Teacher Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TITLE :                               Teacher Assistant

REPORTS TO:                  Supervisor of Special Services

SUPERVISES:                      

Assists in the supervision, care, and instruction of student(s) with special needs in the general education or special education setting; assists in implementing plans for instruction; monitoring student behavior; and providing information to appropriate school personnel under the direction and supervision of the certified classroom teacher, principal, supervisor of special services, or other designated certified personnel. 

QUALIFICATIONS:                                                                                                                  

1. Current, certified Substitute teacher and/or New Jersey teaching certification
2. High school diploma; college-level coursework in education or related field*          
3. Experience with behavior management preferred
4. Knowledge of child growth and development and appropriate classroom practices and demonstrated ability to assist with instructional activities
5. Good oral and written communication skills
6. Required criminal history background check and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status                                                   

* In programs funded with federal Title I funds, or in district-wide Title I districts, all paraprofessionals (teaching assistants) hired after January 8, 2002 must complete at least two years of college, obtain an associate's degree or higher, or pass an evaluation to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to assist in teaching reading, writing, and math.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Enforce school and classroom rules to maintain a learning environment that reflects "respectful," "responsible," and "ready" behaviors.
2. Encourage each student to seek knowledge, ask questions, and grow in self-knowledge and self-discipline.
3. Assist in reinforcing self-help skills in areas of dress, toileting, eating, and other appropriate social competencies.
4. Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect student(s), equipment, materials, and facilities.
5. Assist in maintaining accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, District policy, and administrative regulations.
6. Assist in administering tests, homework, make-up work, etc. for the purpose of supporting student needs in the classroom or group standardized tests in accordance with State/District/School testing program.
7. Attend staff meetings and in-service workshops as required.
8. May be asked to keep a communication log that documents the student's day and is sent home daily.
9. Adapt classroom activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of the supervising teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom objectives and meeting IEP goals.
10. Communicate with supervising instructional staff, and a variety of health care professionals, and professional support personnel for the purpose of communicating progress or implementing IEP objectives.
11. Escort student (e.g. restroom, classroom, community, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and safe arrival to and/or from a destination.
12. Implements, under the supervision of assigned teacher, research-based interventions for the purpose of presenting and/or reinforcing learning concepts.
13. Maintains instructional materials and/or manual and electronic files/records for the purpose of ensuring availability of items; providing written reference; and/or meeting mandated requirements.
14. Monitor student's daily schedule and behavior plan for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
15. Provide, under the supervision of assigned teacher, instruction to the student in a variety of individual and group activities for the purpose of reinforcing instructional objectives; implementing IEP plans; and ensuring the student's access to his/her least restrictive environment.
16. Supervise individual and/or groups of students in a variety of settings (e.g. community field trips, hallways, bus loading areas, cafeteria, parking lots, classrooms, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
17. Prepare the learning environment to allow the student to participate in classroom activities.
18. Perform other duties which are within the scope of employment and certification as may be assigned by the teacher and/or administrator(s) under the authority of the Chief School Administrator/Principal.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Ten month contract
2. Teacher assistants are required to work one (1) professional day.  The professional day will be assigned by the Supervisor of Special Services or the Chief School Administrator/Principal.  Any additional training that the teacher assistant attends will fall under "overtime assignment."

 EVALUATION: 

Teacher assistant evaluations will be conducted annually.  Evaluations will be provided to the employee and filed in the employee's personnel file.  Teacher assistants will be evaluated by the Supervisor of Special Services or his/her designee.