Assistant Teacher

Are you ready to make a difference in your community?  Do YOU want to work on a team that is committed to empowering individuals?  At Helen Keller Services, our employees work in an environment that is more than just a workplace, it’s a community. 

Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves in the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS' reach across the United States. Helen Keller Services for the Blind is currently seeking a Full-Time Assistant Teacher to join our Children Learning Center located in Brooklyn, NY

SUMMARY

The Assistant Teacher works in the Children's Learning Center preschool and programs assisting the classroom teacher as needed.  

This involves working with groups of children and 1:1 with one particular child as mandated by the child’s IEP.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Provides instruction to students as directed by the teacher and guided by goals and objectives on the IEP.
• Maintains a safe and healthy environment for the children in the classroom, during gym time, community trips, and during bussing.
• Supports individual students during group instruction as needed and directed to do.
• Reinforces techniques from Therapy as directed by teacher and therapists.
• Assists students in self-care activities (eating, dressing, toileting) and gives the level of support appropriate to the student’s level of functioning
• Maintains a positive attitude and verbal tone with all children and praises them when appropriate
• Attend to a child when they are communicating, respect that communication, and respond to them appropriately
• Encourage communication, play, and social interaction between children.  
• Accompanied class on field trips and trips in the neighborhood.
• Assists teacher, as requested, with any documentation concerning students and classroom activities
• Assist with collecting student ABC data and IEP goal data. 

Interaction with and concerning Families

• Maintain cordial and open communication with families at the school, on Class DoJo, and any school functions.
• Communicates to teacher information from or about the families that is relevant to the children and class.  

Maintaining the classroom

• Keeps track of classroom supplies and gets supplies for class as needed, submits receipts and forms for any approved petty cash.
• Organizes teaching materials, toys, and other classroom items.
• Prepares and organizes materials and set up for individual and group lessons.  
• Cleans and disinfects toys and equipment as needed.   
• Responsible for any and all other duties as may be deemed necessary for safe, efficient, and effective operation of the classroom and program.   

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• High School Diploma or equivalency required
• Experience in a preschool setting preferred
• Experience with children with disabilities especially those with vision impairments a plus. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

New York State certified as a Level I Assistant Teacher

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Associate’s degree in early childhood education and 2 years experience in a Special Education Preschool setting.  

Work Location: Brooklyn NY

Job Type: Full-time

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including: 

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid vacation time 
• Paid personal days 
• Paid sick time 
• Voluntary ancillary insurance plans 

 Helen Keller Services for the Blind is an equal opportunity employer.