Teacher Assistant - The Canopy School - Ridgeland, MS

• Founded in 1912 as an adoption agency, Canopy Children's Solutions is Mississippi’s most comprehensive nonprofit provider of children’s behavioral health, educational, and social service solutions. Canopy employs a diverse group of mission-driven individuals committed to honoring the voice of Mississippi children and families. Being an integral part of the Canopy team involves committing to the Core Values that drive our organization forward:
• The voice of our children and families always comes first
• Relationships matter and our differences make us stronger
• We take great joy in service to others
• Our families and our communities deserve our very best

Canopy has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for the fifth consecutive year and is one of only nine companies in Mississippi to earn this certification for 2025–2026. At Canopy, employees are committed to fostering a healthy workplace culture built on trust and driven by a shared mission: helping children thrive and empowering families to overcome extraordinary challenges.

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Competitive Compensation
• 403b Retirement Plan with Match
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• PTO/Vacation
• Employee Wellness Program and Counseling Services

• Teacher Assistant - Position Overview
• The Teacher Assistant will assist students in achieving educational and behavioral goals through direct instruction and indirect support in the school setting.
• Teacher Assistants will work with classroom teacher to provide students with academic skills necessary to function in daily living, and to serve as a foundation for learning at the next grade level.

Physical and Environmental Requirements • Required Physical Activities

• Sitting, standing, walking, reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, lifting, talking, seeing, hearing, repetitive motions.
• Must have the physical ability to assist in the physical or therapeutic hold of youth when required, following organization approved safety protocols.
• Characteristics of
• Work:
• Frequent standing and walking, occasional sitting, lifting and carrying objects up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to respond quickly to emergencies and physically assist or support youth and/or staff.
• Vision
• Requirements:
• Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Environmental
• Conditions:
• This job requires exposure to both inside and outside weather conditions; the typical noise level for the work environment is moderate to loud noise.

Job Responsibilities

• Student Support
• Establishes a rapport with each student making sure that positive classroom expectations are communicated and supported.
• Communicates positively with students, encouraging participation and rewarding successes.
• Communicates and models appropriate child/adult boundaries.
• Monitors written assignments as students’ work. When misunderstanding of an assignment is detected, immediate-re-teaching/reinforcing shall be provided.
• Works with individual or small groups to reinforce basic language, reading, mathematics, and social skills.
• Assists the classroom teacher on the playground in teaching and coaching physical activities that strengthen large motor skills.

• Teacher Support
• Assists teacher in implementation of lessons plans.
• Assists teacher in managing classroom behaviors.
• Follows daily schedule as outlined by the lead teacher, assistant principal or principal.
• Assists in preparing material (e.g., chart posters, board work, and correcting work), assists in displaying students’ work, and distributes and collect paper.
• Assists, encourages, and supports students individually as needed.
• Documents behaviors using specific forms and procedures.

• Professional Responsibility
• Arrives on time for work, duty, and other activities.
• Performs extra duties as assigned.
• Required paperwork is in on time.
• Follows daily schedule and follows through on requests made by supervisor.

• Required Qualifications
• Must have two years of experience in a mental health or educational setting working with children with educational, communication, or behavioral difficulties; Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health field preferred.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English, and to communicate in a therapeutic and professional manner.
• Must be at least twenty-one years old, possess a valid Mississippi driver’s license, and the ability to be covered by organization insurance provider.