Teaching Assistant - K-1

Location: Great Hearts Arlington Lower School

Reports to: Headmaster | FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly

About the Role

We are looking for life-long learners passionate about shaping students' hearts and minds. Join Great Hearts Academies, a growing network of 49 public, open-enrollment, tuition-free classical schools in Phoenix (AZ), Baton Rouge (LA), Dallas/Ft. Worth (TX), and San Antonio (TX). Great Hearts currently provides over 30,000 K-12 students with access to a high-quality, classical liberal arts education. We believe the highest goal of education is to become good, intellectually and morally.

Teaching Assistant and Apprentice Teacher roles at Great Hearts:

• As a K-5 Teaching Assistant, you support the lead teacher in the implementation of a rich Core Knowledge curriculum. A bachelor’s degree is not required for this role.
• As an Apprentice Teacher, you function as a second teacher in the classroom, without shouldering the burden of all planning, grading/evaluation, or parent communications. Through mentorship with a Master Teacher, you learn the craft of teaching in a classical, liberal arts primary-school environment. Many of our Apprentice Teachers become lead teachers at either lower or upper schools (assuming a bachelor’s degree).

Responsibilities

• Support and advance the mission of Great Hearts by contributing to a respectful, intellectually vibrant school community.
• Collaborate with teachers to support instruction, student learning, and daily classroom activities.
• Uphold school policies and promote an orderly, professional learning environment.
• Participate in faculty meetings, school events, conferences, and assigned duties.
• Pursue ongoing professional growth and a deepening knowledge of the classical tradition.

Requirements

• Associate's or bachelor's degree preferred but not required.
• Some locations (e.g., Title I schools) may require assistant teachers to have an AA, 60 hours of college credit, or be able to pass a ParaPro proficiency exam before beginning work.
• US work authorization required.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.

Benefits

• Exceptional benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.) with minimal employee cost.
• Texas Teacher Retirement System.
• Uniquely valuable professional development offerings, from great books seminars with academy colleagues, to leadership and special education coursework/pathways, to reduced tuition graduate degree support with select partner universities.

Travel

May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.