Associate Instructor

Associate Instructor CREC's John J. Allison Jr., Polaris Center is seeking energetic, positive individuals to help students with their academics, while also coaching them on improving their interpersonal skills and making sound choices! The Polaris Center, an alternative education setting in East Hartford, is recruiting for full-time Associate Instructors to work with students in grades K - 12+.

The Polaris Center serves students with academic, emotional and behavioral challenges. Associate Instructors provide academic support under the supervision of a special education teacher; supervise students throughout the day; engage in problem-solving and crisis intervention; and accompany students on field trips and to local job sites.

This position follows the school year calendar, Monday-Friday, 7:30am � 2:30pm. There is potential for summer employment. Candidates will have a proven track record of successfully working with youth, assisting them with developing positive coping mechanisms and positive problem-solving strategies. Patience, initiative, effective communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team with a diverse student population is required.

Pre-employment background checks are required.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of school administration or designee, the Associate Instructor supports classroom instruction, provides academic intervention, and other general instructional support duties throughout the school and community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties/Responsibilities Support daily functions of the school including but not limited to arrival, dismissal, lunch coverage, and covering classrooms as needed. Provide small group instruction under the direction of the classroom teacher. Work with students individually and in small groups to reinforce basic learning and implement assigned programs.

Provide intervention programming to small groups of students under the direction of the intervention coordinator. Collect, track, and enter student data into the district portal. Support administration of state, district, and school assessments. Collaborate with classroom teachers and other school staff. Assist and guide students to reinforce reading, language arts, mathematics, computer instruction, and other skills.

Assist staff in the administration and correction of classroom exercises, tests, and assessments. Assist in classroom preparations and strategies for reinforcing instructional materials and skills according to individual student needs. Assist with record-keeping procedures to document student learning and performance.

Assist with classroom behavioral management to minimize disruptions, ensure a safe and orderly classroom, and ensure students are on task. Accompanies and supervises students on field trips, ensuring safety, access, and engagement in activities while reinforcing behavior plans and promoting inclusion of all students. Construct, copy, distribute, and use educational materials as needed.

Implement emergency interventions for students who are at risk of harming themselves or others by following school/program-approved procedures. Contributes to the IEP process and serves as a resource for the evaluation team as needed. Assist guidance, school counselors, pupil services staff, or building administration, as needed.

Accompanies and supervises students on field trips, ensuring safety, access, and engagement in activities while reinforcing behavior plans and promoting inclusion of all students. Models effective strategies, shares knowledge of student needs and classroom procedures, and offers guidance on day-to-day responsibilities and how-to's to promote consistency in practice of Associate Instructors.

Assist students in non-instructional areas, such as supervising the student lunch programs, bus duty, playground duty, corridor, study hall, and other related non-instructional areas. May be required to obtain a Public Safety License (PSL), or Massachusetts equivalent to support student field experiences. May serve as a substitute for the classroom teacher in their absence, providing instruction and supervision as needed; a pay differential is provided for this responsibility.

Comply with all company policies and procedures. Other duties as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY : This position has no supervisory responsibilities. COMPETENCIES : Intrapersonal Competencies: Demonstrate a dedication to all learners � especially those historically marginalized.

Demonstrate commitment to lifelong professional learning and growth. Interpersonal Competencies: Support in creating positive learning environments (i.e., school and classroom culture) that support individual and collaborative learning. Build strong relationships with students, peers, families, and learning community members that contribute to individual and collective success.

Contribute to the lifelong success of all learners, particularly those who have been historically marginalized due to background, demographics, neurodiversity, ability, or culture. Cognitive Competencies: Utilize in-depth understanding of content and learning progressions to support learners and lead individual learners toward mastery.

Demonstrate awareness of and employ culturally responsive teaching (CRT) to center students' diversity as a strength and asset in their learning journey. Employ techniques for developing students' skills of metacognition, self-regulation, and perseverance. Instructional Competencies: Support in personalizing learning experiences.

Develop student agency, ownership, self-advocacy, and effective communication skills with regard to learning. Assist with the use of technology in the service of learning and completing professional responsibilities (e.g., various learning platforms, gradebook, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office). Teaching/Subject Assignment Specific: Support the teaching of foundational math concepts (e.

g., number sense, operations, fractions, problem-solving) using hands-on activities and real-world applications. Strong knowledge of literacy development, QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree (BA) from four-year College or university. CERTIFICATIONS: Must complete and maintain Safety Care Training annually. (Crisis management intervention that involves physical management and verbal de-escalation) TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide transportation to meetings, trainings, and professional learning opportunities as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Working in a classroom demands prolonged standing/movement, frequent bending and crouching, lifting and carrying materials, fine motor skills for manipulating small objects, clear speaking voice, good vision and hearing, the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, and sometimes the need to move quickly to respond to student needs.

Successful teachers require the ability to work in a high-energy environment with varying noise levels (from quiet to loud) based on student activity. Associate Instructors are expected to work both indoors and outdoors (as needed) and may be expected to participate in off-site field experiences. WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Group Health Insurance Plans Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance Long Term Disability & Short Term Disability options 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution if applicable Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA) Comprehensive benefit time package Employee Assistance Program Bereavement time & Religious Holidays Credit Union Access Tuition Reimbursement Program Employee Network Groups Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year, empowering you to expand your skills and advance your career!

Benefit from our exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs to support your academic and career aspirations! Incentives may be offered to employees who obtain and maintain a CT DMV public service license. Based on terms and conditions during your employment, specific to your job classification and collective bargaining agreement.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT: CREC strives to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of racism and prejudice�ranging from biases to aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices, and traditions�that harm people from systematically marginalized groups or that benefit privileged groups. CREC staff and students acknowledge and respect people of all identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, religion, and veteran status.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT : The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. To access the job description and salary range please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php .