Teacher Assistant

Summary of Main Duties

• Assist the teacher in creating an intentional culturally responsive learning environment inclusive of students from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, abilities and family structures.
• Encourage a sense of belonging and positive classroom community for students while developing skills for listening, speaking, reading, and writing to support effective communication.
• Motivate learning by validating students as asset‑based individuals; all school staff are expected to be aware of microaggressions and redirect to amplify affirmations.
• Assist teacher in planning, preparing and implementing the curriculum as adopted by The Hope Academy.
• Provide individual and small group instruction with a socially conscious lens to meet the needs of students, under the supervision of the teacher.
• Assist teacher in supporting the continuous implementation of skills and goals associated with students’ educational, functional and therapeutic needs as dictated in their Individual Education Plan (IEP), when needed.
• Implement sensory, mobility, equipment and self‑care plans for students, when needed.
• Assist teachers and therapists in maintaining appropriate data and records (e.g., attendance, progress monitoring data, alternate assessment data, etc.).
• Demonstrate culturally informed discipline practices and the ability to neutralize the pattern of inequitable discipline of children of color.
• Use positive guidance techniques such as redirection, modeling appropriate behavior and praise.
• Facilitate interactions among students that provide opportunities for emotional, social, and cognitive growth and an understanding of each other by using positive language to acknowledge differences and similarities of all racial, ethnic, and socio‑economic backgrounds, abilities and family structures.
• Assist with student self‑care needs, when applicable.
• Relay what families are experiencing or sharing to supervisor and school leaders.
• Maintain and care for all classroom/school equipment.
• Supervise students in out‑of‑classroom activities during the school day.
• Actively seek and participate in ongoing professional development as offered by the school or independently.
• Assist in the evacuation of children during fire drills and other emergencies.

• High school or general equivalency diploma.
• Completion of a Teacher Assistant Pre‑Employment Training Program approved by the RI Department of Education and passage of the Para Pro Assessment.
• Certification as a Teacher Assistant in another state or an associate or bachelor’s degree.

• Work environment and physical requirements consistent with those of a school.
• Utilize the computer (10‑20%) of the time and other office equipment.
• Sit, stand, and walk continuously throughout the workday.
• Bend, stoop, squat, push and pull (50‑75% of the time).
• Lift, push, pull up to 50 pounds independently and up to 100 pounds with the assistance of another staff member or adaptive equipment.
• Kneel and reach above shoulder level occasionally (1‑33% of the time).
• Physically able to position physical/occupational therapy equipment, splints, etc.
• Ability to use various equipment (switches, cooking equipment, etc.).
• Have the use of upper extremities for light, repetitive fine motor tasks.
• Ability to run 25 yards to secure students for safety reasons such as elopement.
• Ability to participate in physical restraint of students as needed and be trained for it.