Teaching Assistant (College) jobs in Denver, CO

Hiring for 22-23 School Year
Position Teaching Assistant
Term: August 4th, 2022-June 2nd, 2023

Are you interested in gaining professional experience in the classroom? Do you crave a diverse learning environment in the city core, made up of a crew that believes in deeper learning, provides coaching and professional development, and takes the learning out of the classroom and into the city and mountains?

The Downtown Denver Expeditionary School (DDES) is a K-5 public charter school in the portfolio of Denver Public Schools. DDES was founded by a group of parents, community members, and business leaders seeking a high-performing EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) school to serve a diverse range of families who live, work, or learn in downtown Denver. DDES is one of 33 credentialed schools in a national network of more than 150 schools that work together with EL Education to challenge students to think critically and take active roles in their classrooms and communities, resulting in higher achievement and greater engagement in school.

Our Approach

The city is our campus

• Students interact with their community through fieldwork and service-learning
• Students are able to connect their learning to real-world issues and needs
• We invite experts from our surrounding community to deepen our instruction

Students are leaders of their own learning:

• Students grapple with real-world problems through multi-subject learning expeditions
• Students produce high-quality work and present their work to authentic audiences
• Students regularly engage in cycles of reflection culminating in Student-Led conferences

We educate the Whole Child

• Social-emotional learning and character development are core components of our curriculum
• Daily Crew block and closing circle promote meaningful relationships with peers and teachers
• Adventure trips for all grade levels (2-3/year)
• Robust Movement and Art programs
• In-house after-school program with no enrollment caps & financial assistance

We provide the support students need:

• Focus on small classes with additional adult support
• Impactful intervention and special education teams
• Two full-time mental health professionals (psychologist and social worker)
• Auggie the therapy dog onsite each week

Diverse by Design & Anti-Racist practices

• Enrollment priorities are focused on DDES becoming a fully integrated K-5 public school, both racially and socio-economically

• Culturally responsive curriculum which intentionally includes traditionally marginalized perspectives
• Long-term partnerships with BIPOC professionals to provide expertise within Learning Expedition Units of Study

• Recruitment strategies aimed at diversifying educators to reflect our student population

• “Grow your own” teacher-assistant to teacher pipeline program which aims to train, develop and promote BIPOC educators from within DDES.

Our Culture

Compensation & Benefits

• Step and lane system that rewards dedication, commitment, and mastery of knowledge/skills
• Stipended school leadership opportunities ( instructional, operational, and community-based).
• Comprehensive medical and dental plan, 100% paid by DDES
• PERA retirement plan with employer contributions.
• Short Term Disability, 100% paid for by DDES (long-term optional)
• Paid parking and/or commuter cost 100% paid for by DDES
• 5 days paid-time-off; holidays off with Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter break
• Flexible Savings Account option for medical and childcare coverage
• Vision care & PERA 401k option, PERA life option
• Free on-site aftercare if your child attends DDES.

Professional Growth & Development

• Two-week PD summer institute
• Weekly PD for Teaching Assistants and culture building
• TA to Teacher pipeline program with possible education tuition assistance
• Paid lead teacher opportunities
• Restorative practices training and modeling
• Neurosequential Model in Education training
• Culturally Responsive Classroom training

Other perks

• Staff celebrations (paid for by DDES) & accolades
• Lounge stocked with snacks, coffee & treats year-round
• Appreciation breakfasts, lunches & dinners
• Regular staff outings and self-care initiatives
• High-quality staff swag

Ready to join our Crew?
Here at DDES, we don’t just accept differences — we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our employees, our students, and our community. DDES seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) within the organization. DDES is inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact so that all employees feel included, equally valued and supported.

Position Overview
The Teaching Assistant will support students both academically and social-emotionally throughout the entirety of their day. Main responsibilities will be to support with classroom instruction and management, behavior support, 1:1 student support, and transition support as well as supervision and support during specials (art, movement) recess, lunch, and after-school.

Reporting hours: 40 hours/week. Work hours will vary depending on individual schedules. Typical working hours will be from 7:45 am- 4:30 pm with a 30 min. unpaid lunch ( but not to exceed 40 hrs/week). All DDES Teaching Assistants will be scheduled to work both during the regular school day Monday-Friday and 2-3 shifts each week for the after-school program.

Ideal candidates

• A commitment to and thirst for continuously improving and growing your skillset
• Knowledge of child development and best practices for teaching
• Experience with and passion for working with young students
• Enthusiasm for Expeditionary Learning, experiential education, project-based learning, or other inquiry or investigation-based teaching and learning model preferred
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work and contributing to a culturally responsive classroom
• The ability to build strong relationships with your students and center family engagement in your practice
• Take initiative and is proactive
• Positive mindset and stays engaged with students and staff

Responsibilities

• Monitors and supports students during classroom instruction (led by Crew Leader).
• Leads academic and or SEL (social-emotional learning) small groups
• Responsive behavior management
• Supports daily transitions.
• Support during Specials (Art & Movement)
• Supports Crew Leader with administrative tasks: Grading, copies, material creation, data entry, etc.
• Lead & monitor Lunch and Solitude
• Support with pick-up and drop-off and other outside duties
• Supports the implementation of student Social-Emotional support plans: Breaks, alternative schedules, or other interventions

Necessary qualifications:

• 48 university/college semester hours OR ability to pass WorkKeys test within 60 days of hire
• Ability to pass state, federal, and a TRAILS (The Facility Child Abuse and Neglect) criminal background checks

Compensation:

• $17.50/hr. starting
• Review Compensation & Benefits above

Does it sound like a fit?

DDES engages in a recruiting process that involves initial phone interviews, in-person interviews, and background and reference checks.

To initiate the process, please submit a DDES General Application, and we will be in touch soon.

You will need the following in order to complete the application:

• Updated resume
• 20 minutes to answer long-form questions

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $17.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location