Special Education Assistant Teacher/Paraprofessional

About DeKalb Brilliance Academy: Designed with input from nearly 1,000 South DeKalb community members, we are a tuition-free, public Kindergarten-8th grade South DeKalb charter school approved to enroll grades K-2 in 2022 (adding a grade each year). Our vision is that each child will know and leverage their unique brilliance to critically analyze the world around them and to design a better and more equitable future. Our school will empower students to be leaders by combining rigorous & relevant academics with social-emotional learning. We put all of this together through our Entrepreneurial Project-based Learning, where students learn not only from their teachers and peers, but also directly from scientists, lawyers, engineers, and designers (learn more about our founding journey here).

DeKalb Brilliance Academy: where the strength of our community nurtures the brilliance of our children.

About the role: Our Assistant Teachers collaborate with our Lead Teachers to facilitate strong classrooms. They are responsible for supporting the Lead Teacher, facilitating small groups of students for varying subjects, and acting as a substitute teacher in the event a Lead Teacher not in school. Assistant Teachers report to Grade-level Chairs.

Responsibilities & duties (including but not limited to):

Instructional Leadership

• Support high-quality, culturally-responsive curricula and assessment resources to execute our social-emotional learning, core academic, and Entrepreneurial Project-based Learning aspects of our model daily.
• Maintain an assets-based, growth mindset about oneself and every member of our school community, utilizing self reflection and perseverance to ensure progress for every student..

Community Collaboration

• Support Lead Teacher in collaborating with each family and student to create Learning Partnership Plans - specific, ambitious growth targets in academics, social-emotional skills, and community impact for each student.
• Support Lead Teacher in communicating with each family at least once per week about student progress (via phone, email, and/or communication apps).
• Enact school-wide efforts to ensure identity-affirming, supportive school culture for faculty and students.
• Implement school-wide restorative approaches to build community, celebrate when our students and faculty excel, and respond/repair when our community values are not upheld.

Requirements

DeKalb Brilliance Academy has a charge from our community to build a different kind of education. Instead of operating in isolation, we build learning partnerships between educators and a) students (our most important stakeholders), b) families (experts on our students), and c) community leaders (experts on the fields in which our students will lead). The work to found our school will be complex, challenging, and deeply rewarding. DeKalb Brilliance Academy is a great fit for individuals who are:

• Purpose-driven: have deep reverence for the brilliance of our children and unwavering commitment to empowering our children to have impactful legacies in our communities
• Community-minded: has ability work collaboratively with peers and manage up to improve the work of everyone around them
• Emotionally intelligent: knows how to care for themselves, collaborate with others, use tools to regulate their emotions under stress, and approach difficult situations with others with empathy and compassion
• Equity-minded: understand how specific behaviors, laws, and institutions limit the rights and freedoms of people and work with our community to take collective action to make our world fairer for everyone.
• Strong project and time managers: has ability to adapt and persevere to deliver consistent and timely results to reach our goals
• Have a founder’s mindset: is a creative problem solver, enjoys building from the ground up
• Can complete physical demands of the role (including standing and walking for extended periods of time and lifting heavy objects up to 40lbs)

Experiences

• High-school diploma or equivalent required, Associates Degree or working on Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Two years of prior success working with children strongly preferred (preference given if in K-2 and/or inclusive of culturally-relevant project-based learning).

Benefits

Compensation:

• The starting salary for Assistant Teachers is $30,000.
• Compensation is based on 235-day calendar (see more here), which includes 185 school days with students, 25 days of paid holidays and 25 days of professional development.
• Competitively-priced medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance.
• Contributions to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) in accordance with Georgia state law, as well as an additional, optional 403(b) retirement account.

Supports:

• A dedicated coach with a track record of success with students.
• Materials needed to be successful in your classroom, including curricula for every subject, teacher/student supplies/laptops, etc.

Timeline:

September 6, 2022 start date.

Statement of Non-Discrimination:

DeKalb Brilliance Academy is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment. DeKalb Brilliance Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.