Instructional Associates Specialized (Transitional Kindergarten - TK) - ParaEducator/ParaProfes[...]

ReNEW Schools; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

San José Unified is seeking an Instructional Associate - Transitional Kindergarten in San José to support our youngest learners as they begin their educational journey. You will help create a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom environment where students build foundational academic, social-emotional, and developmental skills through play-based and hands-on learning experiences.

Through patience, encouragement, and collaboration with teachers and families, you will help students develop

Qualifications

• Experience working with young children in an instructional setting.
• Familiarity with assessment processes used for instructional associates.
• Prior exposure to special needs or inclusive classrooms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the teacher in creating a safe, nurturing learning environment for young children.
• Assist with activities that promote early literacy, math, language, and social-emotional development.
• Provide individualized and small group support during instructional and play-based activities.
• Supervise students in class, on the playground, and during transitions with care and respect.
• Support routines and independence skills appropriate for Transitional Kindergarten.
• Assist students with toileting and personal care needs as needed.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom.
• Collaborate with teachers, staff, and families to support student growth and well-being.
• Observe and document student progress or behaviors as directed.
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and positive relationships with students, families, and staff.

Skills

Special needs experience

Assessment familiarity

Early childhood education

Education

Associates Degree or higher

Two years of college

Crisis Intervention training

Job description

Salary: $25.43 per hour plus fully paid employee medical and dental benefits. Salary is non-negotiable.

The impact you will have: As an Instructional Associate - Transitional Kindergarten in San José Unified, you will play an important role in supporting our youngest learners as they begin their educational journey. You will help create a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom environment where students build foundational academic, social-emotional, and developmental skills through play-based and hands-on learning experiences. Through patience, encouragement, and collaboration with teachers and families, you will help students develop confidence, independence, positive relationships, and a love of learning that supports long-term success. A more detailed job description is available at https://sjusd.box.com/v/IA-Specialized

Who you are: You are a caring and patient professional who enjoys supporting young children during their earliest school experiences. You create warm, engaging, and supportive interactions that help students feel safe, confident, and excited to learn. You are collaborative, flexible, and committed to helping students build foundational academic, social-emotional, and independence skills in a nurturing classroom environment.

As an Instructional Associate - Transitional Kindergarten, you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Supporting the teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children
• Assisting with classroom activities that promote early literacy, math, language, social-emotional, and developmental skills
• Providing individualized and small group support to students during instructional and play-based learning activities
• Supervising students in the classroom, on the playground, during transitions, and throughout the school day in a caring and respectful manner
• Supporting positive behavior, routines, and independence skills appropriate for Transitional Kindergarten students
• Assisting students with toileting an other personal care needs
• Helping maintain a clean, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment
• Collaborating with teachers, staff, and families to support student growth and well-being
• Observing and documenting student progress or behaviors as directed
• Maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and positive relationships with students, families, and staff

What you bring:

• One of the following:
• Passage of the San José Unified Instructional Associate Assessment (view tutorial here). This will be completed after your application and interview, or
• an Associates Degree or higher,
• two years of college (48 units)
• Prior experience working with students with special needs is preferred
• Completion of San José Unified’s Crisis Intervention training within 60 days of start date.

Roles Available:

SB 848 Child Safety & Employment Disclosure Requirement

Effective January 1, 2026, in accordance with California Senate Bill 848 (School Employee Misconduct/Child Abuse Prevention Act), applicants for employment with San José Unified are subject to enhanced child safety, training, and employment disclosure requirements.

Under SB 848, schools are required to strengthen background vetting procedures and obtain employment history information related to allegations of egregious misconduct involving students. Former employers may be contacted to release records regarding substantiated findings of misconduct as permitted by law. Failure to provide complete and accurate information regarding prior educational employment or relevant misconduct findings may result in disqualification from the hiring process or withdrawal of an offer of employment.

SB 848 also expands mandated reporter requirements and requires annual child abuse prevention training for employees and certain volunteers by July 1, 2026. All employees must comply with district‑adopted child safety policies, including procedures for supervising and protecting students.

San José Unified is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and will review all disclosures and employment records in accordance with state law.