Teacher Assistant

The Childrens Academy NYC•New York, NY

About The Position

The Special Education Teacher Assistant at Children’s Academy supports education for K–12 students in a special education learning institution. The role reports directly to the Director of Education and/or the Head of School’s designee. The assistant should be familiar with the school’s mission, curricula, and school-wide academic and behavioral approaches, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team to help ensure classroom environments and instruction meet the school’s standards. The position requires accepting and interacting with all children with dignity and respect. The assistant helps plan and deliver culturally relevant, project-based learning and daily activities that support students’ language acquisition, inquiry, critical thinking, academic learning, social development, and engagement. The role includes adapting instruction to students’ strengths and needs, following individual plans, collaborating with therapists and colleagues, communicating with families and staff, and contributing to an inclusive and supportive classroom community. Additional duties include supporting field trips, scheduling staff coverage, assisting with bussing, and carrying out other duties reasonably assigned by a supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; education, psychology, social work, or a related field preferred.
Prior experience working with students with special needs required.
Comfort and confidence supporting students with behavioral challenges.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Patience, professionalism, and commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive learning environment.

Responsibilities

Plan and implement innovative, culturally relevant, project-based learning experiences that foster student engagement, language acquisition, inquiry, and critical thinking.
Plan daily and weekly activities that balance academic and social learning and make use of available resources and opportunities, including technology, music, creative play, and mindful moments.
Participate in Parent Teacher Conferences as directed by the Head of School.
Collaborate with Speech-Language and Occupational Therapists to integrate appropriate supports and practices into students’ school days.
Provide differentiated instruction to students.
Communicate proactively and positively with team members and administration.
Build relationships with students and foster a sense of community.
Supervise students during on-site and off-site field trips.
Follow students’ individual plans, including sensory diets and individual behavior plans.
Know, understand, and adhere to school-wide policies.
Adapt lessons to students’ strengths and support learners at different levels.
Motivate students’ inquiry and curiosity while supporting academic skills and social-emotional learning.
Organize and manage time to maximize student engagement and learning.
Advocate for students when equity issues emerge and bring students’ cultures and experiences into classroom learning.
Problem-solve independently as needed and remain flexible in planning and day-to-day work.
Assist with scheduling employee absences and coordinating staff coverage.
Assist with bussing.
Support students in developing social skills, including problem-solving, collaboration, handling complex tasks, and resolving friendship struggles.
Build community and family partnerships and support smooth transitions and aligned classroom activities.
Inspire curiosity, build background knowledge, and increase students’ confidence.
Develop positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
Approach enrichment experiences with a culturally responsive lens.
Perform other duties reasonably assigned by the supervisor.