Science Teaching Assistant

Strive Charter School•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Strive Charter School is seeking energetic, dependable, and student-centered Science Teaching Assistants to support Lead Science Teachers in implementing our Living Science Curriculum during the school day. Additional after-school and weekend hours may also be available based on program needs. Living Science is an inquiry-based, Montessori-informed science program in which students learn through careful observation, hands-on investigation, experimentation, modeling, fieldwork, discussion, and environmental stewardship. Science Teaching Assistants help create a safe, engaging, organized, and welcoming learning environment where students can explore the natural world, ask questions, use scientific tools, collect evidence, and develop confidence as young scientists. The Science Teaching Assistant works closely with the Lead Science Teacher to prepare materials, support science labs and small-group investigations, supervise students during field and outdoor experiences, reinforce science and safety routines, and maintain classroom materials and learning spaces. The ideal candidate enjoys working with children, communicates effectively, takes initiative, is comfortable with hands-on and outdoor learning, and can maintain a positive and structured environment while encouraging curiosity and student independence.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
2 years' experience within a school setting working with children in grades PreK-5
Ability to lead enrichment activities in areas such as sports, art, music, dance, STEM, literacy, or life skills.
Strong communication, teamwork, organization, and classroom-management skills.
Dependable, punctual, flexible, and able to take initiative.
Ability to work effectively with students and families from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to complete all required background checks, clearances, and training.
Must be available for assigned weekday afternoon/evening and weekend shifts.

Nice To Haves

CPR and First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain certification.

Responsibilities

Support the Lead Science Teacher in delivering engaging, hands-on science lessons, laboratories, demonstrations, engineering challenges, and investigations.
Work with individual students and small groups to reinforce scientific observation, questioning, classification, measurement, data collection, modeling, and evidence-based thinking.
Encourage students to observe and investigate before providing answers, using questions such as, “What do you notice?” and “What is your evidence?”
Assist students with the safe and appropriate use of scientific tools, including magnifying glasses, binoculars, measuring tools, field journals, models, and other age-appropriate equipment.
Prepare classrooms, science shelves, investigation stations, materials, specimens, equipment, student recording sheets, and activity spaces before lessons.
Reset, clean, organize, and safely store science materials and equipment following investigations.
Help maintain plants, approved classroom animals, natural materials, garden materials, specimens, and other living or hands-on components of the science program.
Support students in completing scientific drawings, field journals, data tables, graphs, maps, models, investigation booklets, and engineering records.
Assist students in distinguishing observations from inferences and in using evidence to explain their scientific thinking.
Support field investigations at locations such as the Bronx Zoo, community garden, school grounds, and other approved outdoor learning spaces.
Help students collect age-appropriate field evidence, including drawings, tallies, maps, habitat observations, biodiversity counts, behavior observations, and other investigation data.
Supervise students during science classes, field experiences, outdoor investigations, transitions, meals, arrival, dismissal, and enrichment activities as assigned.
Provide clear instructions and age-appropriate academic and behavioral support.
Reinforce classroom expectations for curiosity, collaboration, independence, responsible use of materials, and respectful treatment of living things.
Maintain a safe, organized, inclusive, and positive science learning environment.
Model and reinforce all science-lab, outdoor-learning, classroom-animal, and school safety procedures.
Support positive student behavior using the school’s expectations and procedures.
Monitor student participation, engagement, scientific habits, progress, and well-being.
Share relevant observations about student learning, behavior, participation, or support needs with the Lead Science Teacher.
Assist with collecting and organizing student work, field journals, investigation records, models, presentations, and assessment materials.
Support students during science projects, performance tasks, presentations, exhibitions, and year-end capstone experiences.
Adapt support and activities to meet students’ different ages, interests, abilities, and learning needs.
Build supportive relationships with students, families, colleagues, and school leaders.
Communicate attendance issues, behavioral concerns, injuries, incidents, equipment concerns, and supply needs to the appropriate supervisor.
Assist with inventorying and maintaining science supplies and notify the Lead Science Teacher when materials need to be replenished.
Support interdisciplinary connections between science and literacy, mathematics, art, geography, writing, research, and presentation skills.
Assist with cleaning and organizing classrooms, laboratory areas, outdoor-learning spaces, and shared program spaces.
Follow all school policies, emergency procedures, health requirements, and student-safety protocols.
Attend required staff meetings, training sessions, planning meetings, and professional-development activities.
Participate in training related to the Living Science Curriculum, inquiry-based science instruction, field science, classroom safety, and student support.
Perform other duties related to the successful implementation of the Living Science and enrichment programs as assigned.