Special Education Paraprofessional

City Garden Montessori School (City Garden) is the only Montessori charter school in Missouri, and 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.

• 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

• 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

• Possess a minimum of an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred

• 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

• 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 be 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

• 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

• 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

• School
  
  Hours:
  
  8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
• 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

This is a full‑time, academic year position. The pay range is $19.00 to $20.50 per hour.