Teacher Assistant

Villa of Hope•Rochester, NY

16d•$17 - $20

About The Position

The Teacher Assistant works in Villa of Hope’s Education department, supporting students’ academic and behavioral needs under the direction of the classroom teacher and the program Director of Education. The role helps maintain a productive learning environment, supports instruction and curriculum development, and assists with the preparation and maintenance of student records, including IEPs, report cards, transcripts, logs, and progress notes. The Teacher Assistant also communicates with teachers, program personnel, parents, treatment teams, and outside agencies as needed, while remaining aware of students’ treatment plans and the impact of classroom activities on their goals. The position involves supervising, escorting, and sometimes transporting students throughout the day; providing classroom coverage when teachers are absent; and planning extracurricular activities. The employee must comply with agency policies and applicable laws, fulfill mandated reporter obligations, and demonstrate cultural sensitivity. The role requires flexibility and the ability to respond to crises and changing schedules. Salary is $17.00–$20.00 per hour, commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

Relevant experience working with youth.
Teaching Assistant certification is required by the end of the first year of employment.
Ability to support students’ academic and behavioral needs as specified by the Director of Education.
Flexibility, patience, and resiliency to handle crises and deviations from plans and schedules.
Self-motivation, strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and adaptability.
Ability to use current classroom technology.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including responding to emergencies and performing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Education or Liberal Arts from an accredited institution.
Valid New York State driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Manage student behavior by establishing and enforcing positive relationships, rules, and procedures.
Supervise, escort, and transport students throughout the day and after school when needed.
Provide classroom and specials-area coverage during teacher absences.
Maintain a productive learning environment and current knowledge of special education.
Assist with curriculum development, lesson plans, instructional materials, and direct instruction based on NYS curriculum and individual student IEPs.
Assist with preparing IEPs, report cards, transcripts, daily logs, weekly progress notes, conference and team reports, and other records.
Use relevant technology to support instruction.
Attend staff meetings, in-service training, and student planning and review conferences when possible.
Plan extracurricular activities such as seasonal events, plays, and field trips.
Evaluate and record students’ academic programs and status, and help evaluate and recommend instructional materials.
Work with the classroom teacher to ensure attendance is recorded each period as required by the NYS Education Department.
Monitor students’ treatment plans, observe relevant impacts of relationships and activities, and report observations to the treatment team.
Communicate regularly with classroom teachers and program personnel about daily events relevant to students’ plans; communicate with parents when needed.
Maintain contact with outside agencies and employers when students participate in jobs or vocational experiences.
Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and respect toward students and staff.
Comply with agency policies, the Code of Conduct, applicable laws and regulations, and mandated reporter obligations.