Union County Public Schools
Job Description
POSITION TITLE:
Instructional Assistant -Pre-K
CONTRACT LENGTH: 10 Months
DATE: 06/08/2023 DATE OF LAST REVISION: 1/15/2026
FLSA EXEMPTION STATUS: Non-Exempt Pay Grade: 6, from $2,600.00/month
JOB SUMMARY: Under general supervision, an instructional assistant will
provide support and advancement of the execution of the classroom teachers
plan in an early childhood environment that guides and supports developmentally
appropriate practices, and encourages students with or without disabilities to
develop and fulfill their potential in the domains of approaches to play and
learning, emotional and social development, health and physical development,
language development and communication, and cognitive development.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Contribute to the classroom instructional plans by preparing and executing instructional
activities in conjunction with the teacher.
- Assist in delivering high quality instruction within the classroom setting to include large
and small groups, and individual supports.
- Provide supervision of students for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning
environment.
- Perform technical and clerical duties in both instructional and non-instructional capacities,
e.g. bulletin boards, data collection, and preparing materials to support the overall
achievement in the classroom.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist students with self-care skills e.g. toileting, diapering, dressing, and feeding as
needed.
- Participates in training and executes appropriate modifications and accommodations for
students with Individual Education Programs (IEP). Examples include, but are not limited
to, catheterization, tube feedings, diapering etc. if appropriate to specific classroom.
- Accurately maintain student/school records as required by state or federal laws, and
Union County Board of Education policies, and/or school-based request, and adhere to
confidentiality requirements of state and federal law.
- Manage student behavior in the classroom by establishing responsive relationships in a
high-quality environment, as described by the Preschool Pyramid Model (PPM).
- Observe and collect data using the statewide data collection platform, Teaching
Strategies Gold (TSG) on student performance, to deliver and modify instruction as
needed.
- Visually monitor and maintain safety of students throughout the day in various
environments e.g. Playgrounds, specialty areas, hallways, cafeteria etc.
- Effectively communicates necessary information, verbally and/or in writing, regularly to
classroom teacher and colleagues regarding student progress and individual needs.
- Effectively collaborate with colleagues to support a high-quality environment through
identifying shared roles and responsibilities in the classroom.
Union County Public Schools
Job Description
- Participate in meetings at the department, school, district, and/or parent/teacher
conferences.
- Provide for his/her own professional growth through an ongoing program of workshops,
seminars, conferences, and/or advanced coursework at institutions of higher learning.
- Other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL
JOB FUNCTIONS
Minimum Qualifications Desirable Qualifications
- EC and Title 1 Requirement - Highly
Qualified (HQ) standards for
Instructional Assistants
o Associate's degree or 48
hours of college credit or
o WorkKeys Occupational
Profile Assessment for
Teacher Assistants
o Paraprofessional Praxis test
or Paraprofessional
certification (another state)
- NCPK Requirements - Highly
Qualified (HQ) standards for
Instructional Assistants
o Hold a Child Development
Associate (CDA) credential,
or hold or be working toward
an associate degree or higher
in Birth thru Kindergarten,
Child Development,
Elementary Education,
Psychology, Sociology, Early
Childhood Education or an
early childhood education
related field. Instructional
Assistants working toward the
associate degree shall make
progress by completing a
minimum of 6 semester hours
per year.
Bachelor's degree in early childhood
education
Union County Public Schools
Job Description
In compliance with Federal Law, Union County Public Schools administers all
education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination
against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or
disability.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS
Ability to work with diverse individuals and/or group
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Requires the ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing in stressful and emergency situations
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Strength: Sedentary/Medium - Exert force 10-25 lbs., frequently; and up to 10 lbs., constantly;
or a negligible amount of force to frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. Note:
Individual may be required to assist in the lift of a student greater than 50 lbs.
Physical Demands: Frequent sitting, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, carrying, reaching,
handling, and repetitive fine motor activities. Hearing and speech to communicate in person
or over the telephone.
Vision: Frequent near acuity and occasional far acuity. Mobility to work in a typical office
setting and use standard office equipment. Vision to read printed materials, a VDT screen, or
other monitoring devices.
Environmental Conditions: Varies from indoors exposure to outside weather conditions
Exposure to noise levels ranging from moderate to loud.
Hazards: Hazards: Uneven walking/working surfaces, communicable diseases, human bite,
inhalation and/or exposure to chemicals (reference UCPS approved chemical list),
lifting/carrying of materials/individuals, and power/hand-operated equipment and machinery
(as related to specific assignment).