Early Childhood Learning Assistant (August 2026)

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

ISP is a non-profit, student-centered, independent school, inspiring lifelong learners for a future without borders. We are recognized as a leader in international education, offering world-class opportunities for students since 3 years old at Early Childhood Center to 12th grade.

The International School of Panama operates under the license of the Ministry of Education of Panama and is accredited by AdvancED. As an authorized IB World School, we offer the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) for students in grades 11 and 12. In addition, we offer the unique Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate and AdvancED certified STEM programs.

ISP CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT

Schools strive to ensure that all children in their care are afforded a safe and secure environment in which to grow and develop. Child abuse and neglect are violations of a child?s human rights and are obstacles to the child?s education as well as their physical, emotional, and social development. Child abuse and neglect are of growing concern in schools throughout the world.

The International School of Panama, in keeping with our core beliefs and mission statement, has adopted a Child Protection Policy that will empower students, families and staff in matters related to the health, safety and care of children in attendance at our school.

This Child Protection Policy is the school?s commitment to do our utmost to prevent and protect children from abuse. It is a statement of intent that demonstrates the school's commitment to safeguard children from harm and makes clear to all its members what is required in case of a known or suspected case of abuse. All ISP faculty, staff, and employees, as well as all students, parents and other relevant community members and service providers associated with the school (the ?ISP Community?), have a legal obligation to report suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect whenever they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering any type of abuse regardless of the location where the abuse takes place.

You can find detailed information on our Child Protection Policy at isp.edu.pa

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, WELLNESS AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP

As an integral part of The International School of Panama, we are committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment that values character development, social-emotional learning (SEL), wellness, and student leadership. We are seeking individuals who not only possess the necessary qualifications for the role but also bring a deep understanding and experience in promoting SEL, wellness initiatives, and facilitating student leadership development. Successful candidates will actively contribute to our mission of empowering students to thrive academically and personally by incorporating these topics into their work.

OUR CORE VALUES

? Commitment to Excellence - We tackle challenges willingly and persevere in order to succeed.

? Compassion and Integrity - We care for, respect, and value one another

? Strength in Diversity - We embrace our differences, enrich our community, and make meaningful connections, ensuring our global mindedness.

? Innovative Spirit - We are creative and curious learners, empowered to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

? Lasting Impact - We contribute to a sustainable future by taking care of our planet and leaving our environment better than we found it.

OUR DEFINITION OF LEARNING

Learning is a journey of authentic discovery to develop understanding, skills, and character. This includes four principles:

Learning is Iterative - We learn through our mistakes, providing us opportunities to be creative and find solutions.

Learning is Exciting - We learn when we are inspired, challenged, and active.

Learning is Meaningful - We learn and grow when we apply our knowledge, skills, and understandings to real-world situations.

Learning is Social - We learn through sharing, interacting, and collaborating.

Early Childhood Learning Assistant at ISP The Early Childhood Learning Assistant joins our school as part of a team that works to support student learning in the classroom and in targeted academic and social settings. They are part of a team that works to promote and increase the independence of students with academics, social skills, functional abilities and problem-solving. Key to this is creating opportunities for students to generalize skills across a variety of settings and people. The EC LS Learning Assistant collaborates with the students and the ISP support team, which include classroom teachers, specialists of electives, administrators and the department of student services, to foster these growth points.

- Reports to: PK Principal
- Collaborates closely with: PK teachers, PK Curriculum and Instructional Coordinator, and LAs

Responsibilities: (Including but not limited to) 1. Classroom Responsibilities: To provide learning opportunities for every child relative to his needs, abilities, and stages of development establishing effective relationships with students based on mutual respect, recognizing the individuality of each child, ensuring an effective and challenging learning environment, and ensuring the classroom is an attractive and welcoming place.

2. Planning, Curriculum, and Organizational Responsibilities: To implement authentic and meaningful units and interventions by starting with the end in mind. Use effective instructional strategies to make learning interactive, exciting, meaningful, and social. Develop and manage classroom resources. Provide students feedback to support their academic and social-emotional growth. Use standards to guide evaluation of student work, and record results to provide an accurate assessment of student achievement.

3. Professional Development Expectations: To embrace a growth mindset by keeping up-to-date on best practices, engaging in teacher development opportunities, participating in in-service courses, attending professional meetings as scheduled by Leadership, seeking out and using feedback from coaches and administrators, and participating in the ISP professional learning cycle as outlined in the evaluation process.

4. Community Expectations: Engage with our ISP community by sharing updates on the progress and development of the students in the teacher?s care, as well as important events happening in the classroom. Find opportunities to meet with parents, caregivers, and guardians to discuss the progress and development of the students, and collaborate to support the child?s specific needs, interests, and passions. Connect with our larger community by attending PTA events, athletics events, and various student performances.

Traits: - Collaborative
- Communicative - Professional and timely communication
- Flexible- can navigate different systems across PK classrooms.
- Bridging the needs between classes
- Independent - able to initiate, create and implement

What you will do: Day-to-day tasks: - Planning with homeroom teachers to create accommodations and planning modifications with Learning Support teacher to student learning to allow access to the mainstream curriculum and increase meaningful in class time
- Supporting and continually fostering understanding and skills with and within the school community of how to work with students with needs in a compassionate way that creates opportunities for mutual growth.
- Support students in classrooms as identified and needed in collaboration with Student Review Team(SRT)/Student Study Team(SST) groups, which may include homeroom teachers, counsellors, learning support teachers, curriculum and instruction coordinators and administrators.
- Support the transition of new students into the EC community in collaboration with counselors.
- Responsible for coverage when an LA or Teacher is absent at the discretion of the PK Principal.
- Run WIN Blocks for interventions - social and academic.
- Collect and analyze data in collaboration with classroom teachers and Learning Support teacher
- Support challenging behaviors in the classroom through research supported practices.
- Document in SEQTA behavior and academic concerns.
- Actively participate in EC team meetings.

What you bring: Characteristics this candidate needs to possess to excel in this position. - Highly effective collaboration, innovation and creativity.
- Very resourceful and adaptive, eager to embrace constant change, growth and learning.
- A willingness to be flexible, and adaptable, and committed to the challenges of working in an international school.
- Organization, time management, and problem solving skills.
- A high degree of professionalism.
- Commitment to participating in the whole school experience including fostering joy as an authentic and important part of the learning process for students and staff.
- Social Emotional Learning, Wellness and Student Leadership: As an integral part of The International School of Panama, we are committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment that values character development, social-emotional learning (SEL), wellness, and student leadership. We are seeking individuals who not only possess the necessary qualifications for the role but also bring a deep understanding and experience in promoting SEL, wellness initiatives, and facilitating student leadership development. Successful candidates will actively contribute to our mission of empowering students to thrive academically and personally by incorporating these topics into their work.


Requisitos:
Qualifications: Necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to perform the job. - Experience in Learning Support and/or at the Early Childhood and Elementary School level.
- Bachelor or Master Degree in Education or Psychology or in relevant subjects.
- High level of English proficiency.
- Cross cultural sensitivity and an international mindset.
- Previous experience in an international school is desirable.