Teaching Assistant - Special Education - Peninsula Campus
About The Position
The Teaching Assistant – Special Education supports students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities by delivering personalized instruction, supporting communication development, and helping students reach key milestones. The role involves teaching new skills individually or in small groups across varied settings, facilitating recreational and physical education activities, assisting with community-based learning, and working with a multidisciplinary team to support educational and personal goals. The assistant also collects data on student progress, helps with daily living activities such as hygiene and toileting, and supports individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviors. Training is provided, and the position may suit candidates interested in future work in teaching or behavioral health. The position is listed for the Peninsula Campus in Newport News, Virginia, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Compassion, patience, and a desire to make a lasting difference in people's lives.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds continuously while keeping the back straight.
- Ability to bend at all joints fluently.
- Ability to move in and out of and maintain a kneeling position for up to five minutes.
- Ability to reach in all directions.
- Ability to grasp using both hands.
- Ability to move quickly in confined and open spaces continuously to avoid safety issues.
- Ability to run continuously to retrieve an individual moving quickly away from staff.
- Ability to maintain balance while lowering to a half-squat position.
Nice To Haves
- Associate or Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience supporting individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities.
Responsibilities
- Teach new skills one-on-one or in small groups across varied settings.
- Facilitate participation in recreational and physical education activities.
- Assist with off-campus community-based learning experiences.
- Track student progress through data collection.
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to support educational and personal goals.
- Help with daily living activities, including hygiene and toileting as needed.
- Support individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviors.
Benefits
- Paid instructional breaks (approximately 28 days annually).
- Sick leave and vacation accruals.
- Tuition assistance or reimbursement for approved studies.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 403B retirement plan with employer contributions.
- Employee discount programs via Working Advantage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Multiple pathways for career advancement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
