A Teacher Assistant assists classroom teachers by providing extra individual attention and instruction to students. Helps teachers with recordkeeping, preparation for lessons and activities and supervising students. May work with special education students, or work in a school library or computer lab; may be called teacher aide or paraprofessional.
St. Patrick School, located in Chatham, NJ, is seeking a dedicated Early Childhood Paraprofessional for the 2026-2027 school year to support the youngest learners in early childhood classrooms.
Qualifications Education:
High school diploma or equivalent; college-level coursework or certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field preferred.
Experience:
Successful experience working with early childhood (PreK-Kindergarten) age groups.
Communication Skills:
Ability to communicate warmly and effectively with young children, parents, teachers, and school leadership.
Background Check:
Successful completion of a criminal background check and VIRTUS (Protecting God's Children) training.
Catholic Faith:
Basic understanding of the Catholic faith and a willingness to support and carry out the mission and values of St. Patrick School. Reports To Classroom Teacher & Principal. Job Goal To assist early childhood classroom teachers in creating a safe, nurturing, and structured environment where young children can develop foundational social, emotional, and academic skills. Performance Responsibilities Assist the lead teacher with the daily care, physical safety, and routine needs of early childhood students. Provide hands-on assistance during small-group and individualized learning activities to reinforce early literacy, numeracy, and fine motor skills. Help guide young children through daily routines, transitions, bathroom visits, and movement through the school building. Accompany and assist students during special subjects (e.g., art, music, physical education, language). Assist with snack time, lunchroom supervision, and promotion of proper self-care habits. Supervise indoor and outdoor recess, ensuring active, safe play on the playground. Support the lead teacher in managing classroom materials, learning centers, and creative displays. Assist with the supervision of students on field trips and special school activities. Perform light clerical and prep tasks as assigned by the lead teacher (e.g., preparing activity supplies, organizing learning materials). Carry out other supervisory duties or class coverage as assigned by the principal.
Terms of Employment Hours:
Hourly, no more than 25 hours per week (No benefits).
Compensation:
$17.00 - $18.00 / hour (Agreed upon at date of hire). Evaluation Performance will be evaluated annually by the building principal based on performance and school needs for the following school year. Send resume via email to nbogardus@st-pats.org with Early Childhood Para in Subject Line.
