Schoolwide Assistant-Ethical Culture chez Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Who we are?

Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves an inclusive community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan. Ethical Culture School, located on the Upper West Side at 63rd Street and Central Park West, is comprised of approximately 450 students Pre-K through 5th Grade and 80 faculty members.

What is essential about working at our school?

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of inclusion and belonging deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace all aspects of an individual, including their ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self. 

We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in an inclusive environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality. 

Position Summary
Ethical Culture Fieldston School is looking for a Schoolwide Assistant to work at our Ethical Culture division in Manhattan. The role of the Schoolwide Assistant is to provide support and assist with daily classroom activities, helping to promote a well-organized and smooth-functioning classroom environment and continuously monitoring students to ensure safety at all times. This role will also assist with the overall coordination of student transportation for the division.  

The hiring range for this position is $20.00-$25.00 per hour and will begin approximately early November 2025 through June 15th, 2026. The hours for the schoolwide assistant are Monday-Friday 8:00a.m - 4:00p.m.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Schoolwide Assistant would include:

• Assisting the Head Teacher and Associate Teacher during recess. Ensuring safety on the playground, helping children use appropriate language, and assisting children during difficult social interactions;

• Assisting in monitoring the Pre-K - 5th grade during Early Birds (8:00-8:30 am). Helping find appropriate non-academic activities during this time. Helping clean up after Early Birds and transition and walking children to their respective classes;

• Assisting in monitoring the Pre-K – 5th grade during dismissal. Helping keep children calm and organized during this time. Walking children out of school to their respective buses and ensuring that they get safely into their seats;

• Assisting the Head Teacher and Associate Teacher with supervising children in the classroom with non-academic tasks;

• Assisting Head Teachers and Associate Teachers during rest time. Helping ensure a quiet and safe resting environment, finding activities for children during rest, and helping to keep the classroom quiet during this time. Setting up or assisting children to find appropriate spots to stay calm and without too many social interactions during a time allotted for winding down and personal space;

• Assisting with field trips or day trips, such as neighborhood walks under the supervision of the Head Teacher and Associate Teacher; 

• Fostering  positive relationships with team members and various stakeholders;

• Coordinating all student transportation functions for the division including the administration of home-to-school routing; 

• Serves as the primary contact for parent/guardian transportation questions, suggestions, or complaints;

• Maintaining appropriate transportation files, maps and records;

• Working closely with the private bus company, Westchester County Public School Districts, and the Operations Division to resolve transportation routing issues;

• Serving as the day-to-day liaison between the school and the NYC Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT), including day-to-day contact with AM and PM bus drivers as needed; 

• Supervising daily bus dismissal;

• Tracking student playdate requests between EC/FL;

• Attending monthly transportation meetings;

• Performing other related projects and duties as needed and assigned.

Position Requirements

The successful incumbent for the schoolwide position will possess:

• A Bachelor's Degree;

• Previous experience working with elementary-aged students;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

• The ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with faculty, administrators, students, parents, and the overall community; 

• The ability to handle confidential materials with discretion while maintaining a high level of integrity;

• A high degree of organization, resourcefulness, and attention to detail; 

• Patience, flexibility, and a nurturing demeanor; 

• The means to execute sound judgment with an ability to navigate complex situations; 

• Ability to be comfortable with a variety of weather conditions as required for the playground supervision;

• A positive attitude and the ability to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback; 

• A willingness to learn and embrace new ideas and procedures;

• Proficiency in utilizing Google Sheets, Docs, Slides as well as Microsoft Excel and  Word and the willingness and ability to quickly learn new technologies and systems as needed;

• The ability to manage time effectively, stay organized, and prioritize required tasks; 

• An understanding and commitment to cultural competency and how to support a diverse student population;

• A commitment to progressive education as outlined on our website;

• CPR / First Aid training (preferred – ECFS will provide training);

• Reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance; and

• The ability to cultivate a welcoming culture in which all members of our community feel valued and appreciated.
  
  

To Apply
All candidates should visit our employment page at www.ecfs.org to apply. Please send a resume, and contact information for three references. 

EEO
ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to be a welcoming community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to hiring practices that ensure all candidates are given fair consideration in alignment with our institutional mission and goals.