Career Center

The Evergreen School is currently accepting applications for Primary Division Teaching Assistant.

 Our Mission

We inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.

About the Organization

Located just north of Seattle in Shoreline, Washington, The Evergreen School has been educating highly capable, creative learners for nearly 60 years. Our students love to ask questions, and our teachers use that natural curiosity to craft engaging lessons and spark thought-provoking conversations. Evergreen’s program infuses challenging academics with foundational support for social skills, emotional well-being, a multicultural perspective, and empathy for others. Our students think deeply, take intellectual risks, and tackle complex problems. They learn how to self-advocate, collaborate with others and understand and respect differences. Evergreen graduates move on to high school and beyond with confidence, ready to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world. 

Community

Our community members at Evergreen value and embrace the dignity and diversity of all people. We actively seek and support students, families, faculty, staff and trustees who bring a diversity of identity into our community. Our mission makes it essential that we skillfully deliver an inclusive educational program that teaches respect for others, empowers students of all backgrounds equitably, encourages social responsibility, and prepares students to be leaders in an interdependent global community. At Evergreen, our goal is to curate a culture where every family feels fully welcomed and encouraged to participate in every aspect of the community.

The Opportunity

Teaching assistants (TAs) work in partnership with, and at the direction of, the grade-level teaching team. TAs help to implement the curriculum, provide supervision, and maintain the classroom. Each grade-level team of homeroom teachers and TA works out their own system for accomplishing these ends in accordance with the teaching assistant job description. 

The school seeks candidates who demonstrate a commitment to anti-bias and anti-racism work and to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community that is responsive to all differences including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, learning styles and marital, parental or economic status.

Teaching assistants aid individual teachers during the instructional day Monday through Friday. This is a salaried, full-time, benefits-eligible position for the 2022-23 school year, beginning August 25, 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community

• Collaborate with the teachers to implement a cohesive culturally responsive, inquiry based curriculum and lesson plans for highly capable elementary students. 
• Be proactive in learning the school mission and core beliefs, learning student names and their family connections.
• Stay current on school-wide information through MyEvergreen postings and weekly communications.
• Attend regularly scheduled faculty, division, and weekly grade-level meetings and take minutes as requested.
• Engage in ongoing self-assessment.
• Set and work toward personal and professional goals.
• Demonstrate a growth mindset in working with students and colleagues.

Classroom

• Communicate regularly with the homeroom teacher concerning student goals and progress and planning together so the TA understands how to best support students.  
• Implement instructional strategies in ways that support the homeroom teacher(s) and that are in concert with the school's philosophy.
• Accompany groups, classes, or individuals when traveling outside the classroom (field trips, class changes, office visits, etc.).
• Inform the appropriate teacher or administrator in a timely fashion in the event of concerns about a student.
• Work with students in small groups, individually, or as a whole class.
• Substitute, as assigned by the division head.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as copying and mounting displays.
• Provide assistance to teachers before the school year begins and after the school year ends, according to the work schedule published by the administration.
• Prepare materials for projects and/or instructional sessions as determined by the teacher.
• Maintain supplies in the classroom and assist in the ordering process.
• Prepare written notes, make copies and assemble correspondence to send home with students or via the school’s intranet.
• Since safety and security are everyone’s responsibility, take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, faculty, staff, equipment, materials and facilities.

Campus

• Serve as a regular recess monitor, implementing recess rules and discipline, and reporting notable student behaviors.
• Attend and participate in required school events, training sessions, and meetings as designated by the administration.
• Monitor student arrival and departure procedures and traffic flow.
• Maintain appropriate standards for student behavior and discipline.
• Adhere to guidelines, procedures, and policies in the Employee Handbook.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education 

The ideal candidate for this position should have:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Possess and maintain Red Cross First-Aid certification.
• Previous experience working with elementary-age children preferred.

Desirable Skills

• Possess a high degree of cultural competency and demonstrated success in working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Familiar with elementary school curricula.
• Creative problem-solving skills and ability to understand and demonstrate good customer service skills as well as written and oral communication skills.

• Communicate effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Communicate positively and effectively with students.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work in a positive manner with children.
• Work effectively as a team member across organizational lines, including students, supervisors, colleagues, teachers, parents and the community.
• Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and work to maintain constructive working relationships.

• Can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled times.
• Can complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments and deadlines.

• Familiar with copiers, printers, digital cameras, and scanners.

• Maintain a creative and positive attitude within the classroom and school community
• Must be able to stand and sit for extended periods of time, work outside in inclement weather, walk distances over uneven surfaces and playgrounds and lift up to 35 pounds.

Equipment Used

• Computer (PC), copier, MS Office and Google Suite..

Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s background and experience and will be competitive with similar positions in Seattle area independent schools.

Applicants should submit the following:

• A cover letter outlining their interest in and qualifications for this position
• A current resume
• A completed Evergreen Employment Application (Please download, print, fill out, scan and email the form back.)

All materials should be sent to [email protected]. Please include Primary Division Teaching Assistant in the subject line. This position will remain open until filled.

Any applicant scheduled for an interview will be asked to submit a 500-word (max) answer to the following prompt:

At Evergreen, our mission calls us to “inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.” Reflecting on your current or previous experiences, describe your personal work in regards to diversity and inclusion. Describe an example in which these learnings changed the way you do your job. (Please limit your response to 500 words or less).

Additional School Information:

The Educational Experience

At Evergreen, we believe learning isn’t a one-way path. Our highly capable students delight in exploring ramifications and digressions, gaining strength from setbacks and successes alike. At the same time, Evergreen’s insightful teachers help students uncover and develop their own unique perspectives on every subject. Through “planned exploration,” teachers carefully design the curriculum and lessons, while building in time and resources for students to pursue unexpected discoveries and long standing interests. From preschool through 8th grade, Evergreen’s hands-on curriculum encourages experimentation. In our extensively equipped BIG Lab (Build Imagine Grow), on overnight trips, during Adventure Days, and on the month-long 8th grade Global Studies trip, students expand their curiosity and put their classroom discoveries into practice. Equally important, we intentionally interweave academic subjects with social and emotional learning and an active commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity—so that as students grow intellectually, they also become increasingly self-aware, build ethical relationships with others, and continually strive to improve the wider world.

Head of School

On July 1, 2020, Halsey Bell became Evergreen’s fifth head of school.

Enrollment

Total: 493

Grade Levels: Preschool through 8th grade 

Class Size: 14-17 students

Ratio: 7:1 (students to full-time faculty)

Faculty and Staff

112 faculty and staff, including 56 full-time faculty, 6 part-time faculty, and 17 teaching assistants. Faculty includes 2 counselors and 2 learning resource coordinators. Approximately 60% of teaching faculty hold an advanced degree.

Campus

Evergreen occupies four and a half acres that include forested area typical of the Pacific Northwest, as well as distinct wetlands and native vegetation. A recent renovation and addition added significant new classroom and administration buildings, including the BIG Lab, our state-of-the-art makerspace, as well as beautiful outdoor gathering areas and courtyards.

Student Diversity

• Students come to Evergreen from 38 zip codes and a wide variety of schools and daycare programs.
• 46% of Evergreen students identify as students of color, including African American, Asian American, Latino American, Middle Eastern American, Multiracial American, and Native American

Financial Aid

16% of Evergreen families receive need-based financial aid, totaling approximately $1.2 million.

Accreditation & Membership

The Evergreen School is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Puget Sound Independent Schools (PSIS), National Association for Gifted Children, Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

Environmental Certifications

The Evergreen School is proud to be a Platinum-Certified Washington Green School and a Sustaining Green School in the King County Green Schools Program. 

For more information about The Evergreen School, please visit our website at www.evergreenschool.org.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.

Experience, Education 

The ideal candidate for this position should have:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Possess and maintain Red Cross First-Aid certification.
• Previous experience working with elementary-age children preferred.