Culinary Arts Instructional Assistant

Metropolitan School District of Washington Township; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township (MSDWT) is seeking a Culinary Arts Instructional Assistant to support the Culinary Arts Instructor at J. Everett Light Career Center in Indianapolis.

The role emphasizes hands-on kitchen assistance, lab prep, and café operations within a vibrant CTE program. This non-exempt, hourly position offers a 185-day calendar and a $19.50 per hour wage ($28,860 annually) with additional compensation for a college degree.

Qualifications

• Teaching experience is highly desired.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Innovative, creative and forward thinking.
• Experience and proficiency in food prep, baking and catering.
• Understand the restaurants and food/beverage services career pathway.
• Know how to practice safety, sanitation, and storage procedures in food preparation.
• Know how to identify and demonstrate the proper use of culinary equipment and tools.
• Relate the principles of nutrition to menu development.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Culinary Arts Instructor(s) and support the Light Café.
• Support efficient operation of back-of-house and front-of-house procedures.
• Assist with lab preparation, setup and demonstration.
• Maintain department equipment and labs and assist with inventory management.
• Assist with record keeping and purchasing documents.

Skills

Teaching experience

Organizational skills

Innovative thinking

Food prep

Baking

Catering

Safety procedures

Sanitation

Nutrition knowledge

Job description

• Position Type: Instructional Assistants/ Instructional Assistant
• Date Posted: 10/26/2026

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township (MSDWT) is located in the northern section of Indianapolis. It is a dynamic community with broad diversity in cultures, religions, ethnic groups, races, and socioeconomic levels. MSDWT has been an educational leader in Indiana for the last sixty years.

Our mission is to nurture our students into tomorrow's leaders by cultivating learning environments that ignite innovation, amplify diverse and critical thinking, and inspire growth and achievement.

JOB DETAILS

Job Title Culinary Arts Instructional Assistant

Location J. Everett Light Career Center

Calendar Length 185 Days (School Year)

FLSA Classification Non-Exempt/Hourly

Salary/Hourly Rate $19.50 ($28,860 annually) Additional compensation given for college degree

Benefits Paid leave days, paid holidays, retirement contributions (PERF, 401a, VEBA), life insurance and health, dental and vision insurance offerings.

JOB EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Position Purpose / Description

The Culinary Arts Support Specialist assists the Culinary Arts Instructor(s) in providing a high-quality, career-focused learning environment by supporting classroom instruction, laboratory preparation, café operations, inventory management, student assessments, and industry-related activities. This position helps ensure the efficient operation of both front-of-house and back-of-house functions, promotes Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, supports student success through differentiated instruction and adherence to Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and fosters strong partnerships with families, businesses, and community organizations to enhance work-based learning, mentoring, internship, and post-secondary opportunities.

Essential Functions

• Support the Culinary Arts Instructor(s).
• Support the Light Café.
• Support efficient operation of the back-of-the-house and front-of-the-house procedures.
• Assist with lab preparation, set up and demonstration.
• Help maintain department equipment and labs.
• Assist with Career-Technical Student Organization (contests).
• Monitor, promote and support Career-Technical education.
• Develop a marketing and public relations plan.
• Have excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Assist with inventory management.
• Assist with record keeping to include inventory logs, reference materials, and purchasing documents.
• Have knowledge in seeking and securing post-secondary opportunities.
• Adhere to all Individual Education Plans.
• Be able to differentiate instruction through tiered-leveled instruction.
• Administer assessments, as required.
• Be extremely flexible with school day and daily prep time.
• Have knowledge in marketing, business partnerships, project-based learning, mentoring, internships, and service learning opportunities.
• Develop a strong community and parental involvement.
• Seek or participate in Professional Development activities.
• Assist with covering all classes/programs as assigned.
• Complete mini-bus training and be available as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Teaching experience is highly desired.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Innovative, creative and forward thinking.
• Have experience and proficiency in food prep, baking and catering.
• Understand the restaurants and food/beverage services career pathway.
• Know how to practice safety, sanitation, and storage procedures in food preparation.
• Know how to identify and demonstrate the proper use of culinary equipment and tools.
• Relate the principles of nutrition to menu development.

Physical Demands

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

PERCENT OF TIME

Seldom = Less than 25%

Occasional = 26 to 50%

Often = 51 to 75%

Very Frequent = 76% and above

Ability to stand for extended periods of time

Very Frequent

Ability to carry more than 50 pounds

Very Frequent

Amount to lift more than 50 pounds

Very Frequent

Amount of force to push/pull up to more than 50pounds

Very Frequent

Ability to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations

Often

Ability to see for the purpose of reading laws and codes, rules and policies and other printed matter

Very Frequent

Ability to hear and understand speech at normal levels

Very Frequent

Ability to communicate so others will be able to clearly understand a normal conversation

Very Frequent

Ability to operate office equipment

Very Frequent

Ability to reach in all directions

Very Frequent

Climbing

Occasional

Often

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township is an equal opportunity/equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all applicable Federal and Indiana State laws, regulations, and executive orders in its programs and activities. Washington Township does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status.