Instructional Assistant - Exceptional Education

Richmond Public Schools; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Richmond Public Schools is seeking an Instructional Assistant for Exceptional Education at G.H. Reid Elementary in Richmond, VA.

This 9.5-month position (191 days, 7 hours) starts mid-August and supports instruction in an exceptional education classroom or one-to-one setting. The role requires ParaPro credential or equivalent education, with a preference for candidates with experience working with students with disabilities and strong communication and organizational abilities.

Qualifications

• Requires ParaPro assessment or an Associate's degree or 60 hours of college credits.
• Minimum one year of instructional assistant experience preferred.
• Experience with children with disabilities preferred.
• Excellent communication, organizational, time management and public relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist teacher with instructional activities and reinforce material presented.
• Support self-care activities to promote student independence.
• Prepare and maintain files and reports for students.
• Assist with individual and group instruction to meet student needs.
• Supervise students during the day and reinforce positive behavior.
• Assist with mobility, toileting and personal hygiene as needed.
• Maintain student records and gather/display educational materials.
• Perform other related tasks as required.

Skills

ParaPro Credential

Experience with disabilities

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Public relations skills

Basic math skills

PC skills

Education

Associate's degree or 60 college credits

ParaPro Assessment or equivalent

Job description

Instructional Assistant - Exceptional Education

Richmond City Public Schools G.H. Reid Elementary - Richmond, Virginia. Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5900137

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Aug 24, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Aug 17, 2026

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $30,600 to $47,058 Per Year

Job Description

Instructional Assistant - Exceptional Education

Terms of Employment: 9.5-month Support (191 Day, 7 hours)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Work Location: G.H. Reid Elementary School

Immediate Supervisor: School Principal

General Description: The Instructional Assistant a ssists the teacher or designated supervisor with instructional activities in an exceptional education classroom or one-to-one.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists student(s) in reinforcing material already presented through special efforts and repetitions.
• Assists student(s) with self-care areas to build independence.
• Prepares and maintains files and reports.
• Assists teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks.
• Assists the teacher in providing individual and group instruction designed to meet individual needs and supervises students in out-of-classroom activities during the assigned workday.
• Reinforces acceptable student behavior in a consistent and positive manner.
• Encourages proper care and use of school facilities, property and equipment and participates in curriculum development programs as required.
• Assists with toileting student(s), changing diapers and personal hygiene.
• Escorts student(s) when necessary and restrains out of control student(s) when necessary.
• Assists student(s) with mobility needs.
• Guides children in working and playing harmoniously with other children.
• Helps to maintain individual records for each student and collects and displays suitable materials for educational displays.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

Qualifications

• Passing score on the ParaPro Assessment or Associate’s degree or completion of 60 hours of college credits from an accredited college or university recognized by the Virginia Department of Education.
• A minimum of one year working experience as an instructional assistant preferred.
• Experience working with children with disabilities preferred.
• Excellent communication, organizational, time management and public relations skills are required.
• Must have the ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and demonstrate excellence in business English, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Must have good skills in operating personal computers and related software.
• Must be adaptable to changing priorities, have the ability to work independently and/or with minimum supervision, and the ability to effectively handle multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Have a good knowledge of and understanding of child growth, development and paraprofessional instructional procedures and practices.
• Considerable patience and the ability to work effectively with children with disabilities, young adults and faculty members are essential.
• Must be able to follow written and oral instructions and to perform all required tasks.
• Must have the ability to assist in the implementation of behavioral intervention programs for children with emotional/behavioral disorders and maintain student disability records in a highly confidential manner.
• Special Requirement: Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• If hired, you must complete online autism training within 60 days of start date. For information regarding the training and to complete the training modules please visit, vcuautismcenter.org .

General Conditions of Work: Work requires frequent standing, sitting, walking, vocal communication for expressing or exchanging ideas, hearing to perceive information at a normal spoken word level and visual acuity for preparing and analyzing written or computer data.

Contact Information

• Dr. Chantrese Rainey-Clayton , Principal
• G.H. Reid Elementary
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

Map

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