Short-Term Substitute Preschool Instructional Assistant (Anticipated until 11/12/2026)

Early Steps Integrated Preschool; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Early Steps Integrated Preschool in Watertown, MA is seeking a Short-Term Substitute Preschool Instructional Assistant to support our preschool classrooms. This temporary role starts immediately and runs through 11/12/2026, with a daily rate of $139.00.

The Instructional Assistant will collaborate with the classroom team, help implement behavior support plans, and assist with instructional activities, data collection, and student engagement for children with diverse learning needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two years experience working with young children.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States by start date.
• Experience with students with significant learning and social/emotional needs.
• Experience implementing Behavior Intervention Plans and understanding functions of behaviors.
• Ability to learn/implement ABA methods and de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Experience with assistive technology and PECS.

Responsibilities

• 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 needs of the student and classroom.
• Incorporate knowledge of student learning styles and child development to assist student learning.
• Provide verbal support, prompting, redirection, and modeling for activities of the curriculum.
• React professionally to unpredictable situations and adapt assistance as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Early childhood

ABA techniques

De-escalation

Team collaboration

Behavior support

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree

Teaching certification or social worker license

Tools

PECS functional communication systems

Assistive technology

Job description

Short-Term Substitute Preschool Instructional Assistant (Anticipated until 11/12/2026)

Watertown Public Schools Early Steps Integrated Preschool - Watertown, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

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

Job Details

Job ID: 5959960
Application Deadline: Oct 23, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Oct 14, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Position: Instructional Assistant

Position Type: Temporary Short Term Substitute

Department:Preschool

Location:Early Steps Preschool

Reports to: School Principal

Affiliation:Non-algined

Salary range: $139.00 Per Day

THIS ISA SHORT TERM SUB POSITION that is expected to start immediately.

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.

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.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. 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: Long Term Substitute

Contact Information

• Christine Gibelli , Principal
• Early Steps Integrated Preschool
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

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