City Garden Montessori School (City Garden)is the only Montessori charter school in Missouri, and we are one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to implement the Montessori approach to educating children in a diverse, public school environment. City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.
At City Garden we are redefining public education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.
City Garden is a community-centered and people-centered organization in an exciting point in our growth and expansion. Ours is an environment that celebrates vulnerability and centers humanity in the workplace. To learn more about City Garden’s impact on the community, please read some recent articles about us, found HERE and HERE.
At City Garden, we pride ourselves on giving students a vibrant learning experience in a welcoming environment. Our teachers count on paraprofessionals to bring the best to the classroom every day. We’re searching for a qualified paraprofessional to join us in delivering the high-quality learning experiences we’re known for. They will build on a student-centered environment which fosters relationships and promotes continual growth for students and staff.
Under the direction of the Director of Special Services, the City Garden Special Education Paraprofessional is a vital support role within the classroom community.
The Objectives of this Role
Provide instructional reinforcement under the direction of the classroom teacher in executing lesson plans
Serve as a positive, nurturing guide for students
Model professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, staff, and community, following and upholding school rules and standards
Safely supervise students in both instructional and assessment activities in and out of the classroom
Participate in planning sessions with the learning team, communicating with parents and school officials as needed
Responsibilities The following represents a summary of the responsibilities of this position. You can download a detailed job description here.
Daily and Monthly Responsibilities
Co-teach lesson components as determined by the teacher, leading small-group or individual instruction and discussion, and reviewing classwork material
Attend to students' physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs; help with translation and hygienic needs when necessary
Organize classroom and teaching materials; verify and track student attendance
Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, parents, and staff to enhance the instructional environment; participate in parent-teacher and faculty meetings and events
Qualifications
Possess a minimum of an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred
OR
At least 12 Hours of post-secondary education AND Paraprofessional certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
At least 1 year of experience, preferably in a public or urban school setting
Have prior experience in the role of Paraprofessional, ABA, etc.
Effective communication skills; oral, written, and visual with adults and children
Understanding of basic principles of childhood development
Demonstrated success working with a diverse student population
Ability to adapt to the changing needs of children and the school environment
Have demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others
Love, patience, and respect for children
Have a willingness to assume any responsibilities appropriate for the position
The ideal Paraprofessional will
Have a degree in education, early childhood development, or one of the social sciences
Have at least one year of experience working with special needs students
Be flexible to adapt to the changing nature of the demands of the class
Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically
Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses
Current First Aid and CPR certification
Current Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Paraprofessional certification
What We Offer
Ongoing professional development
Opportunity to contribute to the only high-quality public Montessori program in St. Louis
For those with an interest in pursuing a career in elementary education, a chance to get some hands-on experience in a classroom environment
Benefits City Garden offers a range of benefits for Full-time employees such as:
Generous Paid time off (Fall, Winter, and Spring breaks, holidays, and additional days)
Paid Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance)
Pre-tax savings for family health premium costs
Retirement Plan/ Pension
Enrollment preference for your child(ren) to attend City Garden’s Charter School
Tuition discount for our Preschool
Schedule School Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday This Semester: From the day of hiring until the last week in May, including but not limited to professional development, classroom preparatory work, staff meetings, and assigned work on non-instructional days
Compensation This is a full-time, academic year position. The pay range is $17.00 to $19.00 per hour.