ARI (Assistant Reading Instructor) / Assistant Teacher

Position Overview

The Assistant Reading Instructor (ARI), also referred to as an Assistant Teacher, supports classroom instruction by helping students build core skills and by making sure they can use the learning resources available in class. This role reports to the teacher or principal and works under the teacher’s guidance. Overtime classification follows the rules that apply to the position, salary, and FLSA requirements.

Purpose of the Role

The main objective of this position is to uphold the district’s tradition of strong academic standards by assisting with the teaching of foundational skills and helping create an environment where every student can benefit from classroom resources and support.

Key Duties

• Support classroom activities in ways that allow the supervising teacher to focus on instruction.
• Work with assigned classes at the designated school and at the times set by the teacher and principal.
• Take part in daily and long-term planning for lessons and classroom activities.
• Lead small student groups in independent study, enrichment, and remedial practice to reinforce lessons introduced by the supervising teacher.
• Help students learn to interact and play respectfully and cooperatively with others.
• Keep desks, books, papers, supplies, and instructional materials organized, and make use of educational media as needed.
• Inform the teacher about any special needs of individual students.
• Provide students with help and escort them when necessary.
• Assist in maintaining individual student records.
• Support the development of healthy eating habits and table manners.
• Help keep work and study areas tidy and orderly.
• Review notebooks, correct papers, and oversee make-up work and testing as directed by the supervising teacher; this role does not assign grades or discuss grades with parents.
• Supervise children during regular play periods.
• Gather and display materials for educational exhibits and classroom displays.
• Participate in staff development so the employee is equipped to support district initiatives.
• Safeguard any district-owned equipment assigned to the employee and use it in line with district acceptable-use policies.
• Complete periodic evaluations as required by state and board policy.
• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Maintain regular, dependable, punctual, in-person attendance, which is an essential part of the job.
• Carry out additional duties assigned by the Board of Education, superintendent, administrator, director, or district policy.

Qualifications and Working Conditions

Applicants must have an Associate Degree or higher from an accredited college, or at least 60 college credit hours from an accredited college, or pass the WorkKeys test as determined by the Mississippi Department of Education.

This role requires physical activity including talking, hearing, standing, walking, sitting, reaching, handling, and fine finger use. It may also involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling. The employee must regularly lift and move up to 35 pounds and may occasionally lift up to 75 pounds. Close vision is required.

The job is performed across an active school campus, both indoors and outdoors, rather than in a standard office environment. Noise levels are generally low to moderate, but may sometimes be high.

Employment Terms

Salary, number of workdays, and work year are set by the Rankin County Board of Education. This posting is not a contract of employment and does not guarantee any specific conditions of employment. The district may add, change, or remove duties, or modify the position, whenever it considers appropriate.

Evaluation

Job performance will be reviewed according to the Rankin County School Board’s employee evaluation policy.