Instructional Assistant (K-5): 26-27 School Year

Lower School Instructional Assistant

Reports To: Director of Student Support

Salary: $31,000-$33,000 annual salary (appx. $23-$25.46/hr)

Schedule: Monday - Thursday 8am - 3:45pm; Friday 8am - 2:45pm; End of August through mid-June

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Salaried

About PJA: As a Jewish Day School, we strive to ensure an academically rich environment which honors the whole child. Portland Jewish Academy (PJA) nurtures and inspires Jewish engagement, kavod (respect), and responsibility for the world in which we live. Guided by our middot (values) and our mission, we share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. With Jewish life at our center, we aspire to ensure a genuine sense of belonging in all members of our community. We honor and teach the importance of the vast expansiveness of human diversity.

As a school community, we are committed to creating and sustaining an accessible, supportive, welcoming, and compassionate environment for all. We recognize and respond to individual and institutional prejudices, both overt and subtle. We demonstrate our commitment to tikkun olam (repair the world) through anti-bias curriculum, admission and employment practices, and social action. We are committed to ongoing professional learning to align our practices with our values. We recognize that the advancement of these goals is a process, and we choose to bring courage, reflection and curiosity to this work.

Benefits: In addition to being a great place to work, PJA offers the following benefits package to our employees. As a full time employee of PJA, you are eligible to participate in our Medical (fully or partially employer paid depending on the plan you select), optional Dental, LTD plans and a 401k plan. Free family membership to the MJCC (oregonjcc.org) and tuition discount for children of our employees round out this generous benefits package. This position works on a school year schedule (end of August through mid June) with 1-2 week breaks in December and in the spring.

Job Summary: The Lower School Instructional Assistant provides support to the classroom teacher in the planning and implementation of an educational program. This position performs classroom assistance and clerical duties in support of the prescribed lesson plan. The Instructional Assistant may assist the teacher in small or large group settings, and may supervise students in a variety of other school-related settings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; AND
• One year of responsible experience in a K-5 school as an IA or in a similar role is required.
• Knowledge of techniques associated with behavior management, classroom management and group supervision.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments that are often loud and with frequent interruptions.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand for extended periods, sometimes in inclement weather.
• Ability to keep children out of harms way which may include walking, running, reaching, bending, stooping and lifting or carrying heavy objects.
• Ability to use personal computers and Microsoft office applications.

PJA is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Portland Jewish Academy (PJA) is committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, compensating, and promoting the best-qualified individuals for positions at all levels in the organization. We provide Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made based on how an individual's skills and qualifications meet the responsibilities of the position for which they have applied. An individual will be free from discrimination based on characteristics protected by law such as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or the presence of a non-job-related physical, mental, or sensory disability, or other protected status as defined by federal, state, or local laws. Discrimination and/or harassment based on any of those factors are totally inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated. PJA will make reasonable accommodations, including modification of organizational policies and procedures in appropriate cases for qualified individuals with disabilities if it can do so without undue hardship.