GSRP Classroom Aide

Kentwood Public Schools; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Kentwood Public Schools seeks a GSRP Classroom Aide to provide essential coverage and support during breaks, ensuring uninterrupted classroom routines in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The role emphasizes safety, inclusion, and collaboration with lead teachers and families.

The successful candidate will assist with transitions, maintain positive student engagement, and help keep accurate records per grant and district policies.

Qualifications

• Clear, concise written and verbal communication.
• Bilingual skills are highly desired for family engagement and support.

Responsibilities

• Provide classroom coverage during lead teachers' breaks to maintain routine and flow.
• Assist with transitions, supervise students, and uphold behavior expectations.
• Create a safe, clean, and nurturing learning space for all students.
• Model positive behavior and support social-emotional growth among students.
• Build strong relationships with students and collaborate with teachers and staff.
• Communicate with parents during drop-off and pick-up to share updates.
• Ensure compliance with GSRP grant guidelines and district health/safety policies.
• Maintain accurate attendance, meal tracking, and behavioral notes as required.

Skills

Clear communication

Bilingual preferred

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Position: GSRP Classroom Aide

Wage: $18.39 per hour/Employment for this role is processed through EduStaff.

Position Purpose: The Classroom Aide provides classroom coverage and support by relieving lead and associate teachers during scheduled break times. This role ensures uninterrupted supervision and safety for students.

Essential Job Functions

• Seamlessly provide break coverage for lead teachers, ensuring zero disruption to daily routines, schedules, and lesson flow.
• Manage classroom transitions smoothly during teacher absences or breaks, maintaining established behavioral expectations and group engagement.
• Create and cultivate a safe, clean, and nurturing learning space where every student feels valued, included, and secure.
• Promote a positive atmosphere by modeling prosocial behaviors, supporting social-emotional growth, and encouraging peer inclusion.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with students through supportive interactions, active listening, and gentle guidance.
• Collaborate effectively with classroom teachers and school staff to receive instruction, share student progress, and ensure aligned classroom strategies.
• Engage professionally and warmly with parents and family members during drop-off and pick-up transitions to maintain open lines of communication.
• Ensure all classroom routines, child-to-staff ratios, and supervisory practices strictly adhere to Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) grant guidelines.
• Maintain strict compliance with district policies, state licensing rules, and health and safety regulations at all times.
• Assist with accurate record-keeping, such as attendance, meal tracking, or behavioral notes, as required by grant and department standards.
• Regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

Additional Duties: Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Director, Dean and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.

Note: This description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities and is not meant to be all-inclusive.

Equipment: Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone.

Travel Requirements: Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written communication. Bilingual skills are highly desired
• Excellent written and verbal skills in large and small groups.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with families, students, staff, and building leadership.
• Ability to work in an economically, culturally, and racially diverse environment.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt quickly in dynamic classroom environments.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Experience working with young children is strongly preferred.

Physical And Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• ADA Requirements: The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment), taste and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.
• Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.
• Mental Functions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Kentwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in its employment decisions or the provision of services.