Teacher Assistant

Minimum qualifications and requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus at least 6 credit hours of college coursework.
• Appropriate required Teacher Assistant Credentials and NYS Teacher Assistant certification.
• Experience working with deaf students in an educational setting.
• Experience working with students with special needs, autism, intellectual, and/or emotional disabilities.
• Ability to successfully complete a Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the proficiency level defined for the position, or willingness to train toward successful completion of the SLPI.

Note: The school may require completion of behavior management training, such as TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention), provided by St. Mary's School for the Deaf.

Responsibilities

• Assist in classroom management, teaching materials development, educational activities, and special duties as assigned.
• Support the classroom teacher by assisting students individually and in small groups with homework, projects, and other tasks.
• Assist students with physical day-to-day activities, including lifting multiply handicapped students to and from wheelchairs, toileting, and changing diapers.
• Support behavior management as prescribed for each student and communicate problems or changes with the teacher.
• Assist with cafeteria and bus duty activities.
• Prepare teaching materials, including copying, gathering information, word processing, collating, pasting, and cutting materials.
• Ensure school and safety rules are followed by students in and out of the classroom.
• Accompany students to Speech, Music, Art, Physical Education, and other activities outside the classroom.
• Accompany students on off-campus extended learning activities as directed by the Department of Education.
• Substitute as a classroom teacher when needed.
• Intervene in emergency situations as required.
• Attend mandatory departmental and staff meetings as required by the school.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the classroom teacher or supervisor.