Special Education Teacher Assistant

Job Description:
Teacher Assistant

Reports To: Classroom Teacher

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Calendar: Instructional Calendar

Job Summary: The Teacher Assistant works directly with students ages 4-21 with autism spectrum disorder and other qualifying exceptionalities within A Step Up Academy's highly specialized educational environment. Students served by ASUA often present with complex communication, behavioral, sensory, social-emotional, adaptive, and academic needs requiring intensive educational programming, individualized support, and consistent implementation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices.

The Teacher Assistant serves as an essential member of the classroom team and is responsible for actively supporting the classroom teacher in the planning, preparation, implementation, and delivery of educational programming while providing direct instructional, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and adaptive support to students throughout the entire school day.

Teacher Assistants work continuously and directly alongside students in classrooms, community settings, vocational experiences, and school activities. Responsibilities include implementing individualized instructional programs, facilitating communication, supporting positive behavior plans, teaching adaptive and daily living skills, assisting with therapeutic carryover, maintaining student safety, collecting instructional and behavioral data, and helping create a highly structured learning environment where students can achieve maximum independence.

Teacher Assistants are expected to know each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), communication system, sensory needs, accommodations, and instructional programming to ensure consistency and fidelity throughout the school day.

When the classroom teacher is absent, the Teacher Assistant is expected to assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the classroom for short-term absences unless otherwise directed by administration. During longer-term teacher absences, Teacher Assistants may continue providing classroom leadership and instructional support while working collaboratively with substitute teachers, administrators, or other assigned educational staff to ensure continuity of programming.

Certifications and

Qualifications:

• Pennsylvania Certification in Special Education (Public or Private School), degree in an educational program, or enrollment in an approved educator preparation program preferred.
• Experience working with students with autism spectrum disorder and/or developmental disabilities preferred.
• Current (dated within one year) Act 34, Act 114, and Act 151 clearances.
• Ability to successfully complete all ASUA-required safety, crisis prevention, behavior management, and instructional training.

Essential Duties:

Teacher Assistants, under the direction of and in collaboration with the Teacher, are responsible for supporting the successful implementation of all aspects of classroom programming while actively engaging students throughout the school day. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist the Teacher in planning, preparing, organizing, and implementing instruction aligned with ASUA curriculum, alternate academic standards, and individual student IEP goals.
• Provide direct academic instruction in one-to-one, small group, and whole-group instructional settings.
• Modify instructional materials and teaching strategies under the direction of the Teacher to maximize student engagement and success.
• Implement individualized accommodations, specially designed instruction (SDI), communication supports, visual supports, sensory supports, and classroom routines with consistency and fidelity.
• Implement Positive Behavior Support Plans under the direction of the Behavior Interventionist, Behavior Specialist, Behavior Director, and classroom Teacher.
• Utilize proactive behavior support strategies, reinforcement systems, de-escalation techniques, and crisis response procedures consistent with ASUA philosophy, CP, and Ukeru training.
• Actively supervise students throughout all instructional and non-instructional portions of the day while maintaining continuous awareness of student safety.
• Provide frequent physical support for students including positioning, prompting, mobility assistance, transitions, adaptive equipment, playground supervision, community instruction, vocational activities, and personal care as required.
• Provide adaptive and…