Teacher Assistant

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 thrilled to announce we will be expanding our Children's Learning Center to two brand-new Long Island locations in Nassau and Suffolk County! These state-of-the-art facilities will serve preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. This expansion reflects HKSB’s commitment to ensuring that Long Island families have access to the same high-quality early education and support services that have transformed lives in our Brooklyn Children Learning Center.

We currently have an exciting opportunity to join HKS team as a Teacher Assistant in our soon to open Suffolk and Nassau County Preschools!

The Assistant Teacher works in the CLC’s 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 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.
• Accompanies 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the Principal or other management personnel to support the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the classroom and program

• EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
• High School Diploma or equivalency required. Associates degree preferred.
• 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

Physical demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move children that are up to 50 pounds safely.
• Additionally, the employee must be able to safely move children into and out of adaptive equipment, wheelchairs and strollers.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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:

Paid Time Off (in accordance with the school calendar),

Paid Personal Time and Paid Sick Time: Health Benefits Package including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage

Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts: Life Insurance and Disability benefits

Voluntary Ancillary Benefits: 403 (b) Savings Plan with company match

Employee Assistance Program