Kindergarten Assistant

Sylvania; Bridgeport (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Merion Area School District seeks a Kindergarten Assistant for Bridgeport Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year. The role supports students with behavioral and academic needs, following IEPs and behavior plans, and collaborates with multiple teachers.

The position runs 8:30 am–3:45 pm, 195 days over 10 months, with compensation per hour. Applicants must have 48 post-secondary credits, an associate’s degree, or PDE credential and clearances as required.

Qualifications

• Education: 48 post-secondary credits, an associate's degree, or PDE Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraeducators.
• Experience & Mindset: patience, empathy, and understanding to guide young children with behavioral and attention needs.
• Knowledge Base: basic early child development knowledge and positive behavior strategies for exceptional learners.
• Adaptability: flexibility and self-motivation across changing classrooms and behaviors.
• Teamwork: ability to build rapport with diverse students and work with multiple teachers.
• Original certificates of clearance from the State Police, Child Abuse Registry, and PDE FBI.

Responsibilities

• Behavioral and executive support to individual students or small groups needing prompts and redirection.
• Plan implementation and data collection for positive behavior plans, accommodations, and IEPs; report progress.
• Crisis intervention and safety support with de-escalation and approved physical techniques when needed.
• Social-emotional responsiveness to students’ needs; model positive interactions.
• Collaboration across the elementary teacher team to support blocks with high behavioral needs.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding student information and performance.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Patience

Empathy

Flexibility

Initiative

Teamwork

Rapport building

Education

48 post-secondary credits / associate's degree / PDE credential

Job description

A Vacancy exists for a Kindergarten Assistant for Bridgeport Elementary, School Year 2026-2027

Salary Range: $18.00- $20.30/hour

Hours: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Terms of Employment: 195days/10 Months

Qualifications:

• Education: Minimum of forty-eight (48) post-secondary credits, an associate's degree, or Bureau of Special Education Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraeducators.
• Experience & Mindset: Possesses specific patience, empathy, and understanding required to offer firm yet nurturing direction to young children experiencing acute behavioral and attention difficulties.
• Knowledge Base: Possesses foundational knowledge of early child development, general learning principles, and positive behavior intervention strategies as they apply to young, exceptional learners.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates a high level of flexibility, initiative, and self-motivation when moving between classrooms and managing shifting behavioral dynamics.
• Teamwork: Proven ability to establish rapid rapport with diverse students and collaborate effectively under the direction of multiple classroom teachers.
• Original certificates of clearance from the State Police, Child Abuse Registry, and PDE FBI.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Behavioral & Executive Support: Provides targeted assistance to individual students or small groups who require frequent prompts, redirection, positive reinforcement, and emotional regulation strategies to access the kindergarten curriculum and navigate classroom transitions.
• Plan Implementation & Data Collection: Assists in executing positive behavior support plans, specially designed instruction, and accommodations outlined in student IEPs. Collaborates with the teaching team to collect data and report behavioral/academic progress to the case manager or lead teacher.
• Crisis Intervention & Safety: Assists teachers in maintaining a predictable, healthy, and safe classroom environment. This includes applying appropriate de-escalation techniques and, when necessary, utilizing approved physical intervention strategies to prevent a student from hurting themselves or others.
• Social-Emotional Responsiveness: Responds adaptively to the immediate social and emotional needs of young students. Requires the assistant to be highly perceptive to individual triggers, make sound spontaneous judgments regarding intervention techniques, and model positive prosocial interactions.
• Collaboration & Team Support: Floats effectively across the assigned elementary team of teachers to provide support where behavioral or attention needs are highest during critical academic and social blocks.
• Confidentiality: Uses strict discretion when discussing student behavioral or academic performance and maintains absolute student confidentiality.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MINORITY APPLICANTS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Upper Merion Area School District is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate based on race, color, religious affiliation, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or non-relevant handicaps and disabilities in its activities, programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504. The district's commitment to non-discrimination extends to students, employees, prospective employees, and the community. For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, or for information regarding services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to and usable by handicapped persons, contact Caitlin Navarro, Director of Human Resources, Upper Merion Area School District, 435 Crossfield Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.