Teaching Assistant - Latham

Are you a compassionate person aspiring to help children who experience the world differently enjoy a sense of self and belonging while they’re at school?

Are you looking for a rewarding, meaningful career that will give you a chance to make a difference?

As a Teaching Assistant, you can make valuable contributions to the success of autistic and neurodivergent children in our education program. By providing a therapeutically-appropriate level of supervision and training, you’ll play an instrumental role attending to the important educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of our young students so that they can learn, grow, and discover. You’ll also have the chance to work closely with the team to create a classroom setting that feels comfortable, inclusive, and sensory-friendly. Every aspect of your work will support academic and personal development for children who deserve to be prepared for whatever opportunities the future holds for them.

And as part of our team, you’ll also enjoy robust benefits, generous time off, retirement plans with employer contributions, access to scholarships and ongoing learning experiences, clearly defined career pathways, and more! This is a place where you can grow alongside the individuals you serve - now and in the years to come.

What You Will Do as a Teaching Assistant

• You will attend to the educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of students while assisting the classroom teacher in the implementation of IEP goals.
• You will follow a classroom schedule, ensuring individual student IEP goals are implemented and that appropriate therapy carryover is accomplished within the structured educational environment.
• You will assist in envisioning, organizing, and arranging the classroom to create a comfortable, safe, healthy, engaging learning atmosphere.
• You will provide support in the classroom according to staffing patterns and the needs of students, conducting individual and group activities according to the established curriculum.
• You will escort and assist students to and from school buses, providing opportunities for increased independence when appropriate.
• You will attend and actively participate in staff meetings and job skills training experiences.
• You will adhere to all agency policies and procedures, and demonstrate continuous regard for student safety, personal safety, and the safety of others.
• You will collaborate and communicate with the classroom teacher - and other support professionals - to optimize student learning and help ensure alignment.
• You will complete all required data and documentation forms related to student learning and health.
• You will model communication, social, and interpersonal skills for students, and deliver positive feedback to reinforce student progress.
• You will help create a culture of unconditional positive regard for each student, ever mindful of maximizing strengths while effectively navigating any challenges that arise. Ultimately, you will do what you can to optimize student learning success and confidence.

• A positive, team-oriented spirit, and a strong desire to support learning and development for youth with autism and other neurodiversities.
• Dependability, compassion, integrity, patience, adaptability, perseverance, and a genuine belief that all students have enormous potential.
• Strong communication, organizational, collaborative, interpersonal, observational, teaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to learn (or existing understanding of) evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis practices, neurodiversity-affirming frameworks, and sensory sensitivities.
• Alignment with our mission and values.

• High school diploma or equivalent, with at least one year’s experience working with the developmentally disabled population.
• New York State Certified Teaching Assistant designation. (Note: consideration will be given to applicants who are not currently NYS Certified Teaching Assistants if the process to become certified is started within 3 months of hire).
• Must maintain qualifications in the crisis intervention procedure of the agency.
• Must be capable at all times of initiating or assisting in all components of the crisis intervention of the agency.
• Must be capable at all times of assisting occupants in the orderly evacuation of the facility, by both primary and secondary paths in the event of fire or other emergency.
• Completion of agency orientation and training.
• Must fulfill all mandated reporting requirements, ensure compliance with agency policies, and adhere to organizational protocols.