TEACHING ASSISTANT at Westchester Medical Center – Poughkeepsie, New York

Job Summary

• The teaching assistant, under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, provides instructional activities to children. This position provides support to the classroom teacher in the delivery of lessons and activities to promote students’ academic growth.

Responsibilities

• Works with individual students or groups of students on special instructional projects, reinforcement of lesson plans, supporting classroom routines, managing behaviors, and assisting with daily classroom functions
• Provides the teacher with information about students that will assist in the development of appropriate learning experiences
• Assists students in the use of available instructional resources, and assists in the development of instructional materials
• Utilizes their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs for developmentally appropriate activities
• Assists and supports in planning and implementation of classroom curriculum. This will include preparation and clean-up of planned and unplanned activities and event/project planning.
• Assumes classroom leadership responsibilities in absence of teacher.
• Actively provides nurturing, supportive care and guidance to children by addressing each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development to meet their needs.
• Participates in staff meetings, training and professional development.
• Communicates effectively and professionally with children, parents, administrators, co- workers, and visitors at all times.
• Assists in orienting and mentoring new Teacher Assistants and Educational Aides.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

• EXPERIENCE
  • Experience working with preschool-aged children or children with special needs is strongly preferred
• 
  EDUCATION
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
• 
  LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
  • • New York State Teaching Assistant Certification Levels:
      Certification must be maintained in accordance with New York State Education Department requirements:
      • Level 1: Requires successful completion of the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS), and completion of mandatory training in Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Prevention, and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as defined by the New York State Education Department. This level must be completed within six years of employment.
        • Level 2: Requires completion of Level 1, plus a minimum of nine college credits. This level must be completed within three years of meeting level 1 requirements.
        • Level 3: Requires completion of Level 2, along with a total of 18 college credits. Level 3 certification must be maintained through ongoing completion of required professional development and training.
• 
  OTHER
  • Demonstrate sound judgment, oral and written effective communication skills, positive interaction with children, parents and staff.
  • 18 years of age or older required per NYS Child Day Care Regulations.
  • Must be cleared through N.Y.S. Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS), State Central Register, and N.Y.S. Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) Criminal History Review.

Physical Requirements

• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
  • Heavy Work (involves some type of manual labor including operating heavy machinery/ equipment or physical labor; requires lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds)