Quality, Unity, Engagement, Success and Teamwork (QUEST) Teaching Assistant (2025-2026)

The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all - including students who fall behind academically or have been considered "hard to support" for a host of reasons. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and he is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of school leaders and teachers to partner with him in moving the district toward its goals. The Syracuse City School District represents 34 schools and 4 alternative education programs, serving 19,000+ students Pre-K-12 of whom 77% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 18% are served by the Office of Special Education and 78% are students of color.

WHO WE WANT:

Successful SCSD educators are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:

• believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels;
• demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools or communities, and to closing the achievement gap;
• demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others;
• actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in their school and district;
• adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school environment; and
• follow current trends in education policy and research, including Common Core standards, comprehensive assessment systems and data-driven instruction.

Position Overview: The Quality, Unity, Engagement, Success and Teamwork (QUEST) program is seeking dedicated and passionate elementary Teaching Assistants (TA) to join our innovative educational team in an alternative setting. The ideal candidate will be committed to supporting students and their families through a holistic, integrated approach, fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. This position requires Therapeutic Crisis Intervention System (TCIS) training and other relevant therapeutic setting training over the summer of 2025. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Holistic Support: Provide comprehensive support to students and their families, addressing academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Collaboration: Work closely with colleagues, parents, and community partners to create a cohesive and supportive educational experience.
• Data Utilization: Utilize data effectively to inform instruction, track student progress, and implement evidence-based strategies.
• Innovation and Creativity: Develop and implement creative and innovative teaching methods to engage students and enhance learning outcomes.
• Continuous Learning: Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning by staying current with educational research, attending professional development opportunities, and integrating new knowledge into practice.
• Flexibility: Adapt to the diverse and evolving needs of students, providing personalized and flexible support to ensure their success.
• Therapeutic Practices: Apply TCIS and other therapeutic techniques to manage crises and support students' emotional and behavioral development.

Essential Job Functions:

• Work with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects
• Provide the teacher with information about pupils which will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning and behavioral experiences
• Assist pupils in the use of available instructional resources, and assisting in the development of instructional materials
• Utilize their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as: foreign languages, arts, crafts, music and similar subjects
• Assist in related instructional work as required
• Assist students with specific health related activities as appropriate
• When working in a Special Education classroom, employees may be required to perform the following tasks:
• Toileting needs
• Feeding needs
• Lifting students when needed
• Pushing students in assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs)

Attributes:

• Passionate about holistic and integrated student support
• Strong collaborator with a team-oriented mindset
• Skilled in using data to drive instructional decisions
• Creative and innovative thinker and problem solver
• Lifelong learner dedicated to continuous improvement
• Flexible and responsive to the needs of students