Special Education Teaching Assistant, Students Grade 1 - 8

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Hiring for SY 2026-2027

Achievement Unlocked is a small, special education school in downtown Brooklyn. Our students are in 2nd-8th grade, have average to high IQs, and struggle with explaining what they need to succeed. Many of our students are on the Autism Spectrum and have varying degrees of academic potential.

We need special people like you to work as a part of our team. We want support staff to be hard-working people who enjoy being with children who have quirky personalities. Our students often have not done well in schools before coming to AU and typically like video games, chess, coding, and role-playing games. If you have experience with children like this, you may be perfect for our school.

You will be working with students to engage them in academics, help them focus, strengthen their planning ability, and practice social skills. You will also work closely with the teachers and our related service providers. We believe that all children can learn if given the proper individual support socially, emotionally, and academically. We are not a 1:1 program, but at AU there is almost a 1:1 student adult ratio. Our education programs are individualized to cater to every student at their precise level of need, providing the support necessary for their growth. A typical day in the life of a support person is detailed further below.

AU team members are

• Experienced with the community we serve
• Passionate and rigorous about engaging in any content areas
• Dedicated to regularly assessing students and using the results to inform instruction
• Able to empower adolescents to find their voice and take charge of their learning
• Collaborative with colleagues, students, and families
• Innovative self-starters who contribute to the good of a diverse c community
• Committed to coaching adolescents in interpersonal skills and making good choices
• Reflective and open-minded

Details of a typical day in the life of an AU support staff

Arrive at school. Review the day's lesson plans and discuss planned accommodations and contingencies for students with the lead teacher(s). Set up for data collection. Get the classroom ready for the day's activities.

Assist students with arrival procedures as they arrive. Help students overcome school refusal and enter the school when necessary. Help unpack, store lunch, check homework. Support your lead teacher in morning activities, and help preview students about the day's events.

Assist with instruction during academic periods. Support the lead teacher, work with a small group, and/or take a student 1:1 for extra support. Reinforce students who are displaying adaptive behavior, prompt students who are not. Scaffold both learning and behavior. Help students to manage crises, take breaks, and access accommodations. Take data. Challenge students to do better.

After your lunch, go to recess with the kids. Help them learn how to play with one another appropriately, and learn from their mistakes. Teach them the games they missed out on learning because they were never included.

After recess, assist someone for the afternoon in teaching a non-academic subject, with the goal of building long-term life skills while having fun at the same time. Or, lead an enrichment class yourself and teach a small group about a skill that you yourself are proficient in.

At the end of the school day, check-in with students about their day. Find out what they learned and will take it home with them. Make sure they get safely back to their parents. Communicate important information about their days.

Once students have departed, debrief with your classroom team. Discuss what worked and did not work. Make plans for tomorrow. Write or assist your lead teacher with various reports where necessary. Reset the classroom for the next day. Check, give feedback on, or file away student work, and attend various weekly meetings or case conferences. Collaborate with all team members to find best practice solutions. Provide feedback on interventions in progress. Report on concerns for self, team, and/or individual students, engage in reflective practices.

Support Staff positions take one of two tracks.

Shadow Support Staff - Position-Specific Duties

• Ensure timely and accurate implementation of behavioral interventions, scaffolded skill-building in both structured and unstructured settings, and behavioral data collection
• Manage classroom and school resources to support daily routines and student learning
• Ensure adherence with student plans and interventions, organizational approaches and policies, and industry regulations and standards
• Monitor and maintain high standards of quality in delivering educational, behavioral, and social emotional support services
• Maintain accurate data and student records and prepare required documentation to track student progress and outcomes
• Ensure smooth and efficient day-to-day operations by adhering to plans, collaborating with lead teachers and other support staff, and previewing and preparing students, and modeling desired skills and behaviors
• Implement plans for handling crises and emergencies effectively, and participate in conversations around plan development
• Oversee maintenance and utilization of school facilities and classroom equipment
• Manage relationships with students and parents to build rapport and ensure satisfaction
• Debrief daily with team and periodically with teachers, other support staff, and other teams to iterate and improve support for students and team functioning

Classroom Support Staff - Position-Specific Duties

• Ensure timely and accurate implementation of lessons, differentiation, and classroom activities, scaffolded social skill-building, and data collection
• Manage classroom and school resources to support daily routines and student learning
• Ensure adherence with teacher instructions, student plans and interventions, organizational approaches and policies, and industry regulations and standards
• Monitor and maintain high standards of quality in delivering educational, behavioral, and social emotional support services
• Maintain accurate data and student records and prepare required documentation to track student progress and outcomes
• Ensure smooth and efficient day-to-day operations by adhering to plans, collaborating with lead teachers and other support staff, and previewing and preparing students, and modeling desired skills and behaviors
• Implement plans for handling crises and emergencies effectively, and participate in conversations around plan development
• Oversee maintenance and utilization of school facilities and classroom equipment
• Manage relationships with students and parents to build rapport and ensure satisfaction
• Debrief daily with team and periodically with teachers, other support staff, and other teams to iterate and improve support for students and team functioning
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement by participating in provided professional development
• Assist as necessary with school needs including crisis management, classroom support, shadow support, and enrichment support.
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement by participating in provided professional development
• Assist as necessary with school needs including crisis management, classroom support, shadow support, and enrichment support.

Salary depending on experience.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $52,000.00 - $56,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s)

• Did you include a cover letter?

Work Location: In person