Elementary School Teacher Assistant

About the role

The Teacher Assistant will support lead teachers in delivering educational programs, managing classroom activities, and promoting a positive learning environment. This role involves assisting with instructional tasks, supervising students, and providing clerical support to ensure the smooth operation of the classroom. Teacher assistants are responsible for providing an educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, social, physical and psychological growth. Staff are dedicated, compassionate, highly effective, reflective, collaborative, culturally responsive, and committed to the academic and social-emotional development of all students.

Responsibilities

• Child Growth & Development
  • Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children.
  • Facilitates a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities.
  • Addresses challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes, implementing preventive measures, teaching new social and communication skills, and partnering with families to support the child at home.
  • Uses observations and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize curriculum.
  • Creates partnerships with families to establish positive interaction patterns in program, school, and home.
• Instruction & Planning
  • Assists the lead teacher in preparing lesson materials and classroom activities.
  • Ensures that the written curriculum includes: goals for children’s development and learning; the experiences through which children will achieve these goals; what staff and parents can do to help children achieve these goals; the materials needed to support implementation.
  • Collaborates with the teacher in the preparation of daily lesson plans.
  • Assists in the development of individual plans for each child including goal-setting based on identified needs and prescriptions for objectives and activities to meet established child outcomes.
• Program Implementation
  • Supports small group and individual instruction under the teacher’s direction.
  • Helps maintain a conducive learning environment by managing student behavior and ensuring classroom rules are followed.
  • Assists with implementing assessments, grading assignments, and recording academic progress.
  • Follows program curriculum providing developmentally and linguistically appropriate experiences appropriate to age, language and culture of children served.
  • Provides positive guidance and discipline supporting children as they acquire readiness skills for kindergarten and beyond.
  • Implements daily lesson plans in response to children’s needs and interests incorporating observations, anecdotal record keeping, knowledge of early childhood development and the key experiences.
  • Implements strategies outlined in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, behavior plans, and any other action plans for children.
  • Provides children with a consistent classroom routine.
  • Provides supervision and ensures the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with day care licensing and program requirements.
  • Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals and/or snacks with the children as a curriculum activity to model good nutrition and proper social behavior.
  • Supervises all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.
  • Understands regulations associated with prevention of disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
  • Attends training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
  • Stays updated with educational best practices and school policies.
  • If a lead teacher is absent, supports coverage and implementation of curriculum and instruction to ensure continuity of learning.
• Family Partnerships
  • Fosters positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
  • Participates in parent-teacher conferences and school meetings.
  • Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on building trust and rapport.
  • Works with the teacher to schedule at least two parent-teacher conferences per year and participates as needed.
  • Participates in parent orientation and ongoing parent trainings as required.
  • Identifies and refers parents wanting to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes or in other volunteer activities.
  • Supports parent volunteers in the classroom as needed.
  • Shares pertinent information with school administrators and pupil services staff ensuring coordinated services to meet the needs of individual children and families.
  • Directs developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional concerns to the appropriate school staff.
• Administrative Tasks & Record Management
  • Prepares and organizes instructional materials, including copying, laminating, and distributing handouts.
  • Maintains classroom supplies and ensures resources are readily available.
  • Assists in maintaining student records and updating attendance logs.
  • Requests supplies as needed and participates in classroom/program inventory and stocking as requested.
  • Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, ongoing assessment, evaluation and record keeping for successful individual and program planning.
  • Supports teacher in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of students' attendance, academic performance, and behavior incidents.
  • Assists teacher in preparing student and school documentation in a timely manner, following school policies and procedures.
  • Helps to arrange classroom events and activities, and collects and logs the appropriate documentation in advance of field trips and other school functions.
  • Upholds school, district, and state policies regarding child safety, mandated reporting, and confidentiality.
• Classroom Management
  • Supports teachers in creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful classroom climate in which students are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process.
  • Establishes and maintains a positive and inclusive classroom environment conducive to learning.
  • Fosters a classroom culture of mutual respect and high expectations that is inclusive, equitable, and respectful of all students.
  • Implements consistent classroom rules and behavior expectations, promoting respectful and responsible behavior.
  • Fosters a safe and supportive atmosphere where students feel valued and encouraged to participate, and are effectively supervised at all times.
  • Maintains order of students and class in classroom, cafeteria, hallways, playground, and across the school environment.
  • Manages student behavior proactively and respectfully using positive behavior supports across the school environment.
  • Maintains a well-organized, inviting, and culturally responsive physical space.
  • Encourages student collaboration and responsibility for classroom norms.
• Social-Emotional Learning & Student Relationships
  • Fosters a safe, supportive classroom environment where students feel valued, understood, and emotionally secure.
  • Models and reinforces emotional regulation, empathy, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making when working with students.
• Communication & Family Engagement
  • Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with students, parents and other professionals on a regular basis regarding students’ progress, behavior, areas for growth, and upcoming events.
  • Builds trust and rapport with students, families, and colleagues to effectively support student achievement and growth.
  • Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, peers and community.
  • Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with students, parents and other professionals.
  • Shares academic and behavioral updates in a clear, empathetic, and strengths-based manner.
  • Collaborates with students, families, counselors, support staff, and school administrators when addressing student needs or concerns.
  • Participates in family-teacher conferences and contributes to school events or family engagement opportunities.
• Professional Development
  • Participates in professional development, staff meetings, workshops, and training sessions to enhance teaching skills and contribute to the school community.
  • Participates in all required training and meetings, as well as school and UCC training and meetings.
  • Engages in professional learning communities and schoolwide initiatives.
  • Upholds ethical practices and professional conduct.
  • Collaborates with colleagues, support staff, and administration to support student success.
  • Contributes to a positive school culture and shared leadership.
• Collaboration And Teamwork
  • Collaborates with colleagues, administrators, and support staff to create and enhance a cohesive and supportive educational environment and to promote a positive school culture, cross-grade alignment, and shared best practices.
  • Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, collaborating with other staff, etc.
  • Supports classroom behavior through proactive management strategies and, when appropriate, restorative practices.
  • Proactively communicates with school staff, teachers, and administrators to pass along accurate information and communications in a timely manner.
• Bilingual Staff
  • Translates school communications, including letters, newsletters, and notices, from English to Spanish and vice versa.
  • Assists in translating during parent-teacher conferences, parent meetings, IEP and 504 meetings, and school events to ensure clear communication between the school and non-English-speaking families.
  • Fosters positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by bridging language barriers.