About this role
Needham Public Schools is an inclusive, dynamic, and multicultural community seeking an energetic, skilled, and warm Office Assistant Part Time to join our team. To enhance our goals of supporting every child, Needham Public Schools seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
This position will have a five-day-a-week schedule, from 8:00 - 2:00, as part of a four-person office team. Eliot is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school with a warm and inclusive environment where students' needs are central to our work.
About Needham Public Schools (NPS): NPS has a deep commitment to the success of our diverse students and families and to the professional accomplishments of its educators. Needham devotes itself to cultural proficiency, equity, and community collaboration to fulfill the vision of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate. The METCO district comprises five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one nationally ranked high school, serving approximately 5,500 students. NPS is committed to addressing equity in the district by focusing on improving academic performance for historically marginalized students and ensuring our schools are safe for every child and free of bias, bullying, and hurtful acts that demean and diminish. Read more about our equity work here.
Looking for an office assistant to be responsible for handling clerical tasks, providing support, and back-up to the lead secretary and school bookkeeper. You will be handling incoming phone calls, maintaining & entering information into databases, and greeting parents and visitors. You will also provide some supervision of students in the cafeteria and on the school playground.
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Duties will include
- Complete light office work ie: including updating absences and dismissals
- Distribute resources and materials to classrooms/teacher spaces
- Complete filings and prepare mailings to families (ie: attendance letters, school communications, student performance reports, etc)
- Call families who did not report absences
- Answer phones and assist with receptionist tasks
- Provide educator coverage as needed
- Supervise morning arrival
- Supervise afternoon student departure
- Other office tasks and duties as assigned by the building principal or designee
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Ability to carry out verbal and written instructions
- Understanding of middle school-aged children
- Ability to make decisions at the moment to ensure the safety of all students
- Ability to establish a supportive environment for all students
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple team members
- Ability to maintain confidential information regarding students and families
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to stand and work both indoors and outdoors for multiple hours
- Interest in and appreciation for middle school students
Qualifications
Education and experience requirements
- High school diploma
- Secretarial/Receptionist experience
- Experience working with children and/or adolescents in active settings is a plus.
- Previous experience supervising or working with children in active, group settings is highly preferred.
- Situational awareness with a proactive approach to monitoring student behavior in unstructured environments to ensure safety.
- Current CPR and First Aid certification is preferred.
- Successful completion of all standard state and district background checks (CORI/SORI and fingerprinting) is mandatory before employment.
Applications will be considered when a cover letter, resume, and one reference have been attached to your online application.
Compensation and Benefits
Please review Unit Contract D and this page to learn more about employee compensation and benefits. Hourly Rate: AR1 $22.58-$24.88
The Needham Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, active military/veteran status, ancestry, genetic information, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, and other administered programs and activities. In addition, students who are homeless or of limited English-speaking ability are protected from discrimination in accessing the course of study and other opportunities available through the schools.
Needham Public Schools has a strong commitment to equity. Candidates who also have a strong commitment to this work are encouraged to apply. For more information on our equity work, please visit our equity website.