Instructional Assistant

Friendship Public Charter School; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Job summary

A public charter school network in Washington, DC, is seeking mission-aligned professionals for anticipated vacancies in the 2026–2027 school year. Successful candidates will support diverse learners, maintain effective communication with families, and foster an engaging classroom environment. Preferred qualifications include experience in youth development, strong communication skills, and a high school diploma or GED. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on students' lives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in youth development, child care, or school setting preferred.
• Energetic, reliable, flexible, and integrity-driven.
• Ability to maintain a patient and supportive relationship with assigned students required.
• Commitment to confidentiality and professional standards.

Responsibilities

• Support diverse learners with individualized help in behavior and academics.
• Maintain documentation and communicate progress to families.
• Foster a safe and engaging classroom environment.
• Maintains records and shares progress with the team and families.
• Maintains a safe, engaging centers-based classroom and supports daily activities.

Skills

Youth development experience

Strong communication skills

Ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics

Solution focused

Collaborative work environment

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Thank you for your interest in joining Friendship Public Charter School! We are excited to review applications for anticipated vacancies for the 2026–2027 school year. Our formal interview process will begin in January 2026 for all confirmed openings. Please note that some roles may be posted in advance of confirmation, and internal applicants will be considered first for any potential vacancies. Friendship Public Charter School operates a network of high‑performing, college‑preparatory public charter schools serving students from pre‑K3 through 12th grade. Our mission is to provide a world‑class education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for success in college, career, and life. We are seeking dedicated, mission‑aligned professionals to join our team for the 2026–2027 school year. If you are committed to accelerating student achievement, fostering joyful and rigorous learning, and preparing students for bright postsecondary futures, we encourage you to apply. We look forward to learning more about you and your passion for serving students in Washington, DC. For more information about our schools please visit the following Social Media pages: YouTube, Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter! Please see the available salary scales: FPCS Compensation.

Responsibilities

• Supports the creation of environments and instructional opportunities that meet the needs of diverse learners
• Provides individualized behavior and academic supports to improve children’s achievement of individual academic and behavioral goals in support of children’s IEP goals
• Consistently implements behavioral and academic strategies outlined in children’s IEPs
• Uses information and data from a variety of sources to understand children’s instructional needs and progress against IEP goals
• Maintains records and documentation
• Keeps other members of the classroom teaching team, appropriate service providers, and families informed of progress and challenges regarding the student
• Ensures a safe, clean, attractive and engaging centers‑based classroom that encourages both exploration and complex play for children with special needs
• Fosters tolerance and a sense of community in classrooms, modeling and explicitly teaching acceptance and appreciation of others
• Works with the teaching team to ensure the classroom contains sufficient supplies and materials for individualized instructional supports
• Assist young children with personal hygiene, meals and other daily activities
• Communicates the individual children’s goals and progress to families and also ways in which the family can support the child at home
• Plans collaboratively and shares ideas and resources with instructional team
• Collaborates with the teaching team to evaluate instructional effectiveness and to modify instructional approaches based on feedback
• Actively participates in professional development opportunities provided and seeks out additional professional development
• Maintains confidentiality and treats all information about children and their families in strictest confidence
• Fulfills the standards of professionalism including appropriate dress, attendance and timeliness

Qualifications

• Experience in the role preferred
• Minimum of 1 year experience in youth development, child care or a school setting strongly preferred. Candidates should be prepared to explain how they will support sucess for children in school settings
• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics. Must be energetic, reliable, flexible and integrity driven
• Strong communication skills in order to ensure effective, positive interactions with their teaching team, staff, parents and children.
• Solution focused and goal oriented
• Strong communication skills required in order to effectively engage with teachers, staff, parents, and children
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative work environment
• Ability to maintain a patient and supportive relationship with assigned students required
• High school diploma or General Education Development Certificate (GED) required

FPCS’s policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, status as a special disabled veteran, or any other protected criteria as established by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to recruitment and hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. Employment decisions at FPCS are based solely upon relevant criteria, including an individual’s capabilities, qualifications, training, experience and suitability.