Elementary Teacher Assistant

About the role

To assist the teacher in providing a well-organized, smoothly functioning class environment. To relieve the teacher of non-teaching functions to provide the teacher more time for preparations, individualization, and evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher by reinforcing the learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher by devising special strategies based on an understanding of individual students, their needs, interests and abilities.
• Guides independent study, enrichment or remedial activities set up and assigned by the teacher.
• Reads to students, listens to students read, and participates in other forms of oral communication with students.
• Distributes and collects workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Corrects assignments and supervises testing and make-up work, as assigned by the teacher.
• Assists teachers with behavior management in a manner consistent with policies and expectations of the teacher and school.
• Keeps the supervising teacher informed of any problem or special information about an individual student.
• Communicates with, contacts, responds to parents as directed by the teacher maintaining the confidentiality of information about all students.
• Supervises students as assigned or required - at breakfast or lunch, on bus duty; during class, emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Relieves the teacher for conferences and emergencies on a short-term basis, as required.
• May accompany students to special classes.
• Assists students or the resource teacher as needed.
• May be asked to serve as a substitute teacher, as appropriate, if needed.
• Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Performs classroom health procedures, when necessary, under the supervision of the school nurse.
• Performs clerical duties as needed or assigned.
• Checks and records student attendance.
• Collects and records the collection of money.
• Keeps bulletin boards and other classroom displays up to date, as requested by the teacher.
• Operates and cares for equipment used in the classroom.
• Participates in in-service training programs, as assigned.
• Maintains the same high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of licensed teachers.
• May be asked to substitute as a school crossing guard.
• Performs such other tasks as the teacher or other supervisor may assign.

Requirements

• Must have either 48 semester hours of education earned/passed, or 7 credits in at least two core subject matter (English, Math, Writing) and passing "Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants" assessment test scores (WorkKeys).
• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Associate's Degree preferred.
• Previous experience working with children preferred.
• Must be able to physically perform the basic operational functions of stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, hearing and repetitive motion.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 20 pounds.
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.

Schedule

10 Month Position