Teacher Assistant
Overview
Teacher assistants work cooperatively with the principal and teacher to provide a classroom environment in which students can take full advantage of the instructional programs and available curriculum and technology materials. Teacher assistants support small group instruction, one-on-one support, social-emotional learning, and classroom management. The ages of students could affect the teacher assistant duties, too. For example, if a teacher assistant works with very young students, they’ll also supervise and assist children during play or lunch. But if they work with older children, they’ll probably be more focused on creating lesson plans, preparing material for classrooms, and assisting with remedial teaching. Also, some teacher assistants work with students with disabilities, assisting special education teachers. In these cases, teacher assistants may need to provide basic care to students, too, such as help with personal hygiene.
Reach Associates (RAs) are advanced paraprofessionals who typically provide both instructional and non-instructional support to a team of teachers, as designated by the team’s multi-classroom leader, with a focus on providing small-group tutoring under the guidance of the multi-classroom leader’s team. RAs also aid instruction by supervising time on projects, skills practice, and digital learning. They work closely with the teaching team to complete various administrative tasks and non-instructional paperwork. They manage procedures and supervise student behavior during transitions, lunch, recess, assemblies, and other unstructured activities, and while teacher(s) deliver instruction. The Reach Associate may be a multi-team RA supporting several teaching teams when team members need release time to work with other teachers or a team RA who supports a single team primarily through providing small-group tutoring in a tutoring lab, by pulling small groups out of classrooms, or by pushing into classrooms to work with small groups. Reach Associates earn an additional stipend of $3,000.
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve as a teacher assistant, candidates must provide evidence of completion of an Associate’s Degree or 48 college credit hours with a grade of “C” or better with a desired concentration in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Development. In order to serve as a Reach Associate, candidates must have at least 3 years classroom experience and a minimum of an associates degree or 60 college credit hours.
Candidates who do not current meet the eligibility criteria may be eligible for an alternative pathway to becoming a teacher assistant by completing both of these requirements:
Pass the Work Keys-three assessments needed: Reading (4), Mathematics (4), Writing (3)
Complete 96 hours of in-service training/professional development with WS/FCS
Support
Teacher assistants have access to professional development in a variety of platforms throughout the year: face-to-face, virtual, and asynchronous. Teacher assistants are expected to attend professional development on the days when their cooperating teachers attend workshops as well to ensure consistency and alignment of learning and understanding.
Teacher assistants who have a Bachelor’s degree, 24 credit hours in the related licensure area, and a 2.7 GPA are eligible to apply for the WS/FCS Teacher Residency Program to become a fully-licensed teacher.
Compensation
Next Steps
To apply for a teacher assistant position, visit Jobs