2025 - 2026 Middle School Teaching Assistant

Daily Work Hours: 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

Start Date: Mid August 2025 10.5 month position

Supervisor: Assistant Principal

Who We Are

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS) is a small independent progressive Middle School in South Slope/Windsor Terrace serving approximately 300 students of all abilities and backgrounds from across Brooklyn.

BUGS is at the forefront of sustainability education diversebydesign and communitybased schools movements. We feature a handson interdisciplinary education with a focus on realworld problemsolving and exploration of environmental social and economic sustainability. Our Middle School students (grades 6 to 8 are prepared for success in high school and to become critical thinkers lifelong learners and thoughtful designers of a more socially just and sustainable world.

We are excited to welcome talented educators who are inspired by our mission and inclusion model passionate about serving middle school aged adolescents and eager to join a dynamic professional learning community. If our mission aligns with yours we hope you will submit your materials for consideration for theschool year.

At BUGS we value and respect teachers as educators professionals and individuals. As a growing faculty and community we offer many opportunities for innovation professional growth and teacher leadership. We feature a strong supportive community of learners an active parentteacher organization and a positive student and staff culture. Educators are supported in using projectbased methodology and designing ongoing fieldwork to enrich the units of study.

Our Social Sustainability Vision Statement

At BUGS we actively strive to repair the detrimental effects of racism discrimination and systems of oppression that affect our students families staff community and larger society. We do this work personally and collectively through inhouse professional development with our Inclusion and Culture Departments and in partnership with outside organizations.

We acknowledge that racism discrimination and systems of oppression exist and we are each a part of them and are affected by them consciously and unconsciously. Diversity Equity and Inclusion are important interdependent components of everyday life and are critical to the successful pursuit of our school vision and mission.

Our Key Design Elements

InquiryBased Study of the Science of Sustainability BUGS will be a middle school focused on the science of sustainability which incorporates the natural sciences math economics history social sciences and the humanities to examine the intersection of human and ecological systems.

Extended Time for Learning Longer blocks of class time a longer school day and a longer school year will provide additional time to: maximize learning opportunities; implement innovative crossdisciplinary approaches to curriculum instruction and assessment; and provide rigorous support for ELLs special education and struggling students.

A Positive and Inclusive School Climate BUGS will create a safe welcoming and respectful school climate that supports equity and access for all learners. Through its advisory program schoolwide discipline program positive behavior supports and researchbased interventions BUGS will foster a collegebound careerready student body that respects and values the diversity of others in their community and around the world.

A Professional Learning Community A learningfocused collaborative culture will be based on trust shared instructional leadership and mutual accountability. Daily common planning time and ongoing professional development will enhance teachers collective focus on student learning.

Authentic Assessments and Individualization Instruction is driven by ongoing authentic assessment and analysis of academic and behavioral data which will support students individual needs and is facilitated by trained and supported teachers.

Use of Technology Computerbased instruction will allow for intensive targeted remediation in basic skills individualized learning and assessments and the development of 21st century skills in visual media and technological literacy.

BUGS team members are reflective openminded innovative industrious selfstarters who:

• regularly assess students and use data to inform instruction
• are excited to work in an interdisciplinary sustainabilityfocused handson learning environment
• commit to schoolwide behavior systems that consider adolescent development and promote holistic socioemotional responses through restorative justice and collaborative problem solving in collaboration with our Office of Student Affairs
• have excellent communication skills
• exemplify the BUGS Mission Vision and C.A.R.E.S. Values
• actively develop their professional practice
• research and implement culturally responsive classroom practices by participating in a Professional Learning Community throughout the school year to identify best practices that would be embedded into the classrooms and curricula
  
• know understand and apply the three pillars of sustainability that are at the foundation of all work at BUGS
• are passionate about environmental justice and stewardship

Criteria

Teaching Assistants are a key support to the schools instructional team and we are seeking Candidates with the following qualifications and experience:

Punctuality: This position must arrive and be ready to greet students promptly at 7:30 am every morning; in addition to being present at specific posts in the school throughout the day as needed
Have teaching experience in a K12 school
Have a High School Diploma or Equivalent Required
Proficient in reading writing and speaking the English language

Preferred Criteria

• Holds a valid level I or higher New York State Teaching Assistant Certificate
• Bilingual Spanish preferred
  
• 1 year of classroom experience
• Bachelors Degree
  

Responsibilities

Classroom Support

• Provide lesson support for the teachers of classes of 2532 students. Activities vary depending on each teachers needs and may include behavior management smallgroup instruction and grading assignments
• Meet weekly with teachers to review lesson plans behavioral interventions and complete associated paperwork
• Facilitate or support the implementation of the BUGS Quiet Time program
• Attend weekly meetings which include Grade Team Interdisciplinary Sustainability All Staff and BUGS professional development days
• Guide and assist students in small group instructional settings as per lesson plan and teacher instruction
• Guide and assist students with class routines and in transitioning from one activity to the next
• Attend and support our monthly field study program
• Reinforce behavior through the use of positive supports as per BUGS Code of Conduct
• Serve as an Advisor as necessary

School Culture and Discipline

• Support transitions between periods
• Supervise morning arrival lunch and recess as needed
• Supervise students during after school office hours.

Essential Dates and Times

• Teaching Assistant Work hours: Monday Friday 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
• Teaching Assistant Calendar: MidAugust (staff orientation) through the end of June (last day of school); dates will vary depending on the needs of the school and the academic calendar
• Monthly Field Studies 3rd or 4th Friday of the month)
• At Least Five Evenings throughout the year as needed:
  • September Curriculum Night (September)
  • Family & Teacher Conferences (November)
  • Studentled Subject Area Conferences (March)
    
  • Other BUGS sponsored events and conferences if/as needed

BUGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse faculty and staff.

Feel free to contact us at

Thank you! We look forward to learning more about you.