Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (SY 26-27)

Cunniff Elementary School; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cunniff Elementary School in Watertown, MA is seeking a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (SY 26-27) to support teachers and students. The role emphasizes assisting with instructional periods, data upkeep, and implementing behavior plans to help students access curriculum.

The candidate should have a High School Diploma or GED and at least two years of relevant experience; ABA familiarity is preferred. Full-time position with typical school-year responsibilities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of two years experience with young children.
• Authorization to work in the United States by first day of employment.
• Ability to follow directions and work with elementary students with needs.
• Experience with ABA or willingness to learn ABA techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provide supports to students during instructional and non-instructional periods.
• Maintain student data as directed by teachers/related service providers.
• Follow behavior support plans as provided by teachers/related service providers.
• Provide overall support to the classroom teacher and student as needed.
• Adapt assistance based on student learning styles and development.
• Provide verbal support, prompting, redirection, and modeling to help students access activities.
• React professionally to unpredictable situations and perform other duties as required.

Skills

Experience with young children

ABA techniques

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Assistive technology

PECS system

Job description

Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (SY 26-27)

Watertown Public Schools Cunniff Elementary School - Watertown, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (SY 26-27)

Watertown Public Schools Cunniff Elementary School - Watertown, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Watertown Public Schools (MA)

Job Details

Job ID: 5940598

Application Deadline: Oct 16, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Posted: Sep 25, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Oct 1, 2025

Job Description

Position: Instructional Assistant

Position Type: Full-time

Department: Kindergarten

Location: Cunniff Elementary School

Reports to: School Principal

Affiliation: WEA Unit D

Salary range: Per the Unit D Salary Scale

General Description:

Instructional Assistants will assist teachers in providing an innovative, high quality education program designed to meet the needs of the children in the Watertown Public Schools. Paraprofessionals will work with school staff to create an educational environment in which quality and continuity are key factors in educating the students of the Watertown Public Schools.

Responsibilities :

Under direction from the school administration, general education teacher, special education teacher, and related service providers, provide needed supports to students during instructional periods as well as non-instructional activities

• Maintain student data as directed by teachers /related service providers
• Follow and implement behavior support plans as provided by teachers/related service providers
• Provide overall support to the classroom teacher and student, based on the needs of the student and the classroom
• Incorporate knowledge of student learning styles and child development to assist student learning
• Recognize when teaching and learning strategies are not successful and seek the guidance of the classroom teacher to adapt assistance accordingly
• Provide verbal support, prompting, redirection, and modeling in helping the student(s) access the activities of the curriculum
• React professionally and objectively to unpredictable situations (e.g. environmental changes, behavior/aggression, etc.)
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications Required:

• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two years experience working with young children.
• Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment
• Flexibility with respect to age groups, assignments
• Ability to follow through with directions
• Experience working with students at the elementary level who have significant learning and social/emotional needs
• Experience implementing Behavior Intervention Plans and an understanding of functions of behaviors
• Must have experience with or ability to learn ABA methodology and techniques
• Ability to take initiative to complete tasks and to assist students with de-escalation techniques and executive functioning skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as a part of a team
• Experience with, or ability to learn to utilize, assistive technology and PECS functional communication systems in support of students

Preferred:

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.
• Certification as a teacher or license as a social worker.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer Watertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination and the ability to distinguish color. The employee must be able to read printed matter with or without visual aids. The employee must be able to visually supervise students in small and large group settings as well as vocational or community settings. The employee must be able to communicate effectively with other staff members in order to exchange accurate information.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in this environment may be quiet to loud depending on the activity and the particular time of the day and location. The activity level in a classroom, school and community-based settings is often busy. The employee interacts with other staff members and occasionally must meet multiple demands from several people.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Equal Opportunity Employer Watertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Categories:

• Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA

Job Requirements

• At least 1 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.
• High School/Trade School degree preferred.

Contact Information

• Julia MacEwan , Principal
• Cunniff Elementary School
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

Map

The content you submit, offer, contribute, attach, post, or display (each a "Submission") will be viewed by other users of the service who may or may not be accurately representing who they are or who they represent. Do not include any sensitive data in your submissions. Any submission or any use or reliance on any content or materials posted via the service or obtained by you through the use of the service is at your own risk. "Sensitive data" for purposes of this section means social security or other government-issued identification numbers, medical or health information, account security information, individual financial account information, credit/debit/gift or other payment card information, account passwords, individual credit and income information or any other sensitive personal data as defined under applicable laws.