Teaching Assistant | iBhodi Trust at Valenture Institute

Description

Valenture is an exciting new start-up in the online education space. Our mission is to evolve what it means to “go” to school by transforming physical limitations into digital opportunities. We do this by providing students worldwide with a fully supported, global online high school experience, steeped in academic excellence and rooted in sustainable practices. We believe in providing more than just a quality online education – we’re dedicated to building and empowering a purpose-driven, global student body and equipping them to make the best of both their individual and collective futures.

The Teaching Assistant for iBhodi Trust’s pioneer class is a key team member working on the iBhodi Trust project. iBhodi Trust is a bold project to create a new blueprint for delivering high quality education throughout South Africa to students who need it most. The first cohort of iBhodi Trust students have been admitted to study an internationally recognised curriculum, delivered entirely online at a dynamic physical classroom set up at Beacon Hill Secondary School in Mitchell’s Plain with 24 computers, high-speed internet and collaborative workstations.

The Teaching Assistant role is the primary support to the Learning Coach, the frontline custodian of the learning experience for this pioneering class and is responsible for providing personalised support solutions to students and their parents as they work through the Pearson International curriculum (from 1 January 2022, students will be part of UCT Online High School). All subjects are facilitated online.

The Teaching Assistant is required to work on site in Mitchells Plain with students on a part-time basis. Specifically, the Teaching Assistant is required to be available for an average of three weekdays per week, to be available to supervise the cohort in the event that the Learning Coach is unavailable and to assist during examination cycles. This role reports directly into the iBhodi Trust Learning Coach.

The role:

Summary:

• The Teaching Assistant role is responsible for assisting the iBhodi Trust Learning Coach with their student support duties and administrative support. The Teaching Assistant is incredibly passionate about people, especially students, and is always eager to offer support and adapt a positive attitude to solving complex problems. The Teaching Assistant supports the Learning Coach through ongoing engagement, holistic development and removing barriers and obstacles for the students in their care. The Teaching Assistant provides a support role for the iBhodi Trust Learning Coach where needed within the Home Room settings and exercises duty of care at all times.

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Be deeply committed to the responsibility for duty of care related to the role, ensure that students are supervised at all times during the course of the school day and strictly uphold and abide by all policies and procedures set out by Valenture Institute.
• Have basic knowledge on how to troubleshoot technical problems.
• Provide an assessment of critical situations within the learning space and refer them to the Learning Coach
• Co-facilitate group sessions with students (including Home Room sessions and Learning Compass Sessions) according to predefined programme outline.
• Be available for certain on-site responsibilities at Beacon Hill from time to time.

Team responsibilities:

• Be deeply committed to working as part of the Student Success tea
• Participate in relevant team meetings
• Liaise with members of the Student Success team as required

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree, preferably in psychology, counselling, or teaching. Candidates who are in the process of studying towards an undergraduate degree may be considered.
• A minimum of 1 year experience in a school setting or in working with High School students will be advantageous.
• Reliable form of transportation
• The ability to work onsite in Mitchells Plain during school hours
• Demonstrated passion for coaching, student development and the ability to grapple with the student/client paradigm, wearing dual hats as and when required.
• Excellent command of the English language, verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, consistently amicable and responsive in dealing with all people, both externally and internally.
• Preferred: SACE registration
• Police Clearance (either official Police Clearance Certificate or Nevetec clearance certificate)

Personal Skills & Attributes

• Ability to simply convey concepts, principles and procedures via multiple channels such as email, phone and chat;
• An understanding of technical and business process at a high level will be advantageous;
• Minimum technical proficiency in working on different systems (training will be provided);
• Questioning, taking ownership of and simplifying tasks to improve process efficiencies and achieve business outcomes.
• An interest in remediation strategies (training will be provided) and working with students to overcome perceived or real barriers.
• Proficiency in working with data.

Benefits

Remote work

Voluntary savings Programme

Valenture Institute is an equal opportunity employer. Appointments will be in accordance to our Employment Equity Plan.