About the role
Pay: $17.00 to $20.00 per hour
Description Teaching Assistant – Special Education Location: Newport News, VA Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
At The Faison Center, we change lives daily. Our mission is to create transformative opportunities for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. As a Teaching Assistant on our Richmond campus, you’ll play a vital role in delivering personalized instruction, supporting communication development, and helping students reach key milestones.
If you’re passionate about working with children with developmental challenges—and exploring a future in teaching or behavioral health—this is a launchpad for your career.
The Faison Center is a nationally recognized leader in autism services, known for investing in staff and cultivating professional growth. Whether you hold a BS/BA degree or have relevant experience, you’ll thrive in a workplace that values its employees and promotes work-life balance.
No prior experience? No problem—we provide robust training, so you feel confident and supported in your role. You’ll:
Teach new skills one-on-one or in small groups across varied settings
Facilitate participation in recreational and physical education activities
Assist with off-campus community-based learning experiences
Track student progress through data collection
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to support educational and personal goals
Help with daily living activities, including hygiene and toileting as needed
Support individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviors
Benefits:
Paid instructional breaks (approx. 28 days annually)
Sick leave and vacation accruals
Tuition assistance/reimbursement for approved studies
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
403B retirement plan with employer contributions
Employee discount programs via Working Advantage
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Multiple pathways for career advancement
Requirements
Educational Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent (required)
Associate or Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
Experience supporting individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities is a plus—but above all, we value compassion, patience, and a desire to make a lasting difference in people's lives.
Essential Physical Requirements
• Lift 50 pounds, continuously (and keep back straight while doing so)
• Bend at all joints fluently
• Move in and out of and maintain a kneeling position for up to five minutes
• Reach in all directions
• Grasp using both hands
• Move quickly in both confined and open spaces to avoid safety issues, continuously
• Run in order to retrieve an individual who is moving quickly away from staff, continuously
• Maintain balance while lowering to a half squat position