Teaching Assistants

Splat Lab

Teaching Assistants

Brooklyn, NY
Part Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Splat Lab is seeking dynamic, engaging, and adventurous Assistant Educators to join our team for after school programs, school residencies, Pop Ups, and occasional subs if available. The ideal candidate will have multiple day availability and is flexible to teach workshops at different schools.

    We are hiring for educators in:

    • Queens: Astoria, Jamaica, Sunnyside
    • Brooklyn: Cobble Hill, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Bushwick, Bed Stuy
    • Manhattan: Union Square
    • Bronx: South Bronx
    • Camps: DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Windsor Terrace
    • School Pop ups: All other locations in NYCs

    Schedule

    • We offer after school residencies which are 10-12 week placements at the same school on the same day with the same kids. We also have school day pop ups with many back to back sessions and some schoool day residencies where you may see 3-4 classes per day. We also run our own camp in DUMBO and Windsor Terrace when the DOE is closed and a summer camp in Downtown BK

    About Us:

    Splat Lab partners with over 50 schools to provide high quality and unique enrichment classes for youth. We have two signature classes: Anthropology Arts and Splat Lab. Our recent growth has taken us to lead after school residencies, school day residencies & Pop Ups, virtual classes, and our own summer Splat Camp! This summer we will be working 15+ schools for Summer Rising, as well as providing enrichment classes for other NYC camps.


    With Splat Lab we set up our unique 4-station model. We designed our program with youth developmen t principals, Montessori elements, and experiential learning all mixed together. We provide the educators, with all materials, and curriculum. Our stations always include a sensory station (DIY clay, instasnow), a building station (cup towers, building challenge) an open station (giant collaborative scrolls), and a create station (pizza necklaces, dot snakes). It all happens at once and every student gets to take part at every station.

    With our Social Studies Anthropology Art s, students work on a warm-up activity based on the day's theme, and then optionally share-out. Part of our class culture involves explicitly teaching youth to give each other “shine”, compliments and “shoutouts”. Students move on to a mini-lesson about the day's topic such as the symbols on a Chinese Emperor's robe or the painted design of a Ukrainian Petrykivka. Kids will then get to make their own version of the artifact! At the end of each class, we gather together to share-out and students get to take home their creations.

    Position Descriptions:

    Assistant Educators assist Lead Educators in teaching our curriculum and group management Assistant Educators must have strong group management and facilitation skills, especially since each assignment will be made up of new students who you are meeting for the first time. We will provide all the materials and logistical support. Assistants ensure the workshops are magical, highly professional, and engaging for all students.

    We will provide high-quality training for educators to learn the teaching method and curriculum. Lead Educators will mentor TAs and give clear directions for their role in each session. Pairs will debrief and communicate frequently about how to make sure workshops are continually high quality, fun, and smooth.

    Position Qualifications:

    We are looking for Assistant Educators that can learn any kind of curriculum and make it fun and intellectually satisfying. We need the type of person who kids can't wait to see, with group management skills to ensure a smooth, fun, and exciting class.

    • For this position, the applicant must be strong at keeping up with emails, curriculum folders, schedules, and communication with your manager that is virtual.
    • 1-3 years of working with youth in after school, summer camps, museums, or early childhood settings.
    • A dynamic, cool, magnetic personality that will engage all students.
    • Ability to learn and apply the group management skills demonstrated by the Lead Educator and the ability to confidently organize and lead transitions, set up structured projects, and create clear rituals and routines.
    • The desire to improve your practice and transition eventually to a Lead role
    • Experience with strength-based, restorative, positive discipline practices.
    • Must be fully vaccinated.
    • Must be over 18.

    Assistant Educator Background and Training

    Anthro: Content knowledge or interest in social studies, history, anthropology or art, and the ability to learn curriculum/content that may be new.

    Splat Lab: Strong facilitation and classroom management skills, STEM knowledge a plus

    • Museum educators, teaching artists or educators with a background in Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia etc. are highly encouraged to apply.
    • Experience with under-resourced schools and special needs populations will be an advantage for some placements.

    Compensation

    NYC Assistant Educators are paid $25 per hour for teaching, training & cross-training pay (plus a bonus upon completion), and $18 per hour for monthly planning, meetings, Professional Development, and other non-teaching activities. We provide planning/study time as well as paid set up and clean up time and training.

    Application Process and Timeline

    Candidates will be invited to an engaging group interview where they will demo one of our signature projects. Our group interviews are designed to be a community-building experience that gives applicants a mini-training on how our program works. Group interviews are scheduled weekly and we encourage you to sign up for a date before we are fully staffed.