Certified Teacher Assistant, Special Education (Gr. K-6)

St Catherine s Center for Children•Albany, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Teacher Assistant supports the instructional program under the direction of a certified teacher, consistent with New York State Education Department (NYSED) regulations. The Teacher Assistant works collaboratively to implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), support student engagement, and foster a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed learning environment that promotes academic, social, and emotional growth.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
Current New York State Teaching Assistant Certification (Level I, II, III, or Pre-Professional), OR active enrollment in a program leading to certification per NYSED timelines.
Must be on track to obtain the NYS Level 1 certificate within 90 days of hire.
Ability to actively supervise students, including maintaining safety protocols for students prone to elopement (leaving assigned areas).
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with a proven ability to work collaboratively in a team-based educational environment.
A documented record of integrity, reliability, dependability, and ethical judgment.
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive student data with strict discretion and confidentiality.
Successful completion of all pre-employment background checks, including NYSED fingerprinting clearance.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Child Development, or a related field.
Prior experience supporting children with diverse learning, social, emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs.
Valid training in crisis prevention and intervention (e.g., Therapeutic Crisis Intervention / TCI) and the ability to safely deploy approved intervention strategies.
Ability to remain highly engaged, attentive, and adaptable throughout the school day in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Assist the certified teacher in implementing lesson plans aligned with IEP goals and NYSED learning standards.
Provide small group and individualized instructional support to reinforce learning and skill development.
Support differentiated instruction by adapting materials and strategies to meet diverse student needs.
Reinforce positive learning behaviors and engagement through proactive and responsive strategies.
Takes over instructional delivery, to maintain minimum disruption to programing when the teacher is not present in the room.
Provide consistent supervision to ensure student safety across all school environments (classroom, cafeteria, transitions, outdoor spaces).
Utilize trauma-informed practices to support students’ emotional regulation, coping, and social skill development.
Respond to student needs using de-escalation strategies and supportive interventions aligned with approved training models (e.g., TCI).
Maintain awareness of student triggers and proactively implement supports to reduce escalation.
Work under the direction of the certified teacher and collaborate with related service providers and school staff.
Share observations of student progress, behavior, and needs to inform instructional decision-making.
Participate in team meetings as appropriate to support student programming and outcomes.
Help maintain a structured, predictable, and inclusive classroom environment that supports all learners that leads to strong student outcomes.
Promote a classroom culture grounded in respect, safety, and belonging.
Assist in organizing materials and maintaining a clean, safe, and engaging learning space.
Collect and record student data as directed by the teacher to monitor progress toward IEP goals.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with school procedures and regulatory expectations.
Protect student confidentiality in compliance with FERPA and NYSED regulations.
Participate in required professional development, including training related to trauma-informed practices and student support.
Actively pursue professional development opportunities to enhance skills and competencies in alignment with individual strengths, areas of need, and program goals.
Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and adherence to school policies and NYSED expectations.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervising administrator.