What are the responsibilities and job description for the Instructional Assistant position at BERKELEY SCHOOLS?
Instructional Assistant
Education and Training
Under the direction of a certificated administrator, assist certificated teacher(s) in reinforcing instruction to individual or small groups of students in an educational environment; assist in the preparation of instructional materials and implementation of lesson plans; provide routine clerical support
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
- Tutor individual or small groups of students, reinforcing instruction as directed by the teacher; monitor and oversee student drills, practices and assignments in various subjects
- Perform routine clerical duties in support of classroom activities such as preparing, keyboarding, duplicating and filing instructional materials; under the guidance of the classroom teacher, grade student tests and assignments and record grades; assist with maintaining student records and files as assigned
- Assist students in completing classroom assignments, homework and projects; reinforce student understanding of classroom rules and procedures; assist students by answering questions, providing proper examples, emotional support, positive attitude and general guidance
- Observe and redirect behavior of students in educational environment according to approved procedures; report progress regarding student performance and behavior
- Assist assigned teacher(s) with the implementation of lesson plans, and administration oftests as necessary
- Operate a variety of classroom and office equipment including a computer and copier
- Provide classroom support to the teacher by setting up work areas and displays, and distributing and collecting paper, supplies and materials
- Assist in maintaining the health and safety of students by following established practices and procedures
- Attend staff meetings as assigned
OTHER DUTIES:
Perform related duties as assigned
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Child guidance principles and practices
Safe practices in classroom activities
Basic subjects taught in local schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading
Basic instructional methods and techniques
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
Classroom procedures and appropriate student conduct
Operation of standard office and classroom equipment
Oral and written communication skills
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
Basic record-keeping techniques
ABILITY TO:
Assist with instruction and related activities in a classroom or assigned learning environment
Reinforce instruction to individual or small groups of students as directed by the teacher
Perform routine clerical duties in support of classroom activities
Assist in the preparation of instructional materials and implementation of lesson plans
Read books to students and assist with reading and writing activities as assigned
Understand and follow oral and written directions
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Monitor, observe and report student behavior and progress according to approved policies and procedures
Operate standard office and classroom equipment
Observe health and safety regulations
Assist with maintaining records and files
Maintain confidentiality
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school and one year of experience working with children in an organized education setting
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid first aid and CPR certificates issued by authorized agency preferred
Incumbents must meet requirements specified under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Some incumbents in this classification may be required to speak, read and write in a designated second language.
ENVIRONMENT:
Classroom and other indoor and outdoor learning environments
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard
Hearing and speaking to exchange information
Seeing to read a variety of materials
Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling typically up to 50 pounds
Sitting or standing for extended periods of time
Bending at the waist or kneeling to assist students
HAZARDS: Exposure to blood borne pathogens and infectious diseases
Potential physical hazards involved in intervening in fights and other anti-social
Contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals
EXAMINATION INFORMATION:
The first step in the examination process is the application screening and whether or not the candidate meets the minimum qualifications listed.
The testing process may consist of a written exam; an oral exam; a performance exam; a structured interview (SI); a qualification appraisal interview (QAI); an evaluation of training & experience/education (T&E) and/or any combination thereof.
ONLY the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) test requires and is mandated to have a passing score of 70 on each of the three parts of the test.
All other tests will have a passing score set between 50 and 99 depending of a variety of factors affecting that specific recruitment.
All candidates must pass the first examination process to be invited to the next step/test in the process.
As the testing process consists of a minimum of two examination processes; the weight of each those processes may be determined at any step in the processes.
Qualified candidates will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination(s)/test(s).
Candidates will be notified of the minimum pass points/test score for each examination and/or test in the examination process.
OTHER: Proof of identification for completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be submitted at the time of processing for employment.
SALARIES: All salaries as stated are based on present information and are subject to change. Appointments are made at the minimum salary shown in the posting and increases are granted at intervals based on anniversary date.
Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy
The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to fostering a positive working environment for its employees. Accordingly, BUSD practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying of any employee based on an employee's actual race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testi?es or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy.
The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination regarding Board Policy 4030:
Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator
2020 Bonar Street, Room 116
Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: 510-486-9338
Email: nondiscrimination@berkeley.net
Closing Date/Time: Thu, 30 Apr 2026
Berkeley Unified School District
About the District
Since the founding of the University of California, Berkeley in 1868 and the establishment of Berkeley’s first high school in 1879, Berkeley’s community has been proud to be a leader in public education. In 1968, the Berkeley Unified School District was the nation’s first school district to desegregate without a court order. What you should know about our District:
- Students are our priority.
- We take pride in our diversity.
- We hold high expectations for ourselves and our students.
- We treat each other with respect and act with integrity.
Berkeley Unified is responsible for educating more than 9,400 individual students in 11 public elementary schools, 3 middle schools, one comprehensive high school, and an alternative high school. In addition, the district has 3 preschool facilities and an Adult School serving several thousand students each year. With a tradition of excellence rooted in a vibrant community, Berkeley Unified alumni have become national and international leaders in business, civic society, politics, academia, sports and the arts. Students and staff in Berkeley Unified come from a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, surrounded by one of the most intellectually and culturally rich regions in the United States.
The Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals of Berkeley Unified are encapsulated in the four E’s:
- Excellence
- Equity
- Engagement
- Enrichment
Excellence in Learning, in Teaching, and in Service to our Students and Families
Equity in Access, in Resource Allocation, and Educational Outcomes
Engagement with Parents, Guardians, Families, and Community
Enrichment in Curriculum with Music & the Arts, Libraries, Gardens & Nutrition, Science & Health, Physical Education & Sports
Parent and Community Involvement
The Vision for BUSD is one in which parents, family, and community are an integral part of each school. When parents and families get personally involved in education, their children do better in school and grow up to be more successful in life. This is why Berkeley has dedicated resources and specialized staff to support the home-school partnership and to give all parents/guardians access to understanding opportunities and services available for their children.
Public Support
Over the past 25 years, the Berkeley Unified School District’s ability to provide well-rounded educational resources and opportunities to all students has been significantly boosted by the generous financial support of local taxes that augment the General Fund for specific purposes.
Berkeley voters have overwhelmingly supported the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP), a special local tax first adopted in 1986 and renewed consistently since then, most recently as Measure A in 2006. (1986 to present)
Berkeley voters are as committed to the safety and modernization of school and district facilities as to the students and educational programs they house, most recently evidenced in the renewal of a maintenance special tax and a new facilities bond in 2010.
- Facilities Bonds (1992, Measure BB of 2002, Measure I of 2010)
- Maintenance Parcel Tax (Measure H of 2010)
Very Low Class Size
Berkeley Public schools have among the lowest class sizes in the state. While many school districts have exceeded 20 students in kindergarten through third grade, thanks to the BSEP tax measure Berkeley has maintained 20:1 since 1984. Grades 4 and 5 classrooms have average student-teacher ratios of 26-1, again much lower than the state average.
- All Berkeley elementary schools have fewer students than the state average of 525 students — in fact, the Berkeley average is 375.
- The average student-teacher ratio in academic classrooms in middle school is less than 28:1, and many math classes are 20:1.
- The average student-teacher ratio in academic classrooms in high schools is 28:1.
Because the Berkeley community recognizes that public education is the cornerstone of a productive, creative, and healthy society, all of our schools benefit from the generosity of monetary and in-kind donations. Visit our “Public Support” page to find out more about the generosity and commitment of our supporters and how the many different funding and volunteer organizations enhance each child’s education in the Berkeley Public Schools.