Teacher's Aide ORR, McAllen, Texas

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.


Teacher's Aide ORR

US-TX-McAllen

Job ID: 2024-6117
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Refugee Resettlement Shelters
Upbring

Overview

About Upbring

At Upbring, we are servants on a mission to break the cycle of child abuse. We are warriors, brave as the thousands of Texas Children and families we serve. We stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. We are a family who values innovation, empathy, patience, understanding and trustworthiness.

About our Children's Shelters

Many children begin life in the face of serious challenges. Instead of playing pretend and imagining grand adventures, unaccompanied children face perilous conditions alone as they travel to unfamiliar countries, leaving home and loved ones behind to escape war and violence. Our children’s centers, operated through a grant from the Office of Refugee and Resettlement (ORR), provide safety, stability and wraparound services. We help children grow into adults who have received love and kindness, instead of only violence and chaos.

What You'll Do

The Teacher’s Aide will provide individual and/or group instructional support to the children, as well as assist classroom teachers with planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate instruction, create and foster a positive learning environment with varied experiences which will enhance the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development of the children in accordance to the Texas Education Code, Casa Gracia NC performance standards, the Agency’s school readiness goals, and federal, state, CARF and local regulatory requirements.

Our Upbring staff members are servant-leaders in the pursuit of breaking the cycle of child abuse and empowering others to do the same through example while embodying our core values: We are Warriors. We are Servants. We are Family.

All Upbring Children's Shelters employees must comply with ORR's vaccination mandate.

All staff must be able to show proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route if working directly with unaccompanied children (UC). Medical and Religious exemptions may be requested after an offer of employment is accepted.

Responsibilities

We Are Warriors | We Set the Standards for Child Welfare

Work Standards

• Ensure UC are properly supervised and take appropriate safety precautions for the well-being of all children
• Create, foster, and maintain a physical environment that is conducive for learning and optimal growth and development; promote social interaction with all children
• Provide constant supervision of UC during indoor and outdoor activities; provide and foster a safe and secure environment for UC indoors and outdoors
• Follow all classroom, Agency, and TCS standards and assist with the appropriate enforcement of established rules, regulations, and guidelines
• Other duties and projects as assigned

We Are Servants | We Help Others

Teamwork

• Assist with the implementation of teacher-prepared lesson and Positive Behavior Intervention plans
• Assist with the individual and group instruction of the UC, as assigned by the teacher
• Assist the classroom teacher with developing instructional subjects according to the standards of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
• Work closely with the classroom teacher in building on each child’s strengths and supporting school readiness goals and social competence
• Assist with the planning and implementation of daily developmental learning models for school-aged UC for the purpose of meeting individual learning style, and pace of learning
• Assist with the selection of learning material and equipment and arrange classroom to provide a well-managed, welcoming environment conducive for learning
• Work closely with classroom teacher to design and implement the curriculum using supporting materials that address the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs of children
• Assist the classroom teacher in managing the classroom in a manner that creates a stimulating and nurturing environment for the growth, well-being, and development of the children; assist with the supervision of UC and keeping the classroom neat and orderly
• Assist with the planning of daily activities in partnership with other teachers to meet instruction and developmental goals, individualized instruction, and component integration
• Respond to emergency situations and/or direct to appropriate management team member or program administration for immediate resolution
• Work closely with other classroom teachers and Lead Teacher Aid to ensure program operations are supporting and meeting program goals and objectives and learning outcomes

We Are Family | We Are Passionate & Compassionate

Building Relationships

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with classroom teachers, administrative staff, and UC to ensure the UC are receiving a quality learning experience
• Work as team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with UC, staff, and the community

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma
• Experience in educational setting preferred
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Bilingual in Spanish based on service population and area
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement early childhood curriculum
• Demonstrated ability to manage the classroom and work well under pressure
• Ability to build a positive rapport with children, and team members
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally, interact with all levels of management in a clear and concise manner
• Prepare quality well-written documents, reports, and correspondence
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing tasks, requests, and projects and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and within a team with limited supervision; ability to take initiative
• Strong computer skills; high proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, EXCEL, and Outlook)

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in education or relevant field

Perks at Upbring

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more!
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 24/7 access to telemedicine and counseling services
• Discounted Gym Memberships

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position works in a child facility and has constant exposure to children
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 50 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Belonging

We are a diverse and inclusive organization that recognizes our strength is in the efforts of our selfless warriors. Honoring and recognizing the value and dignity of all individuals is the cornerstone of our agency. The more diverse the individuals, thought processes and lived experiences, the greater the opportunity is to combine unique perspectives to make a greater impact. Our trust, respect, and appreciation for one another is demonstrated through our communication, celebration of progress and relentless effort to be at our best to fulfill our mission to break the cycle of child abuse.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status.

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