Instructional Assistant - SOAR

Charles County Public Schools; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles County Public Schools in Maryland is seeking a Special Education Instructional Assistant for the SOAR program to support inclusive instruction for students with Autism from kindergarten through high school. The role involves assisting teachers, preparing lessons, providing small-group reinforcement, and ensuring a safe, organized classroom.

A high school diploma and experience with children are required, with 18+ and age-based eligibility for older students.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• Experience working with children required.
• Ability to work with elementary, middle, or high school students.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to plan developmentally appropriate activities under teacher direction.
• Must be at least 18 years old for elementary schools.
• Must be at least 18 and 2 years out of high school for middle/high schools.

Responsibilities

• Assists teacher in planning instructional activities and maintaining a safe and orderly environment.
• Works with individuals or small groups to provide instructional reinforcement after the teacher delivers the instruction.
• Assists the teacher in preparing for a lesson.
• Performs related duties as assigned by the principal.
• Required to provide substitute coverage as needed.
• May require toileting depending upon the area/program assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the principal.

Skills

Experience working with children

Excellent communication skills

Organizational & time management

Ability to plan activities

Oral and written communication

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

• Locations 4740 Pisgah Marbury Rd, Marbury, MD, 20658, US
• Degree Level High School Graduate
• Job Schedule Full time
• School Type Elementary School
• School Year 2026-2027
• Schedule Full Time School Year
• Terms of Employment 10 - Month Employee
• Exemption Status Non-Exempt

Job Description

Special Education Instructional Assistant – SOAR

Structured teaching Opportunities for inclusion Active learning Rigor

SOARis a regionalized program for students with Autism, who require specialized instruction to access curriculum and develop skills essential to achieving independence. The SOAR program promotes self-advocacy, flexibility and generalization. The program serves students beginning in kindergarten through the end of the student's high school career and utilizes evidence-based practices to support academic, communication, social, adaptive and behavioral development.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

High school diploma required.

Experience working with children required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work in an instructional support role with elementary, middle, or high school aged children.
• Excellent human relations skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Knowledge of developmental stages of children.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to plan developmentally appropriate activities as directed by the teacher.
• Must be at least 18 years old to work in elementary schools.
• Must be at least 18 years old and out of high school for at least 2 years to work in middle and high schools.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Assists teacher in planning instructional activities and maintaining a safe and orderly environment.

Works with individuals or small groups to provide instructional reinforcement after the teacher delivers the instruction.

Assists the teacher in preparing for a lesson.

Performs related duties as assigned by the principal.

Required to provide substitute coverage as needed.

May require toileting depending upon the area/program assigned.

Other duties as assigned by the principal.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

Charles County Public Schools reserves the right to re-advertise and modify the content of vacancy announcements at any time; however, this may be the only notice for this position during the noted advertisement period.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Michael Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.