Teacher Assistant (Certified)
About The Position
The Teacher Assistant supports instruction and student development under teacher direction. The role provides individual, small-group, and whole-class instructional assistance; reinforces classroom expectations and routines; and helps maintain a structured and safe classroom. The assistant supports implementation of applicable IEP components and student academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and functional goals, and collects information on student observations, behaviors, and progress as directed by teachers or teams. The position also provides supervision and support throughout the school day, including during transitions, meals, recreation, physical and health education, vocational activities, and other assigned programs. The assistant uses positive supports and interventions, follows student educational and behavioral plans, and responds calmly and appropriately to challenging behavior or crises. Collaboration with educators, service providers, counselors, behavioral staff, administrators, families, and other team members is an important part of the role.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Hold appropriate New York State Teacher Assistant certification or actively pursue applicable certification requirements.
- Patience, flexibility, professionalism, reliability, consistency, and commitment to learners with diverse learning and behavioral needs.
Nice To Haves
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Special Education, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field.
- Experience supporting students with emotional disturbance (ED) and/or intellectual disability (ID).
Responsibilities
- Assist with individual, small-group, and whole-class instruction under teacher direction.
- Provide teacher-directed academic help, reinforcement, prompting, redirection, and other instructional supports.
- Reinforce classroom expectations, routines, and positive behavior; redirect inappropriate behavior and help maintain a structured, safe classroom.
- Apply positive supports, interventions, and appropriate de-escalation strategies in accordance with student educational and behavioral plans.
- Help implement applicable IEP components and advance students’ academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and functional goals.
- Collect and document student data, observations, behaviors, academic progress, and other relevant information as directed by teachers or teams.
- Assist students during instruction, transitions, meals, recreation, physical and health education, vocational activities, and other assigned school programs.
- Foster student independence, communication, appropriate social interactions, self-regulation, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making.
- Supervise students throughout the day to protect their health, safety, and well-being.
- Respond to challenging behaviors and crises calmly and professionally, following school procedures and individual behavioral plans.
- Collaborate with special and general educators, related-service providers, counselors, behavioral staff, administrators, families, and other team members.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
