Assistant Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves in the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS' reach across the United States. 

Helen Keller Services for the Blind is thrilled to announce we will be expanding our Children's Learning Center to two brand-new Long Island locations in Nassau and Suffolk County! These state-of-the-art facilities will serve preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. This expansion reflects HKSB’s commitment to ensuring that Long Island families have access to the same high-quality early education and support services that have transformed lives in Brooklyn. 

The Assistant Teacher is responsible for the execution of HKS’s Mission, goals and objectives through the execution of the job duties of an Assistant Teacher. The Assistant Teacher works in the CLC’s preschool and programs assisting the classroom teacher as needed. This involves working with groups of children and potentially 1:1 with a particular child as mandated by the child’s IEP.

  ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  include the following. Other duties may be assigned: 

• Actively supervise students by maintaining awareness of each child’s location, activity, and safety during all classroom activities, transitions, and routines.
• Provides instruction to students as directed by the teacher and guided by goals and objectives on the IEP.
• Maintains a safe and healthy environment for the children in the classroom, gym, outdoor play space and during bussing and possible school trips (REMOVE- NO TRIPS)
• Supports individual students during group instruction as needed.
• Reinforces techniques from therapy as directed by teachers and therapists.
• Assists students in self-care activities (eating, dressing, toileting) and gives necessary level of support appropriate to the student’s level of functioning.
• Maintains a positive attitude and verbal tone with all children and praises them when appropriate.
• Implements instructional strategies and interventions designed by the teacher to reinforce learning and developmental goals.
• Carries out behavior support plans and use positive behavior strategies under teacher guidance.
• Assists with communication needs, including use of visual supports, assistive technology, play and social interactions.
• Assists teacher, as requested, with any documentation concerning students and classroom activities
• Assists with the collection of student data (e.g., ABC data, IEP goal tracking, and other required classroom or program documentation), as directed by the teacher or administration.
• Assist in the training and mentoring of new staff as well as peer-to-peer training situations.
• Communicates to teacher information from or about the families that are relevant to the children and class. 
• Maintain cordial and open communication with families at the school, including assisting the classroom teacher with digital communication when asked to, along with all school functions.
• Manages classroom supplies, ensuring materials are available and replenished as needed.
• Organizes teaching materials, toys, and other classroom items.
• Cleans and disinfects toys and equipment as needed.
• Prepares, organizes materials and sets up for individual and groups programming such as lessons, activities and snacks
• Must complete and maintain records of training in accordance with regulatory agencies. 
• Must complete Teacher Assistant Certification within the first six months of hire and maintain certification in accordance with NY Office of Teaching Initiative guidelines.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or equivalency; Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred. 
• Experience within a Special Education preschool setting, teaching students with visual impairments and multi-lingual also preferred. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• New York State certified Assistant Teacher

Employees who do not already possess a New York State Teacher Assistant Certification must obtain the certification within the first six (6) months of employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Safely lift, assist, and transport children, including lifting up to approximately 30 pounds, as required for daily care, positioning, and use of equipment. Additionally, the employee must be able to safely move children into and out of adaptive equipment, wheelchairs and strollers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and a comprehensive benefit package after meeting requirements.

Position Benefits

• 403(B)
• 403(B) matching
• Dental Insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off.
• Retirement plan
• Flexible spending accounts

Helen Keller Services for the Blind is an equal opportunity employer.