The Stepping Stones Group
Make a Difference Every Day
Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!
School-Based Instructional Assistant | Full-Time | K-12 Special Education | Multiple Openings
About the Opportunity
Are you patient, dependable, and ready to help students with exceptional learning needs? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking dedicated Instructional Assistants to join our team in school-based special education programs for the 2026-2027 school year. This is more than a job. It's a chance to work alongside classroom teachers, helping students build academic, social, communication, and practical life skills while becoming more independent and confident. We have multiple full-time openings across several schools.
You'll assist the classroom teacher with instruction and supervision, working with students one-on-one and in small groups.
- Pay: $20.00-$23.50 per hour
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 32.5 hours per week (6.5 hours per day plus a 30-minute unpaid break), within a 7:30 AM-4:30 PM window, no evenings or overnights
- Setting: Onsite, K-12, one-on-one, two-on-one, and classroom support in general education and special education settings
- Sites: Assignments across multiple school sites, with reliable transportation required
- Start date: Immediate, through the end of the 2026-27 school year (early June)
- Employment type: W-2
- Location: Shared with candidates during the application process
What You'll Do
- Help teach students individually and in small groups, including academic and developmentally appropriate activities, social interactions, communication, practical life skills, and behavior management
- Monitor students and keep classroom activities going when the teacher is interrupted or busy with other program activities
- Use strategies, as directed, to build student independence and confidence, and to manage behavior
- Use safe lifting, positioning, and transferring techniques to meet students' needs
- Assist with personal hygiene, toileting, diapering, changing clothes, and feeding
- Collect data for Medical Assistance logs and IEP progress reporting
- Prepare and use instructional and classroom materials
- Operate computers, assistive technology devices, and other classroom equipment
- Keep daily attendance records and do clerical work for classroom programs
- Prepare, send, and collect notes to and from parents
- Escort students to the nurse, therapies, general education classes, and activities
- Supervise and assist with self-help skills, such as feeding and drinking at snack and lunch
- Monitor outdoor and physical activities, and help with bus and van loading and unloading
- Assist related services staff with therapies as needed
- Help arrange community-based activities and support special projects
- Maintain complete confidentiality, and act as a positive role model for students
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED
- Ability to complete required state clearances and background checks
- Ability to work in a team environment and maintain complete confidentiality
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with patience, understanding, and a friendly manner
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to complete a safety restraint protocol training, including standing, walking, running, kneeling, bending, and learning multi-step physical skills
- Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, and reach, and to move independently around work areas
- Comfort with toileting and diapering assistance
- Reliable transportation to travel between assigned school sites
- Authorization to work in the United States; English proficiency
You'll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:
- Working with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional disturbance (ED), other health impairments (OHI), and significant behavioral needs
- Working with medically fragile students
- Providing toileting and diapering assistance
- Working with students of all ages, from kindergarten through 12th grade
- Working in both general education and special education settings
- Adjusting your caseload or school site based on program needs
- Working fully onsite and in person
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate's degree or highly qualified paraprofessional status
- Experience in a school or special education setting
- Experience with behavior support strategies or applied behavior analysis (ABA)
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification, or willingness to obtain it
- CPR and First Aid certification
- CPI, Safety-Care, or other crisis prevention and de-escalation training
Related Experience We Value
Experience as an Instructional Assistant, Instructional Aide, Paraprofessional, Teacher Assistant, Educational Assistant, Classroom Aide, Special Education Assistant, Behavior Technician, Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Student Support Assistant, or Direct Support Professional (DSP) is highly valued.
Why Candidates Choose This Role
- Gain hands-on experience in special education and student support
- Make a direct impact on students' independence and confidence
- Build experience for careers in teaching, special education, psychology, counseling, social work, and healthcare
- Follow a predictable school schedule, with weekends, evenings, holidays, and school breaks typically off
- Work alongside experienced teachers, therapists, and related services staff
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Competitive pay of $20.00-$23.50 per hour
- Health and wellness benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance and 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Continuing education resources
- Employee referral bonus program
- Responsive and supportive leadership
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
- Meaningful work that directly impacts students and communities
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, and communicate effectively
- Ability to use safe lifting, positioning, and transferring techniques
- Ability to complete a safety restraint protocol, which includes standing, walking, running, and shuffling for several minutes, kneeling on one and two knees and standing back up, bending the trunk and twisting, raising hands above the head, and demonstrating multi-step physical skills
- Ability to move independently in and around work areas and travel to assigned locations
- Manual dexterity to carry out duties
- Additional requirements may vary by assignment
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?
Successful Instructional Assistants are patient, dependable, observant, and student-focused. They work well on a team, use sound judgment, keep information confidential, and help students build independence and confidence every day.
About The Stepping Stones Group
We believe every child deserves exceptional support for their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth. We partner with schools across the country to provide high-quality educational services that help students build confidence, develop new skills, and reach meaningful milestones, and we give our team members the support, training, and resources to thrive.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today. Please include your city, state, and zip code when you apply, and confirm that you have reliable transportation. Qualified candidates may be invited to an in-person interview.