Interim Instructional Assistant

Description

**This is a part-time interim position with 28 hours/week with Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy in Huntington Park ending in June 2027.**

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998-in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through-Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

GENERAL SUMMARY:


The Instructional Assistant supports classroom teacher(s) in providing a high quality, personalized education program for students. S/he works during the school day and/or the after school program. The ideal candidate for this position is a recent college graduate who has an interest in pursuing a career as an educator.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support classroom systems/procedures and help manage student behavior to ensure all students are fully engaged in learning
• Develop and implement lesson plans and classroom activities consistent with California State Standards and Aspire Instructional Guidelines
• Assess students regularly in accordance with Aspire guidelines and analyze assessment data
• Collaborate with Aspire team members to improve own and others' instructional practices; share best practices

• Help classroom teacher(s) provide students and their families with regular and timely information on classroom activities and student progress
• May help track critical student information and maintain accurate student records, including attendance, in accordance with Aspire procedures
• Identify unique student needs and collaborate with other team members and outside service providers to diagnose and address learning challenges
• Assist with planning and executing differentiated instruction for students with a variety of needs, including: parallel teaching, small group and/or one-on-one instruction.
• Teach students in the after school program, especially intervention and acceleration for students below grade level
• Support a school-wide culture of high expectations that includes college preparation for all students; work with College and Academic Counselor to support students with academic progress and college application processes
• Teach or co-teach Advisory class with the objective of developing students' character and habits
• Actively participate in professional development activities, including: training sessions and working with lead teacher, principal, instructional coaches
• Work towards career as an educator, which may include enrolling in teacher credential program
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Competencies:

• Knowledge of child cognitive development and different learning styles
• Ability and willingness to implement Aspire Instructional Guidelines and Best Practices
• Ability and willingness to reflect and improve
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate with colleagues, parents and community

1. Minimum educational level:

• Associate's degree or successful completion of 48 units of college credit or passing of Paraprofessional Test
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Teaching, or related field preferred

1. Physical requirements:

• Stand, walk or bend over, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, grasp, push, and pull. Move, lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds to shoulder height
• Repetitive use of hands (i.e. fine manipulation, simple grasping, and power grasping)
• Demonstrate normal depth perception
• Sitting, walking or standing for extended periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, operate standard office equipment, and use a telephone
• See and read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone with or without auditory aides

1. Experience required:

• 1+ year working with students as a teacher, teacher intern, or teaching assistant preferred

1. Work authorization requirements:

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening
• Authorized to work in the United States
• Provide health (TB) clearance (update every four years)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics are representative of those in a normal office, classroom/school setting which one might encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work indoors in a standard office environment, computer lab, and/or classroom environment
• Work is performed in indoor and outdoor environments
• Exposure to dust, oils, and cleaning chemicals
• Some exposure to childhood and other diseases in a school environment
• May be required to work outside of typical work days and office hours to meet operational deadlines