Special Education Instructional Assistant

Position Type:
Support Staff/Special Education Assistant

Date Posted:
6/4/2026

Location:
Plainfield Community Middle School

Date Available:
2026 - 2027 School Year

Closing Date:
Until Filled
Job Title: Special Education Instructional Assistant

Department: Special Education

Reports To: Principal / Lead Special Education Teacher

Classification: Part-Time

Salary Range: $19.39

Position Overview

We are looking for a compassionate, patient, and dedicated Special Education Instructional Assistant to join our team. In this role, you will work side-by-side with our Lead Special Education Teachers to provide academic, behavioral, and emotional support to students with diverse learning needs.

Your day-to-day will involve implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), modifying assignments, and fostering an inclusive, safe classroom culture. If you love celebrating small victories that make a massive difference in a child's life, this is the place for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Instructional Support: Reinforce lessons presented by the lead teacher by working with students individually or in small groups to master academic concepts.
• IEP Implementation: Help track, monitor, and document student progress toward specific learning and behavioral goals outlined in their IEPs.
• Behavioral Support: Implement positive behavior intervention strategies to help students manage frustrations, stay on task, and navigate social interactions safely.
• Accommodations & Modifications: Adapt classroom materials (e.g., scaling reading levels, organizing visual schedules) under the direction of the special education teacher.
• Daily Living Assistance: Provide physical or personal care assistance as required by specific student needs (may include mobility assistance, feeding, or toileting support depending on assignment).
• Collaboration : Maintain open, professional communication with teachers, therapists, and administrators regarding student progress and well-being.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

• Education : High School Diploma or equivalent AND one of the following:
  • Associate degree or higher, OR
  • 48 college semester credits, OR
  • Passing score on the ParaPro Assessment (or state-equivalent exam).
• Clearances: Ability to pass a comprehensive criminal background check, fingerprinting, and child abuse clearances.
• Attributes: Exceptional patience, emotional resilience, and a deep sense of empathy for children with varying abilities.

Preferred (Nice-to-Have):

• Previous experience working with children with special needs (Autism, ADHD, developmental delays, etc.) in a school, camp, or daycare setting.
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) or de-escalation training.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Bilingual skills.