Teacher Assistant

TITLE: Teacher Assistant

REPORTS:  Deputy Director of Early Educational Services 

FLSA CODE: Non-Exempt

LOCATION: George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery - 13 Hell Gate Circle New York, NY 10035

Our Mission:

Since 1967, Odyssey House has gone beyond helping individuals beat drugs and alcohol. We help rebuild lives. There’s more to recovery than just getting clean. We help individuals get healthy again, too, with medical and dental care, fitness programs, support for your mental health and more. Individuals can stay with their children while in treatment, while learning new life skills, so they can stay together and repair other broken relationships in their lives. We provide educational and work skill trainings, outpatient services and available housing assistance, so individuals can step back into real life with a real future.

If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.

In addition to competitive salaries, Odyssey House offers:

• A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
• Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
• Life Insurance
• Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
• 403(b) Plan
• Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
• Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
• Commuter Benefits
• Educational Assistance Programs
• Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
• RUFit?! Fitness Program
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Assistance
• Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
• Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Educational Services and the Group Teacher, the Teacher Assistant assists in providing direct early childhood educational services to children between the ages of two (2) months and five (5) years of age. The Teacher Assistant is responsible for the supervision and management of all assigned children. The Teacher Assistant interacts directly with the children and models appropriate adult-child interactions for parents.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assist Teacher in maintaining a positive, developmentally appropriate, safe and healthy learning environment.
2. Assist in implementing weekly lesson plans developed by the Teacher.
3. Actively participate in individual and group child activities.
4. Assist in the daily set up, break down and cleaning of the classroom.
5. Assist in serving all daily snacks and meals for assigned children.
6. Participate in all classroom trips and outings.
7. Maintain proper inventory and functioning of all classroom materials and children supplies.
8. Provide direct supervision of residents assigned to the childcare worker job function.
9. Attend all required in-service training seminars, staff meetings, on and off-site case conferences.
10. Participate in quality improvement activities.
11. Follow and implement licensing requirements per DOHMH and Odyssey House policies.
12. Other relevant duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS: EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Must be 18 years of age or older.
2. Preferred Educational Requirements:
   1. Child Development Associate (CDA) OR
   2. Working towards CDA certificate OR
   3. Associate degree in related field required.OR
   4. Working towards associate degree in related field OR
   5. Bachelor’s degree in related field OR
   6. Working towards Bachelor’s degree in a related field
      1. Minimum Educational Requirements:
         1. High School Diploma or G.E.D
3. Associate’s degree and one (1) year of experience working with children preferred.
4. CPR/First Aid Certification preferred.

1. NYS Central Registry Check and fingerprint clearance required upon hire.

1. Knowledge of NYC Department of Health regulations and codes.
2. Must be able to lift small children.
3. Proficiency with computer operation (Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook programs).
4. Must be able to work a flexible work schedule.

Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.