About Us:
St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more. St. Catherine’s is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEIB initiatives are designed to foster an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity.
Our Mission:
St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.
Our Vision:
St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.
Position Overview:
The Certified Teacher Assistant collaborates with the Master Teacher in conducting the therapeutic educational program for each student assigned to the classroom.
Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Collaborating:
- The Teacher Assistant collaborates with the Master Teacher to develop and implement the classroom educational programs directed by the IEP and Care Plan.
- Informs the Master Teacher and the Care Plan Team of student and tutorial responses to the educational program s/he offers, and makes program recommendations as needed.
- Directs students throughout the school day, managing the classroom and providing crisis intervention as needed.
- Informs the Master Teacher and the Care Plan Team of progress or problems observed during contact with the students and makes program recommendations as needed.
- Assumes classroom maintenance and program administration duties as appropriate.
- Maintains certification to teach when the Master Teacher is not present in the room.
- Ability to substitute for the Master Teacher for no more than one school day per week.
Direct Work with Students:
- The Teacher Assistant joins the Master Teacher in maintaining an inviting, motivating classroom environment which produces strong student outcomes.
- Instructs and coaches the students to develop effective emotional coping, social problem solving, and “getting along” skills.
- Provides direct instruction to students at their guided practice and independent levels, making learning/ teacher adjustments as needed during instruction.
- Provides student supervision and direction in programming outside the classroom (i.e., outdoor play, cafeteria, etc.).
- Responsible for collecting data on the use of breakout spaces.
Team Membership:
- The Teacher Assistant is a full member of the Care Plan Team and attends all Care Plan Team meetings.
Professional Development:
- The Teacher Assistant is responsible for participating in planned in-service and case discussions within the agency; engages in seminars or lectures in the community which would lead to professional growth; and at times, the Teacher Assistant could be asked to participate in in-service seminars within the agency.
- Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor/ director.
Organizational Relationships:
- The Teacher Assistant is responsible to and supervised by the Director of Day Treatment Special Education.
- The Teacher Assistant is directed by and provides professional feedback to the Master Teacher on a daily basis in the classroom.
Essential Attributes:
- Must be able to independently exercise clinical teaching judgments/ discretion in directing students throughout the school day.
- Must be able to interact with students in a mediational, therapeutic manner and contribute to an interactive, motivating classroom climate.
- Must demonstrate effective student de-escalation skills and be proficient at therapeutically interacting with an aroused individual student.
- Must be able to effectively communicate with children and adults, in English, in oral and written formats.
- Must be able to provide close, effective supervision of students, including a running or fleeing child, and respond to students’ needs on routine or emergency situations.
- Must be able to manage own emotional reactivity in order to make appropriate professional judgments under stressful circumstances.
- Must be able to conduct escort and restraint procedures according to the guidelines of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Training.
- Must have an understanding of the learning process and be able to provide effective scaffolding, reinforcement, and tutorial services to student(s).
- Must demonstrate the willingness/ability to collaborate with fellow faculty/Care Plan Team members, sharing information/feedback with colleagues.
- Must demonstrate strong organizational skills and classroom management skills.
- Ability to relate to and communicate with a broad range of people who are culturally and socio- economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.
- Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children, while conducting him/herself in a manner that is becoming of a St. Catherine’s Center for Children employee.
- Ability to work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member.
- Ability to carry out written documentation as required by St. Catherine’s policies and procedures and as required by regulating agencies.
- Ability to organize and effectively manage (in a timely manner) the varied tasks of the position.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel/ service providers or professionals.
- A commitment to empowering others to solve his/ her own problems.
- Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
- Have a conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
- The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.
- The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
Position Specifications:
- High school diploma or equivalency, required.
- AA in Early Childhood or Human Services; BS in Education or related field, preferred.
- Pursuance in obtaining New York State Level-1 Teaching Assistant Certificate within 90 days from date of hire, is required.
- Permanent New York State Certificate in Supplementary School Personnel, preferred.
- At least one year of relevant experience preferred, with a professional record of integrity and strong work ethic.
- Experience in the use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), with the ability to respond effectively and therapeutically in crisis situations.
- Proficiency in various computer applications such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), Google Business Suite, experience with AWARDS/ NYS Connections is a plus!
- Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment.
- Ability to work with students who demonstrate serious emotional and behavioral challenges, ages 5-13.
- Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.
- Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; and exhibit empathy for those in need.
- Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability.
- Must be willing and able to work in close proximity with the clients we serve.
- Must have the ability to pass required pre-employment background checks.
Certified TA rate - $18.91 - $24.05 per hour
EOE Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.
Background Check: We are required to run a thorough and complete background check on All Candidates being considered for any position within our agency. Whether you are going to be a Permanent Employee, work with us through a staffing agency as a Temp, completing an Internship or perhaps you will be Volunteering with us. The background check includes Criminal Background Check (CBC) fingerprinting for the NYS Justice Center (NYS-JC) under the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Some positions require additional fingerprinting under the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and/or the Department of Health (DOH). All candidates must successfully clear the background check process, following NYS-DOJ requirements. We pay for all our background checks!
