Elementary Teaching Assistant, Alpha - $75,000/year USD

Alpha School; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpha School is seeking an Elementary Teaching Assistant to efficiently manage a busy K-8 classroom and keep lessons on track. This hands-on role emphasizes smooth transitions, prepared materials, and high student engagement to support the Guide's instruction.

You will be in the classroom all day, moving between activities, prompting students, and ensuring operations run smoothly. A Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of relevant experience are required for this on-site position in Palo Alto.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any subject.
• At least 1 year leading or supervising groups of K-8 students in a structured setting (school, camp, tutoring, coaching, childcare, or after-school program), with responsibility for daily routines and student engagement
• Demonstrated ability to maintain structure, consistency, and positive engagement in group settings
• Comfortable actively redirecting and motivating children throughout the school day
• At least 1 year handling daily operational tasks, with a record of completing time-sensitive work reliably
• Willing to work in person at an Alpha campus
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Run tight, on-time transitions between activities by monitoring the clock, prompting students, and keeping movement orderly
• Prepare and set up complete, accurate classroom materials before each activity so lessons start clean and stay on plan
• Monitor student engagement during lessons and activities and use Alpha-approved techniques to redirect resistance or off-task behavior in the moment
• Reinforce expectations and routines so the Guide can teach without stopping to regain control

Skills

Group leadership

Student engagement

Classroom management

Time management

In-person collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

1 year leading or supervising K-8 groups

Maintain structure and engagement in group settings

Redirecting and motivating children

1 year daily operational tasks experience

In-person work at Alpha campus

Authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship

Job description

"I got my time back, and I still get to be passionate and work with students." — Christie, former school principal, now Alpha Reading Specialist

Alpha is hiring.

This is for someone who already knows how to keep a room full of K-8 students moving, focused, and on track—without needing to be the person writing the lesson. You will be in motion all day. You will redirect in real time. If you want a quiet job where you stand back and observe, this is not it.

Alpha is a non-traditional private school built around AI-powered, mastery-based learning. Students move fast, and the day only works when operations are tight. This is an on-site, full-time role (40 hours/week) at an Alpha campus, open to candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship. Compensation is $75,000/year.

You will own the execution details that make great instruction possible: smooth classroom transitions, materials ready before lessons start, and students engaged so the Guide can keep teaching. Success is measurable here—95%+ on-time transitions and 90%+ student satisfaction each semester.

What You Will Be Doing

• Run tight, on-time transitions between activities by monitoring the clock, prompting students, and keeping movement orderly


• Prepare and set up complete, accurate classroom materials before each activity so lessons start clean and stay on plan


• Monitor student engagement during lessons and activities and use Alpha-approved techniques to redirect resistance or off-task behavior in the moment


• Reinforce expectations and routines so the Guide can teach without stopping to regain control

What You Won’t Be Doing

• Design lesson plans or own curriculum decisions


• Sit behind a desk while behavior issues build up; you will step in early and often


• Work in a low-interaction environment; this is hands-on, student-facing work all day


• Be the primary motivational lead for a cohort; you support execution and engagement while the Guide leads instruction

Elementary Teaching Assistant Key Responsibilities

Ensure 95%+ on-time classroom transitions and 90%+ student satisfaction each semester by eliminating operational gaps so Guides can stay focused on instruction.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in any subject


• At least 1 year leading or supervising groups of K-8 students in a structured setting (school, camp, tutoring, coaching, childcare, or after-school program), with responsibility for daily routines and student engagement


• Demonstrated ability to maintain structure, consistency, and positive engagement in group settings


• Comfortable actively redirecting and motivating children throughout the school day


• At least 1 year handling daily operational tasks, with a record of completing time-sensitive work reliably


• Willing to work in person at an Alpha campus


• Authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship

About Alpha

Join the team building school around student growth

Alpha reimagines the school day around faster learning, stronger mentorship, and more time for students to build real-world skills.

Roles with real student impact:

Alpha hires teachers (guides), operators, admissions experts, school & curriculum leaders, and remote team members.

Education work that pays like it matters:

Alpha offers six-figure roles for people ready to help build a radically better school experience.

A culture built for builders:

Alpha is fast-moving, ambitious, and student focused. It’s for people who want to improve the system, not maintain it.

Alpha is where you can do the most meaningful work of your career.

There is so much to cover for this exciting role, and space here is limited. We look forward to meeting you!

Working with us

This is a full-time, W2 employee position with immediate access to benefits (https://support.crossover.com/article/7581-w2-benefits-u-s-paychex-paid-only). All roles are year-long positions. The compensation level for this role is $75,000 USD/year. The payment period is weekly. Consult www.crossover.com/help-and-faqs for more details on this topic.