Teaching Assistant

Core Accountabilities

Professional Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the curriculum, subject content and the developmental needs of students by providing relevant learning experiences that set high expectations that enable students’ use of higher-level skills as appropriate. 

Instructional Planning: Collaboratively plan with teachers using the school’s curriculum, effective strategies, resources, and data to meet the needs of all students. 

Instructional Delivery: Effectively engage students in learning by using a variety of differentiated instructional strategies to meet individual student learning needs, including help for students needing additional learning support, working with colleagues, including EAL and learning differences specialists, to support the learning needs of all students. 

Assessment of/for Learning: Systematically assist in gathering data to measure student progress and learning, guide instruction, provide timely feedback, inform own teaching, and support curriculum development so that both students and the school achieve academic excellence. 

Learning Environment: Assist in using resources, routines, and procedures to provide a respectful, positive, safe, and student-centered environment that is conducive to learning. Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop teaching and learning resources for students at different levels, including on-line Virtual Learning Environment-based resources and materials, to address the students’ learning needs and the agreed curriculum for shared use in the department. 

Professionalism: Maintain a commitment to professional ethics, international-mindedness, and the school’s core values and philosophy, with proactive participation in professional growth that results in an enhancement of student learning. 

Communication and Advocacy: Communicate effectively with students, school personnel, families, and the community to enhance, promote, and advocate for student learning. 

Student Progress: Assist in ensuring acceptable and measurable student progress through the setting of appropriate academically stretching goals, based on student data, with progress being monitored throughout the year and end of year achievement of goals being assessed. 

Pastoral Care: Provide a safe and stimulating environment for students, rooted in mutual respect, and modeling the high standards of behavior required. Support the school’s culture of high attendance and high engagement. Ensure a high level of provision for the pastoral needs and well-being of every pupil. Liaise with parents, carers, and external agencies as required. 

Community Engagement: Be fully committed to The Experience, our broad co-curricular program. Contributing to activities to enhance the student experience, in line with contractual requirements. 

Essential Duties

• Assist in implementing the aims and objectives of the appropriate programme(s) 

• Assist in using conceptual based learning in the delivery of subjects 

• Assist in preparing student centered classes: inquiry based, conceptually focused, contextualized, collaborative, differentiated, incorporating student choice, informed by assessment 

• Collaborate with the Learning Support Department to support differentiated instruction for students with IEPs and EAL needs 

• Collaborate with teachers from across departments and year levels to support the creation of interdisciplinary links 

• Support in promoting international mindedness through the curriculum 

• Support in promoting the attributes of The Lisboan within and beyond the curriculum 

• Support the planning of field trips as needed for the implementation of the programme, making the most of Lisbon as a extension of the classroom 

• Attend all required meetings 

• Support to take attendance, log behavioral incidents and accidents, and communicate with parents as per the school expectations. 

• Support in the use of library learning hubs to explicitly teach age-appropriate library lessons based on the library subject standards 

• Support assigned classes/sessions, in line with contracted expectations 

• Contribute to the supervision of students, including via assigned duties 

• Contribute to the school’s Experience program 

• Be available for substitution during the school day when not assigned to other specific classes/sessions/meetings 

• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the business or line manager.   

Key Competencies and Skills

• Ability to promote the welfare of all children and positively promote diversity and inclusion  

• Communicate clearly with all stakeholders  

• Good interpersonal and negotiating skills  

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and delegate appropriately  

• Ability to work effectively, prioritize and meet deadlines  

• Use technology and software efficiently  

• Strong organization skills  

Professional Dispositions

• Optimistic: with a high degree of self-efficacy (a belief that you can make a difference) 

• Resilient: does not give up or grow discouraged in the face of challenges, setbacks, and hard work; willing to take the long view 

• Adaptable: able to change course, make new plans, and try a different way; coachable and open to constructive critique 

• Collegial: enjoys being part of a team, celebrates the success of others, and knows how to give and receive critical friendship 

• Emotionally intelligent: good listener, with a sense of humour; displays genuine empathy, compassion, and respect 

• Enthusiastic: passionate educator, committed to the welfare of children 

• Driven: self-disciplined, with high personal standards and ambitious to learn 

• Engaged with the community: aware of local and global challenges; willing to pitch in and give back 

• Ethical: exercises good judgment, acts with fairness and integrity 

• Detail oriented: able to ensure that the school is ready to meet administrative requirements, standards and practices, including assessment & reporting deadlines  

Experience and Qualifications 

• 3 years of experience in a school setting - preferred  

• A recognised teaching assistant qualification – preferred  

• Strong IT skills are preferred, good IT skills essential 

• Demonstrates consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct 

• Fluent in English, both verbal and written, demonstrating excellent levels of communication 

This job description does not constitute a complete description of duties. Staff members shall carry out the professional duties of their assigned role, including those duties particularly assigned by their direct report, as set out above but not restricted to them. The staff member may be required to undertake other duties as reasonably required by the school.