Paraeducator for Preschool (Mainstream Instructional Assistant)

Essex Westford School District•Westford, VT

1d•$22•Onsite

About The Position

Essex Westford School District (EWSD) has opportunities for full-time Mainstream Instructional Assistant (IA) at our Westford Elementary School and Essex Elementary School preschool programs for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year. The position shall start at Westford in the morning and transition to Essex Elementary School for the afternoon session. The Mainstream Instructional Assistant supports a student one on one with academic, behavioral, and physical needs in inclusive classroom settings. Responsibilities include adapting instructional materials, implementing student-specific support plans, assisting with personal care, collecting data on student progress, implementing behavior plans and supervising students throughout the school day. The assistant works closely with Oreschool teacher and Preschool Assistant to promote student success and contribute to a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment. Position is expected to be for 35 hours/week. Pays $22.43/hour+ EWSD offers excellent benefits including generous paid time off, medical, and dental insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement plan with up to 6% employer contribution. Candidates with the following qualifications are encouraged to apply: Associate's degree in early childhood education preferred, but not required. Experience with, and love for, working with preschool aged children Relevant experience in a school setting is desirable Knowledge of children with disabilities of special education students, and special education teaching methods preferred Holds or is able to obtain CPR and First Aid certification, training provided Able to effectively w ork without specific direction, and with minimal supervision. Good oral and written communication skills. For additional information, CLICK HERE for a copy of the full job description. Our district vision is: "Growing hearts and minds, for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one." EWSD is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and are expected to strengthen such capacity if hired. Candidates with experience working in another country, the ability to fluently speak more than one language, and/or peace corp experience are encouraged to apply to help contribute to a diversity of thinking and grow our organizational practices. EWSD conducts thorough screenings of all applicants being recommended for hire, which may include contacting references not listed on your application. Selected individuals are subject to criminal records background checks and child and adult abuse registry checks. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon acceptable results of these checks at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Please click HERE for additional background check information.

Requirements

Experience with, and love for, working with preschool aged children
Able to effectively work without specific direction, and with minimal supervision
Good oral and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in early childhood education preferred, but not required
Relevant experience in a school setting is desirable
Knowledge of children with disabilities of special education students, and special education teaching methods preferred
Holds or is able to obtain CPR and First Aid certification, training provided

Responsibilities

adapting instructional materials
implementing student-specific support plans
assisting with personal care
collecting data on student progress
implementing behavior plans
supervising students throughout the school day
works closely with Oreschool teacher and Preschool Assistant to promote student success and contribute to a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment