• Prepare and manage calendars for parent volunteers.
• Label, maintain and update files (e.g. student progress files, student work.)
• Prepare class lists with emergency contact name(s), telephone number(s), and health issues; create a class emergency phone list and others as required.
• Collect and distribute student data forms. Prepare and update other lists as required (e.g. homeroom class, after school activities). 
• Other duties as required (e.g. deliver/collect internal mail, photocopying, laminating, book binding, answering the phone, responding to queries, clean up after art projects & parties, distribute, collect and compile lists for After School Activities, book orders).

Activities and Events

• Collaborate with teachers in planning, organizing and arranging logistics for field trips (e.g. book locations, transportation arrangements, collection of permission slips from parents).
• Collaborate with teachers in planning special celebration activities and other events as required.

Other

• Substitute for the teacher for short periods of time when the teacher is absent or otherwise occupied with other school duties (e.g. meetings). Substituting for the teacher for 3 hours or the day is part of the normal job responsibilities; i.e. no additional compensation will be due.
• Substitute for the teacher an entire day on occasion when no appropriate substitute teacher is available; this is compensated separately.
• Participate in meetings as required (e.g. faculty, team, grade level) with teachers, colleagues, and administrators as required to support students and the school.
• Participate in in-house Professional Development opportunities.
• Undertake any other duties and functions as required to strengthen the contributions of the division and support and improve the smooth operation of the school.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

• Form 6 and related post-secondary education (e.g. “Educational Assistant” Certificate, other course work related to early childhood education).
• Teaching certificate or enrollment in a teaching certification program preferred.
• First Aid certification/training.

Experience: 

• 2 years as an Educational Assistant.
• Successful experience working in the classroom with students in the assigned grade level preferred or hands-on experience working with lower primary aged children.

Skills: 

• Strong written and verbal English skills, Cantonese or Mandarin a plus.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative to support a classroom and team.
• Proficiency with technology (Word, Excel, Google Suite); SIS a plus.

Dispositions: 

• Passionate about young children.
• Interested in, respects, and has an appreciation for diverse cultures, languages, and religions.
• Actively supports the HKIS Mission and Student Learning Results.
• As a school grounded in the Christian faith, we hire employees of all faiths. HKIS seeks to hire candidates who are interested in the complex questions of faith and spirituality and who are keen to learn and interact with others of different faith traditions.

Other:

• Hong Kong Permanent Resident or Dependent Visa Holder.