Teaching Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts

Department: Elementary Education

FLSA Status (Exempt/Non-exempt): Exempt; Unit C – Category 1

Reports to: School Principal

In compliance with state and federal laws, newton public schools is committed to equity, anti-racism and a nondiscrimination policy for students, employees and prospective applicants. All educational and employment determinations are based on an individual’s qualifications and achievements without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, homelessness, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by state and/or federal statute.

SUMMARY: The Kindergarten Teaching Assistant works under the guidance and alongside the classroom teacher and assists in the instruction and supervision of students, assisting the teacher in achieving educational objectives by working with individual students or small groups, assisting students by modeling the necessary skills to perform academic, social, and behavioral tasks, modeling appropriate behaviors and interactions with students and staff. The teaching assistant supports the teacher in providing a well-organized, smoothly functioning class environment that is culturally proficient and responsive to each student’s diverse needs.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma and college level courses in early child development, special education, or education
• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
• Teaching certificate preferred
• Instructional experience in elementary public school setting preferred

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of effective teaching assistant principles, practices and trends
• Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with supervising teacher, students, staff, families and school community
• Ability to perform essential job duties at a high level
• Ability to work on multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately
• Ability to recognize areas of concern relating to student issues and propose or recommend appropriate solutions to problems
• Ability to communicate effectively

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities (Not Limited To):

Essential Functions:

• Executes instructional activities with individual students or small groups of students following teacher direction and demonstration
• Provides assistance to students during special classes (art, music, etc.), as needed
• Assists general education and special education students
• Assists with and implements positive behavior support plans designed by teacher and/or other school personnel
• Assists and monitors student use of instructional and other equipment
• Serves as a source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher
• Maintains the same high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of the classroom teachers
• Assists students leaving and entering transportation vehicles, accompanies students to and from classrooms
• Assists with supervision of students during emergency drills
• Assists students with activities of daily living such as eating, grooming, bathing, and hygiene related to toileting
• Observes and intervenes to redirect inappropriate behavior
• Assists, monitors, and guides the student to focus on learning, participate in activities, and complete tasks
• Models conversation, manners, clean-up activities, listening, and everyday interactions for the purpose of demonstrating appropriate pro-social skills in a culturally responsive manner
• Attends meetings and in-service presentations as assigned for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information relative to job functions
• May be expected to provide substitute educator services
• May be expected to attend trainings related to position
• Consistent, reliable and punctual attendance is essential for supervision and instruction of the students
• Responsible for implementing “other job-related duties” as needed

Physical Requirements:

Work Environment:

• Majority of work is performed in a school/classroom environment. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the teaching assistant is frequently required to walk, stand, sit, talk, and hear. The teaching assistant is regularly required to bend, stoop, crouch and/or kneel.
• The teaching assistant is occasionally required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to assist with student behavioral needs as necessary, including responding to students who are physically unsafe, using physical restraints as part of a de-escalation process, and moving furniture in response to a crisis situation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.