Instructional Assistant

Instructional Assistant

Job Category: Education Requisition Number: INSTR003937

Posted: July 1, 2026

Full-Time On-site Thompson, CT 06277, USA

Job Details

Description

Who We Are Looking For:

Are you the Instructional Assistant we have been looking for? In this position, you will be able to convey your passion for educating others with a dynamic team by bringing an energetic and positive approach while working with our students!

The Susan Wayne Center of Excellence (SWCE) and the River Run Academy offer intensive residential, educational, medical, and clinical services for adolescent boys and girls who are mild to moderately cognitively impaired with concurrent behavioral, mental health, and medical issues. Located in rural Thompson, Connecticut, our state-of-the-art campus offers warm, home-like facilities in a pastoral setting.

Our students have often experienced complex trauma and often have not been successful in other settings. SWCE students typically require additional support in the classroom, as well as with emotional and behavioral difficulties, executive functioning, and life skills.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $21.00 to $25.00 per hour. The listed range reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to pay for this role at the time of posting the position. The actual compensation an employee is offered may vary based on several factors such as experience, education, licensure, certifications and qualifications. This range may be modified in the future.

JRI Provides The Training So That:

• YOU will be able to develop your skills in providing enriching academic assistance for our teachers and students in a Special Education setting.
• YOU will be able to create a safe and therapeutic community by supporting students in developing and by role modeling effective coping strategies.
• YOU will help students discover what makes them feel competent and valued by working with them to develop life skills such as cooking, banking, vocational skills, and more. Your day-to-day work will support students in developing a sense of self and provide them the skills to be successful in their next steps.

Why JRI?

• Be who you are! JRI is committed to creating a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and opportunity, where every employee is valued and supported in making a meaningful impact.
• We offer a $2,000 bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language fluently, other than English, and will use it to serve our clients!
• Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work such as LMHC, LCSW, LICSW, RN and more!
• Access to our excellent Blue Cross medical and Delta Dental benefits.
• Retirement benefits including 401K matched up to $800 a year and pension after 5 years of employment.
• Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to almost $4000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities!
• Wellness benefits including access to employee engagement groups, self-care resources, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Generous paid time off up to 19 days for full time employees in your first year and much more!

Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age.
• ParaPro, Associates Degree or Bachelors Degree required.
• Special Education or Mental Health setting experience strongly preferred.
• Maintains valid driver's license as transporting students is required.
• Available to work evenings, holidays, weekend shifts as required.
• At JRI, you will learn to provide physical interventions and verbal de-escalations to provide the safest therapeutic atmosphere for our students!
• Background and driving record checks will be performed.

At JRI, we are committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued and respected. We believe that a culture built on mutual respect, collaboration, and opportunity allows our staff to thrive and do their best work. By supporting one another and recognizing each person's contributions, we create an environment where people can grow, develop their skills, and make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. JRI is an equal opportunity employer.

#IND123