Teaching Assistant

Are you a compassionate person aspiring to help children who experience the world differently enjoy a sense of self and belonging while they’re at school?

Are you looking for a rewarding, meaningful career that will give you a chance to make a difference?

As a Teaching Assistant, you can make valuable contributions to the success of autistic and neurodivergent children in our education program. By providing a therapeutically-appropriate level of supervision and training, you’ll play an instrumental role attending to the important educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of our young students so that they can learn, grow, and discover. You’ll also have the chance to work closely with the team to create a classroom setting that feels comfortable, inclusive, and sensory-friendly. Every aspect of your work will support academic and personal development for children who deserve to be prepared for whatever opportunities the future holds for them.

And as part of our team, you’ll also enjoy robust benefits, generous time off, retirement plans with employer contributions, access to scholarships and ongoing learning experiences, clearly defined career pathways, and more! This is a place where you can grow alongside the individuals you serve - now and in the years to come.

What You Will Do as a Teaching Assistant

• You will attend to the educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of students while assisting the classroom teacher in the implementation of IEP goals.
• You will follow a classroom schedule, ensuring individual student IEP goals are implemented and that appropriate therapy carryover is accomplished within the structured educational environment.
• You will assist in envisioning, organizing, and arranging the classroom to create a comfortable, safe, healthy, engaging learning atmosphere.
• You will provide support in the classroom according to staffing patterns and the needs of students, conducting individual and group activities according to the established curriculum.
• You will escort and assist students to and from school buses, providing opportunities for increased independence when appropriate.
• You will attend and actively participate in staff meetings and job skills training experiences.
• You will adhere to all agency policies and procedures, and demonstrate continuous regard for student safety, personal safety, and the safety of others.
• You will collaborate and communicate with the classroom teacher - and other support professionals - to optimize student learning and help ensure alignment.
• You will complete all required data and documentation forms related to student learning and health.
• You will model communication, social, and interpersonal skills for students, and deliver positive feedback to reinforce student progress.
• You will help create a culture of unconditional positive regard for each student, ever mindful of maximizing strengths while effectively navigating any challenges that arise. Ultimately, you will do what you can to optimize student learning success and confidence.

What You Can Bring to the Team:

• A positive, team-oriented spirit, and a strong desire to support learning and development for youth with autism and other neurodiversities.
• Dependability, compassion, integrity, patience, adaptability, perseverance, and a genuine belief that all students have enormous potential.
• Strong communication, organizational, collaborative, interpersonal, observational, teaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to learn (or existing understanding of) evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis practices, neurodiversity-affirming frameworks, and sensory sensitivities.
• Alignment with our mission and values.

Additional Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent, with at least one year’s experience working with the developmentally disabled population.
• New York State Certified Teaching Assistant designation. (Note: consideration will be given to applicants who are not currently NYS Certified Teaching Assistants if the process to become certified is started within 3 months of hire).
• Must maintain qualifications in the crisis intervention procedure of the agency.
• Must be capable at all times of initiating or assisting in all components of the crisis intervention of the agency.
• Must be capable at all times of assisting occupants in the orderly evacuation of the facility, by both primary and secondary paths in the event of fire or other emergency.
• Completion of agency orientation and training.
• Must fulfill all mandated reporting requirements, ensure compliance with agency policies, and adhere to organizational protocols.

Anderson’s QUALITY OF LIFE Expectation:
To actively support Anderson’s mission by promoting and enhancing the quality of life (QofL) of the individuals we serve through thoughtful, comprehensive, and person-centered practices.

A Benefits Package Designed to Optimize YOUR Quality of Life Too:

• Follows Academic Calendar (Winter & Spring Break, school holidays, etc.)
• Paid Recess Days
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match and annual contribution
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Wellness program
• Ongoing professional development
• Discounted tuition at select colleges/universities
• Scholarship program for those seeking educational experiences aligned with the role (*restrictions apply)
• Invitations to staff appreciation events and experiences

And much, much more!
To get a better understanding of the benefits that will be available to you, visit andersoncenterforautism.org/benefit.

Pay Range: $18.25 - $22.50 Hourly; Based on education and experience.
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Ready to Bring Your Purpose to Life?
A bright future for you begins here at Anderson Center for Autism.
Open the door to a rewarding career with advancement opportunities; expand possibilities for yourself AND for individuals with autism, their families, your colleagues, our cause, and society as a whole!

Apply today. You’ll contribute to a meaningful mission, now and for years to come!

Life as Part of our Anderson Center for Autism Team
If you are looking to build a career that brings you a deep sense of purpose and a high quality of life, Anderson Center for Autism might be just the landing place you’ve envisioned.

Here you will enjoy a supportive, friendly work environment that values your ideas and insights, provides rewarding mentorship experiences, and opens doors to new professional opportunities that can transform your journey.

And by working at Anderson, you will be part of a movement so much bigger than all of us. Founded over 100 years ago (in 1924), our award-winning, evidence-based educational, vocational, residential, clinical, and consulting/training programs have successfully optimized the quality of life for individuals with autism for decades now. In addition, we work every day to cultivate a broader culture of acceptance in society, further adding to the legacy of compassion for which we have come to be known throughout the country and around the world.

In addition to a rewarding career experience, as part of our team you’ll also enjoy competitive pay, a generous retirement plan (including employer match and annual contribution), abundant vacation time, robust benefits, ongoing opportunities for learning and advancement, wellness programs, staff appreciation events, and a chance to work alongside wonderful professionals in a positive environment.

Our Mission at Anderson Center for Autism: To optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.

Keyword Search: Hudson Valley Jobs, Autism Careers, Careers at Anderson, Leadership Positions, Jobs New York, Nonprofit Leadership, Autism, Non-Profit, First Shift, ASD, Developmental Disabilities, Weekdays, Treatment Team, Classroom, School Calendar, School Age

This position description in no way states or implies that the responsibilities listed are the only duties to be performed by the person filling this position. The person in the position may be required to perform other duties as necessitated by the situation or requested by his/her supervisor.

Our organization is committed to providing a diverse workforce by ensuring that discrimination barriers to equal employment opportunity and upward mobility do not exist here. Equal opportunity means employment, development, and promotion of individuals without consideration of race, color, disability, religion, age, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, unless there is a bona fide occupational requirement which excludes a person in one of these protected groups. Our organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EOE