Company Overview
Family Services of Westchester (FSW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health and social services that empower families, children, and individuals throughout their lives. With over 50 innovative programs serving 30,000 individuals annually in Westchester County, we are committed to fostering a healthy community through compassionate care.
FSW’s Prime Time Therapeutic Preschool is a Special Education Program for preschoolers in Westchester and Putnam Counties that offers a comprehensive range of individualized educational programming and therapeutic services.
JOB SUMMARY
Family Services of Westchester is seeking a Full-Time Special Education Assistant Teacher to join our Prime-Time Program in White NY.
In this role, you will provide provide special education students with learning activities and experiences designed to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. Co-Develop or modify curricula and prepare lessons and other instructional materials to student ability levels. Work in Special Classes (SC) or Special Classes Integrated Setting (SCIS) as assigned.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide care with patience and adaptablility in an active classroom environment
- Reinforce concepts introduced by the teacher and work with students to complete assigned tasks in 1:1 and small goup settings.
- Assist students with daily living skills, such as communication, toileting, and personal hygiene
- Monitor student behavior and implement intervention plans
Scope of Influence
- Assist teacher in documentation, reflection and planning process to devise curriculum informed by children’s IEP.
- Assist Teacher in providing research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP.
- Build relationships with families and communicate about children’s learning and development in person and through documentation.
- Partner with the teaching staff and administration in the overall philosophy and direction of the Prime-
- Time Program.
PLANNING
Classroom Environment
- Assist with planning and creating a classroom environment with inquiry, exploration, learning and respect in mind.
- Nurturing children’s home languages through curated books, materials, and the physical environment
- Assist in creating a warm and inclusive environment where children and families feel welcome.
- Assist in organizing physical space and selection of materials in a way that is inviting and accessible to children.
- Assist in creating visual evidence of the narratives and curriculum occurring in your classroom
- Assist in the preparation, implementation and supervision involved in all instructional, organizational, behavioral and management aspects of the classroom assignment
- Employ special education strategies and techniques to reinforce learning and meet needs and goals of individual students while preparing objectives and outlines aligned with NY State Preschool Core Standards utilizing thematic and standardized curriculums.
- Use computers, IPADS, audio-visual aides and other materials/equipment/teaching aids to supplement instructional delivery
Planning, Preparation + Curriculum Development
- Co-constructing curriculum, based on children’s IEP and development.
- Assist in planning and coordinates daily lesson plans in accordance with the program's curriculum and aligned to New York State Preschool Core Standards which are reviewed by the Site Director on a weekly basis.
- Assist in documenting, reflecting, and planning from observations.
- Participating in weekly planning meetings with teaching team
- Employs various teaching techniques, methods, and principles of learning based on identified needs, objectives, and activities to meet established IEP goals (outcomes).
- Assist in assessing student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques.
- Assist with Evaluation and assessment of student performance, maintain accurate data to prepare quarterly report cards, annual review reports, and establish IEP goals, collaboration with other members of a multidisciplinary team to coordinate educational placement of children and ongoing communication with parents.
- Meet with the educational team and participate on transdisciplinary teams to implement IEP/IFSP goals with individual children.
COMMUNICATION
Interactions with Children
- Speak and listen to children with respect and mindfulness.
- Assist with Supervising the whole group, while giving individual attention
- Assist with managing classroom procedures including transitions, routines, and activities.
- Engage students in exploration to meet IEP goals.
- Scaffolding children through conflict and problem solving as it relates to their IEP’s.
COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
- Assist with maintaining accurate records of each student's progress on all required internal or municipality documents as well as daily data collection related to student specific progression toward IEP/IFSP goals through individualized instruction
- Assist with maintaining accurate student records, including but not limited to; attendance, accident and injury reports, health forms, task sheets, behavioral data aligned with Behavioral Intervention Plans, annual review assessments/evaluations, quarterly report cards and communication notebook
- Keeps parents continually informed of student progress by sending home daily notes, meeting with parents at parent-teacher conferences, responding to parent telephone calls and maintaining correspondence as needed
- Attend scheduled meetings including All Staff Orientation, staff meetings, professional development in services, and parent/staff IEP/IFSP conferences as required.
- Communicate with district, county, organizational agencies, or others outside the school.
- Perform all other job-related duties as assigned by the Site Director or designee or as mandated by NYS DOH, SED or municipality regulations\
- Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Prime-Time children, families, and staff according to established policies and procedures.
- Becomes thoroughly familiar with FSW Employee Handbook: Human Resources Policies and Procedures and all other FSW Prime Time handbooks, service plans, and resources and adheres to them.
- Understands and implements all required policies and procedures related to the active supervision of children at all times, including:
- Observation of the environment evaluates that children have a place to play and can be observed and listened to at all times.
- Continuously scan & count for children under care and reports accurate numbers when asked.
- Listen to children at all times to identify potential danger, like specific sounds or the lack of any sound that may trigger an action.
- Develops knowledge to the children under care to anticipate their behavior, perform a wellness check, be proactive, and avoid putting children in danger.
- Comply with applicable State and local laws for identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.
- Remains up to date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program, including NYSED Special Education Standards, child care licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and practices.
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION
- High School Diploma( required )
- Assistant Teacher Certificate or associate degree in early childhood education preferred.
SKILLS
- Bilingual Preferred
- Ability to demonstrate regular attendance and punctuality.
- Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in all situations and must be able to withhold confidential information.
- Ability to work well with all levels of internal management, staff, and students as well as parents/guardians.
- Ability to respond to changing situations in the workplace and exhibit flexibility.
- Ability to perform multiple tasks concurrently under varying deadlines and adapt to changing work priorities.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team and with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to set work priorities, take initiative, and work efficiently under minimum supervision.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing and the use of proper grammar and punctuation to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment including using pertinent job-related software applications and preparing and maintaining accurate records.
- Ability to exercise tact, good judgment, and initiative in dealing with students, colleagues, and parents/guardians.
- Ability to communicate with diverse groups.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to maintain a calm and patient demeanor with all students.
- Thorough understanding of various special education needs and services.
- Thorough understanding of and the ability to implement a variety of effective teaching methods.
- Thorough understanding of policies, laws, and guidelines related to special education including IDEA, IEPs, and 504.
EXPERIENCE
- 2+ years of experience working with young children and families in an early childhood program, implementing comprehensive family services for special needs children and families from diverse backgrounds.
PHYSICAL
- Prolonged periods standing and walking throughout school and classroom.
- Must be able to lift up to 45 pounds at a time.
- Must be able to assist students who have physical difficulties.
- Must be able to kneel, sit, stand, crawl, push, and pull to assist and teach children throughout the day.
- Prolonged periods sitting and working on computer to complete necessary paperwork.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Work is typically performed in a classroom setting, and some office work is required.
- contact with employees and representatives of outside agencies, frequent contact with clients.
- Possible exposure to communicable diseases and other conditions common to a social service agency
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Performance will be evaluated based on:
- Continuing to pursue education in the Early Childhood field.
- Performance and Goals
- Seniority
There are a variety of benefits to joining Family Services of Westchester, an organization with over 65 years of history impacting vulnerable communities. In addition to the opportunity to connect with and help thousands of residents in Westchester County, FSW offers its employees an inspiring, diverse and team-based work environment with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and 403(b) for full-time employees.
At FSW, we enjoy working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and value the benefits of a diversified workplace that prioritizes our clients and the communities we serve. If you want to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people across the communities of Westchester, and if the position of Assistant Teacher speaks to your capabilities, experience and commitment to social service, please submit your resume and cover letter. Qualified candidates will be contacted by phone and/or email.
FSW is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
