Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant Position

The Utica City School District is seeking applications from credentialed candidates for the position of Teaching Assistant. Union affiliation: SEIU. The Teacher Assistant will assist the classroom teacher with the implementation and delivery of education programs designed to meet the individual needs of the student.

Requirements:

The teacher assistant must be a high school graduate. The requirements for New York State Teaching Assistant certification are available through the following links and Search Certification Requirements.

• If you have never held a New York State Teaching Assistant Certificate, you must apply and meet the requirements for a Level I Teaching Assistant certificate.
• If you have at least one year of teaching experience in New York State as a classroom teacher under a New York State classroom teaching certificate (not Career and Technical teacher experience), you may proceed to the Level III Teaching Assistant certificate.

Teaching Assistants must be able to:

• communicate effectively with staff, students and parents;
• speak, read and write clearly and distinctly as well as have a knowledge of correct English, spelling, punctuation and grammar;
• have an understanding of behavior modification techniques, child development and a knowledge of the learning principles associated with special education;
• have the ability to understand, follow and implement oral/written directions as well as the ability to work independently; and,
• perform clerical duties, follow lesson plans, be creative, imaginative and cooperative in interactions with professional staff and students.

Responsibilities:

Teaching Assistants must:

• follow lesson plans as directed by the teacher (e.g. supervise small group activities, provide individual instruction, assist in a variety of academic activities, supervise seat work, assist teachers in organizing or producing materials);
• follow through, deliver and implement group lessons as directed by the classroom teacher;
• assist the students in completion of materials assigned in work folders and instruct students to obtain goals/objectives identified by the classroom teacher;
• implement consistent, fair and firm discipline techniques or behavior modification programs identified by the classroom teacher;
• develop positive working relationships with building administration, staff members, parents and students;
• share ideas, concerns and observations of individual students with the classroom teacher and professional staff;
• participate in ongoing communication with the teacher regarding the instructional program and the learning environment;
• substitute for the classroom teacher in case of absence;
• work independently and competently in unsupervised situations;
• respond to and deal with student's personal and interpersonal conflicts in an appropriate manner;
• consistently strive to develop age-appropriate behaviors for students;
• assist school professional staff in supervision outside classroom activity areas such as the bathroom, cafeteria, playground, field trips, hallways and bus duties, etc.;
• attend faculty meetings;
• attend inservice, training programs and staff development programs as required;
• evaluate student progress under the direction of the classroom teacher;
• assist the teacher in planning, structuring and implementing individual education programs for students; and
• perform duties and assigned tasks as directed by the classroom teacher or building principal.

Teaching Assistants are currently needed to support our Special Education classrooms. Working with Students with Disabilities may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• assisting to meet IEP (Individualized Education Plan) requirements
• providing one-to-one assistance
• working with students with learning, behavioral and other challenges
• sitting with small groups
• assisting with feeding and transitions
• redirecting attention and behaviors
• providing consistency to learners

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer which fully and actively supports equal access for all regardless of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, veteran status or genetic information.