Instructional Aide (7 Hours per Day/10 Months), 2 Positions Available (SY 25-26)

Cambridge Public Schools; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge Public Schools seeks an Instructional Aide to support classroom learning at the Morse School. The ideal candidate will assist in fostering a safe, positive educational environment for diverse students, with a focus on inclusivity and collaborative teaching practices. This position emphasizes respect for diversity and requires relevant educational qualifications.

Qualifications

• Experience in urban, multicultural settings preferred.
• Ability to speak multiple languages a plus.
• Demonstrated respect for diversity.

Responsibilities

• Assist the classroom teacher in implementing curriculum.
• Plan lessons for small and large groups.
• Keep track of student progress through assessments.

Skills

Respect for diversity

Positive self-image development

Urban, multicultural experience

Teaching small and large groups

Education

Associate's degree or 48 college credits

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Position:

Instructional Aide (7 hours per day/10 months), 2 Positions Available

Morse School

The Morse School Community:

The Morse School serves children and families from every Cambridge neighborhood and from over 40 different countries. At the Morse School, we nurture not only our children’s curiosity and intellectual skills, but also their healthy social and emotional development. Morse School families, teachers and staff members work together to foster a sense of safety and belonging and to support students in developing a sense of civic responsibility and an appreciation for people with different origins, identities, beliefs and learning styles. We strive to promote a sense of community, where all adults and children feel respected and appreciated. The Morse School follows an inclusion model, with English learners and students with moderate disabilities learning alongside their general education peers with support from special educators, ESL teachers, related service providers, and interventionists.

We are actively working towards becoming an antiracist school, and are taking steps towards identifying and dismantling racist structures, hearing and elevating underrepresented voices, and striving to achieve an equitable and just educational experience for all students.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative instructional aide to help foster a safe and positive classroom environment in which students engage in rigorous and joyful learning experiences. This individual will assist the classroom teacher in implementing a curriculum based on children's individual developmental needs in order to provide a creative learning environment focused on high academic achievement, excellence, respect for differences, and collaborative relationships. Specifically, the instructional aide will be under the supervision of the classroom teacher and principal to create a learning environment where each child feels a sense of belonging and is progressing at an optimal rate.

The duties of the paraprofessional will include (but not be limited to):

• Planning for and teaching small and large groups;
• Assisting in developing units of study with the assistance of the teacher;
• Keeping track of student progress through assessment and record-keeping systems;
• Preparing materials and performing other tasks requested by the teacher.
• Assisting the teacher in providing a safe and effective learning environment in which behaviors that interfere with learning are prevented and/or addressed; and,
• Any other tasks as directed by the classroom teacher, principal, or assistant principal.
• Toileting of students is a duty that an individual may be expected and required to perform as a paraprofessional employed by the Cambridge Public Schools

The Morse School serves children and families from a diverse range of racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We recognize that elementary-aged children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in the adults around them and we are eager to field applications from a range of candidates whose backgrounds mirror the diversity of the students we serve.

Your Skill Set:

As an Instructional Aide, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Associate's degree, or 48 college credits (bachelor's degree preferred);
• Previous coursework in the education of elementary grade children preferred;
• Previous successful experience working with children in an urban, multicultural setting, preferably at the elementary level;
• Demonstrated ability to respect diversity and help children develop a positive self-image as successful learners; and,
• Ability to speak Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Chinese, or Spanish a plus.

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.