The Gillen Brewer School’s Preschool Program is designed to serve children aged 3 to 5 years old. Small classes (6-8 students) with a highly trained team of teachers and therapists, provide tailored instruction to each student’s individualized needs. The GBS preschool program incorporates the most effective methods in special education to support children in developing foundational skills to set them up for continued growth and success.
We are currently interviewing candidates for a 12-month Special Ed Associate Teacher position to join our Pre-K classroom for the rest of the 2024-2025 school year. All applicants will be required to submit a resume, cover letter, and two reference letters.
Gillen Brewer offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive professional development program.
Job Title: Special Ed Associate Teacher Program: Lower School Hours: Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Calendar to Follow: 12-month Academic FLSA Status: Exempt Compensation: $45,000 – $55,000 Starting: 01/06/2025
Summary
The Associate Teacher is a critical part of a child’s learning experience at Gillen Brewer. The Associate Teacher reports to the Program Director. The Associate Teacher will assist the Head Teacher in classroom preparation, reinforcement of lessons, management, and all functions of the classroom in order to cultivate and help provide a learning environment in which students feel safe and confident as they express themselves in the classroom. The Associate Teacher will resume all Head Teaching responsibilities in the absence of the Head Teacher. The Associate Teacher will work as part of an integrated team with the Head Teacher, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, and Speech-Language Pathologists in a therapeutic school setting. Gillen Brewer expects Associate Teachers to conduct themselves in a professional manner with regard to attire, attitude, participation, communication, and interactions with staff, children, and parents. Associate Teachers are expected to understand the school’s policies, procedures, and guidelines as set in the staff handbook, located on the school’s shared Google Drive. As a part of the school community, Associate Teachers are encouraged to participate in school community events, join committees, and create a positive working environment for children, families, and colleagues. The Associate Teacher will support and promote the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practices within the program and throughout the community. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Duties and Responsibilities (where age-appropriate)
Provide support to the Head Teacher in classroom instruction and management
Assist with or run classroom activities and lessons
Work with individual students who require additional or modified instruction
Monitor students when the Head Teacher is in or out of the classroom
Support students throughout the day, including lunch, playground, and gym
Assist with student arrival and dismissal
Occasionally work as a substitute teacher in the Head Teacher’s absence
Perform other duties as assigned
Early Childhood (Pre-K) Program:
Plan large group and small group lessons and activities
Assist with and run individual and group lessons and activities
Help with dressing, potty training, and changing diapers
Focus on child play and building relationships
Develop an emergent curriculum that emphasizes student interests
Required Skills/Abilities
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Thorough understanding of classroom procedures and management
Ability to develop trusting and supportive relationships with students
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to collaborate with the therapeutic team members
Team-oriented approach with a positive work attitude
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree (required)
Pursuing Master’s in Special Education (highly desired)
Must complete relative associate training and professional development through the school
Physical Requirements
Employees must have the physical capacity to navigate the classroom and school environments in order to effectively meet the needs of our students. Such physical requirements include but are not limited to: walking, running, standing, sitting, climbing up and down stairs, kneeling, stooping, crawling, bending, pushing, pulling, and lifting. Employees must be able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for long periods of time to complete necessary paperwork. Vision, with or without lenses, must be sufficient to read in both paper and digital formats. Employees must have the ability to hear, read, write, and speak in English.
Professional Development
The school is a community of learners. In addition to staff development and training at Gillen Brewer, employees are encouraged to pursue educational goals through conferences and various workshops. Teachers are required to attend all staff development workshops as well as staff, team, and supervision meetings. Staff is also encouraged to attend all school functions listed on the school calendar.
Supervision & Support
The Program Director will oversee and analyze all aspects of the program through the use of observation cycles, in-office sessions, team meetings, conversations with support staff, lesson planning, curriculum development, and through various products. Staff development and support through modeling and coaching will be provided which will include in-house and outside professional opportunities. Frequency of observations and feedback sessions will be determined by the Program Director, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School. The Head Teacher will conduct two formal evaluations a year using this job description and the in-house evaluation instrument as a guide. Evidence of effectiveness will be collected through observations, discussions, and products.
Other Requirements
You must be authorized to work in the United States and be willing to undergo a number of clearances, including E-VERIFY, NYSED and NYCDOH fingerprinting, a medical health form, and other background checks.
To Apply
To be considered, interested applicants MUST submit a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters. Please submit materials directly via email to HR@gillenbrewer.com OR apply on Indeed. Please include your name and the position of interest in the subject line of your email (i.e., Angelina Taylor — Special Ed Associate Teacher – Pre-K).
No telephone inquiries or recruiters, please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants.
The Gillen Brewer School is a reputable special needs school in the Upper East Side of Manhattan dedicated to transforming the lives of young children with a wide variety of language, emotional, developmental and learning disabilities. The school specializes in educating children with challenging, and often multiple disabilities including language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities.