Certified Teaching Assistant

Location: Northtowns Academy, Tonawanda, NY • 7:15 AM – 2:45 PM

Pay

• $21.00/hour – Level I Teaching Assistant Certification or Initial TA Certificate
• $21.50/hour – Level II Teaching Assistant Certification or Pre-Professional TA Certificate
• $22.50/hour – Level III Teaching Assistant Certification or Professional TA Certificate

Benefits

• Paid annual holidays
• Generous paid personal/sick time
• Premium health and dental plans (Erie 1 BOCES pays 85%)
• Life insurance at no cost to employee
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan
• NYS Retirement System
• 403(b) and 457 retirement plans
• Unlimited opportunities for growth and professional development
• Employee-centric work environment with fun events
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

About the role

Erie 1 BOCES seeks Certified Teaching Assistants to support our growing K-8 Special Education School Community at Northtowns Academy. Experience is preferred, but newly certified Teaching Assistants are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a positive outlook, strong work ethic, and perform well in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a certified teacher.
• Support the teacher by helping to supervise activities in the classroom, working with students on an individual, small group, or whole-class basis.
• Teach classes independently, cover planned teacher absences, and allow teachers time for meetings and conferences.
• Manage other support staff and assist with recording student grades, data, and reporting on student progress.
• Support students across the curriculum and work with individual students as directed by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher with marking and correcting work.
• Assist with school events, trips, and other activities.
• Assist in classroom behavior management and routine classroom functioning.
• Accompany students when removal from a classroom is necessary or when students must go to another part of the building.
• Assist in restraining students who may exhibit behaviors that are injurious to self or others.
• Assist and supervise games and free play, both indoors and outdoors.
• Help implement activities that include feeding, lifting, toileting, and other activities of daily living (e.g., grooming, hygiene, leisure/recreation).
• Lift and transport students in conjunction with daily living activities.
• Maintain working knowledge and ability to implement classroom and school-wide safety plans.

Special Note: Ability to lift/move students either independently or with assistance is a condition of employment for teaching assistants who work with non-ambulatory students. Initial and periodic physical examinations will test this ability. Teaching Assistants should not attempt to lift more than one-third of their body weight without assistance from another adult or appropriate lifting devices.

Requirements

• Teaching Assistant Certification (Level I, II, or III) or Initial/Pre-Professional/Professional TA Certificate
• Knowledge of child development and strong interpersonal skills
• Positive outlook, strong work ethic, and ability to perform well in a team
• Kind and caring demeanor
• Teaching Assistants working with non-ambulatory students must be able to lift 40-pound loads independently and may be required to lift/move students weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance or lifting devices.