Teacher's Assistant

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
Catholic Charities is one of the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive nonprofit human services organizations in Northern California, annually reaching more than 60,000 vulnerable individuals of all faiths in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties. With a staff of approximately 450, reaching peaks of nearly 600 with seasonal hires, a budget of $54.3 million, and a current governing board of 27, this venerable, fully-accredited, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit addresses some of the most pressing community needs – homelessness, generational poverty, immigration, inequality, hunger, aging in isolation, and communicable disease -- to name a few – with compassion and services of highest quality. 
 
PROGRAM& POSITION SUMMARY
Catholic Charities St. Vincent’s ORR provides residential care and placement support to male unaccompanied minors ages 6 -17 in San Rafael, CA following the guidelines set forth by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This program provides a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment that serves the whole child through comprehensive medical and mental health care, nutrition, educational programming, counseling, legal assistance, case management, religious access, and age-appropriate acculturation and recreation.
With an emphasis on strengths- and evidence-based, client-centered, and trauma-informed care, delivered by an experienced bilingual staff, we will provide a secure and enriching environment for all youth. An individualized service plan will move each child toward a successful safe and timely release and permanent home placement while building a robust support framework that will follow the child upon entering their new community setting.
ESSENTIALDUTIES& RESPONSIBILITIES
 
The Teaching Assistant provides support to educational services and assessments, including curriculum building, meeting Flores standards for educational requirements. The Teacher Assistant facilitates instruction appropriate for students with a variety of academic competencies, backgrounds, skills, and learning needs. The Teacher Assistant may also serve as a liaison between the student, other classroom teachers and staff. The role of the Teacher Assistant is to strengthen the education team to accelerate the student’s learning or acquisition of the English language and provide the student with the necessary skills to become proficient in English through grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening.

• Provides support to the teacher to ensure a safe and stimulating educational environment.
• Assists the teacher in planning and preparation materials and classrooms for class activities.
• Assists the teacher in preparing lesson outlines, plans, and curricula in assigned areas.
• Plans, prepares, and develops various teaching aids for use in classroom, including activity sheets, drawings, and handouts.
• Provide instruction to students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
• Describe clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
• Facilitate activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Observe and evaluate students’ work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs, abilities, and interests.
• Presents subject matter individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations under the guidance of a teacher.
• Assists ESL students, individually or in groups, with lesson assignments to present or reinforce learning concepts.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Handle student issues within program and organizational policies (e.g. student requests for class changes, absenteeism, potential conflicts etc.).
• Participate in intra-school staff development opportunities that enhance the knowledge of the curriculum and issues in order to know how those relate to ESL and how to adapt or incorporate them into ESL instruction.
• Attend mandatory trainings and other trainings to enhance professional development, participating in a minimum of 40 hours of required refresher trainings per calendar year—and assure that CPR and CPI training are completed annually within one year of the last date in which the employee last took them.
• Promptly report 1) any civil or criminal convictions, charges, arrests, investigations or adjudications— that may arise since staff member’s last background investigations, including but not limited to, and 2) having engaged in or attempted to engage in sexual abuse, sexual harassment or inappropriate   sexual behavior; having been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in or attempted to engage in 1. or 2. above.
• Adheres to other requests as indicated by supervisor.
• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS
 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree is a plus
• High school diploma/GED 
• Must be bilingual in English and Spanish
• Training to meet the special needs of unaccompanied children
• 1 year experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English and Spanish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups.
• Ability to select and use training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when teaching new concepts.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them over time.
• Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude and remain professional in all situations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in order to collaborate with all stakeholders and an interest in working in a multicultural environment.
• Act 33/34 and FBI Clearances Required.
• All clearances must be received prior to 30 days from date of hire or employee must be pulled from floor until clearances do arrive.
• Cleared Tuberculosis test results.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situation.

DISCLAIMER:  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), Catholic Charities SF does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.  Furthermore, Catholic Charities SF does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA
CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER and is committed to providing equal employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, legal domicile status, veteran status, disability or AIDS/HIV status or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.