Teacher Assistant

Pawtucket School Department; Pawtucket (RI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Pawtucket School Department in Pawtucket, Rhode Island seeks a Teacher Assistant to support classroom teachers with academic and behavioral interventions for students with special needs. This role collaborates with a Special Education Administrator and School Principal to implement IEP goals and maintain a positive learning environment.

Responsibilities include assisting in reading, writing, and mathematics instruction, supporting students in daily activities, and helping manage classroom

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's degree or higher, or 2 years of higher education, or ParaPro Exam completion.
• RI-approved Teacher Assistant Pre-Employment Training or TA certification from another state.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic and behavioral support to students as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assist in implementing IEP goals, 504 accommodations, and ELL accommodations.
• Help maintain a safe, organized classroom and provide behavioral support as needed.
• Assist arrival, dismissal, recess, and bus related activities.
• Support students with daily living activities and mobility needs as appropriate.
• Use de-escalation techniques (CPI) to assist in crisis situations.
• Perform paperwork as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assist in preparing classroom spaces as needed.

Skills

Confidentiality

Communication with special needs

Team collaboration

Reading/writing/mathematics support

Judgment and policies knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Individualized student support

Observation and recording

Relationship building

Task and paperwork completion

Education

High School Diploma

Associate's degree or higher or 2 years study or ParaPro readiness

RI Pre-Employment TA Training or TA certification

Job description

Pawtucket School Department Pawtucket School Department - Pawtucket, Rhode Island Open in Google Maps

Teacher Assistant

Pawtucket School Department Pawtucket School Department - Pawtucket, Rhode Island Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5971039

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Oct 26, 2026 12:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Teacher Assistants assist the classroom teacher in the delivery of educational and/or behavioral interventions for special education students. Due to the varied and individual needs of each student, Teacher Assistants may provide a variety of support and assistance and should be flexible in adjusting to students' needs. Building Assistants are directed daily by the School Principal to provide support as needed in the school. Teacher Assistants report directly to the School Principal in collaboration with a Special Education Administrator.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides academic support to students as directed by the classroom teacher and other staff that may be responsible for the implementation of IEPs.
• Assist classroom teacher in implementing IEP goals, 504 accommodations, and ELL accommodations.
• Assists classroom teacher with special education students to enable learning with minimal disruptions to other students.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and organized classroom environment
• Provides behavioral support as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Assists students at arrival, dismissal, recess, and busing.
• Provides assistance to enable students with disabilities to accomplish activities of daily living and tasks (eating, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking, communicating, navigating the school environment, etc.)
• Use de-escalation techniques (CPI) to assist with behavioral non-compliance and to work with students in crisis to enable their return to the proper academic setting.
• May attend to the physical needs of students; may include handling equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, or other equipment.
• Completes necessary paperwork of students at the direction of the classroom teacher.
• May assist in the preparation of the classroom as directed by the classroom teacher.
• Ability to perform other duties assigned by the school principal in order to meet the specific needs of the Pawtucket School Department and its students.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with children with special needs
• Ability to work as a team member with building staff to provide services to children
• Ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics
• Ability to use sound judgment and knowledge of student behaviors and school department policies and procedures to make decisions
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with individual students or groups of students according to the instructional plan.
• Ability to assist students’ educational needs, including personal, emotional, and skill development.
• Ability to observe and record information about student performance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to practice patience with employees, students, supervisors and the general public
• Timely completion of tasks and paperwork requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Associate's degree or higher or completion of at least 2 years of study at an institute of higher education or have passed the ParaPro Exam.
• Completion of the State of RI Approved Teacher Assistant Pre-Employment Training Program or certified as a TA in another state or obtained an associate or bachelor’s degree and have completed coursework or other training consistent with the teacher assistant program standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bi-lingual
• CPI training
• CPR/AED training
• Previous experience working with children
• Previous education in early childhood or special education

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Frequently required to stand, sit, and walk
• Frequently required to talk and hear
• Must be able to feel attributes of objects, grasp, push, reach, and stoop/kneel/crouch
• Occasional lifting or carrying weighing up to 50 pounds
• Must have clarity of vision, precise hand-eye coordination, and the ability to identify students and ensure safety
• The work environment is typically within a school classroom setting, although the employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions related to outdoor recreation events
• May be exposed to bodily fluids when assisting students with physical needs

YEARLY REQUIREMENT

• Professional Development hours as set and approved by the Pawtucket School Department

Position Type: Full-time

Job Categories:

Instructional Support > Paraprofessional / IA

Job Requirements

• .
• High School/Trade School degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Human Resources
• 286 Main Street
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]