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

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