What are the responsibilities and job description for the Instructional Assistant - TK position at Palmdale School District?
An Instructional Assistant for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) specializes in supporting early childhood development, focusing on social, motor, and pre-academic skills, emotional regulation and play-based learning. Key characteristics include extreme patience, creativity, ability to manage high-energy classrooms, and collaborating with teachers to implement play-based learning and self-help skills. In addition, TK Assistants support young students with personal hygiene (e.g. toileting, feeding, and cleanliness).
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Support the classroom teacher in the facilitation of classroom and learning station activities and projects, and in general cleanup after classroom projects.
- Supports classroom routines, including arrival, meals/snacks, rest time, dismissal, outings and other activities; oversees bus loading and unloading.
- Observe students; provide individualized or small group instruction; answer questions; counsel and calm students as needed.
- Assist in supervising and maintaining order among students in the classroom and on school grounds during playground and other activities.
- Assist children with self-help, hygiene, and toilet training, as required.
- Support the teacher in assessing programs and organizing instructional materials.
- Maintain a neat, orderly, and attractive learning environment; assist with preparing bulletin board materials and classroom decorations.
- Attend and participate in staff in-service and other meetings as required.
- Prepare and operate audio-visual, computer, standard office, and other related equipment that support the instructional program.
- Perform a variety of general clerical duties.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
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Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
Some Instructional Assistant experience working with preschool-aged children in an educational or child care setting.
Education/Training:
- High school diploma or equivalent;
- A minimum of twelve (12) completed units of coursework in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development from a regionally accredited college or university; AND
- One of the following required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, math, and classroom instruction:
a) AA degree or higher; or
b) Completion of 48 units from a nationally accredited college or university; or
c) Passage of a proficiency test administered by the Palmdale School District.
| If you are attempting to satisfy the academic proficiency requirement, official college transcripts must be attached to the application to validate the degree awarded or completion of 48 college units. If official transcripts are not attached to the application, you will be required to take and pass the academic proficiency assessment in addition to the job-specific examination for this position. Foreign degrees and credit units require translation and equivalency established by an agency recognized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. |
Application Filing
Applications for this position will be accepted online only during the specified recruitment period. An eligibility list will be established to fill future vacancies. Applicants will receive notifications electronically by email only.
Examination
The examination components consist of a qualifying written multiple-choice and oral exam. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be required to take the exam and are notified via email communication of the scheduled date, time, and location. A valid picture identification is required prior to admittance.
After the exam procedure concludes for this recruitment, an eligibility list will be established to fill future vacancies. When eligibility lists include open and promotional lists of qualified persons through competitive examination, the promotional list will be used first, unless otherwise stated on this bulletin.
Test Taking Tips (example guide only) |
TENTATIVE EXAM DATE: Week of July 6, 2026. Subject to change as necessary. |
Work year
This position works part-time at seven hours (7.0) per day, and observes a 182-day work calendar.
Salary and Benefits
The salary rate for a new employee is at the first step of the appropriate five-step salary schedule for this position. The probationary period is 130 work days (not counting sick, industrial accident). Upon becoming permanent, a one-step salary advance shall be granted with future annual advances up to the fifth step of the salary schedule.
Holidays and Leaves
Seventeen (17) paid holidays that fall within the work year, pursuant to the District's Collective Bargaining Agreement with California Schools Employees Association Chapter 296 (CSEA).
Sick leave shall be granted in the proportion of daily hours worked. Vacation is earned at the prescribed rate as part of compensation, and does not become vested until after completion of the initial probationary period.
Work Environment
This job is primarily performed indoors in a climate-controlled environment, and outdoors for some student activities; exposure to adverse weather conditions, bloodborne pathogens and/or illness; sanitizing agents, classroom noises from students, staff, and standard equipment.
Physical Demands
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some climbing and balancing; stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending at the waist, reaching overhead and horizontally; dexterity of hand and fingers to manipulate instructional materials, writing instruments, computer keyboard/mouse; hearing and speaking sufficiently for the exchange of information.
____________________________EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
In accordance with Federal civil rights law, civil rights regulations and policies, the Palmdale School District, its offices, and employees, are prohibited from discriminating based on age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, immigration status, marital status, nationality, parental status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity.
For further information regarding Palmdale School District's non-discrimination, sexual harassment and Title IX policies and/or Coordinator contact information, please click the following link: https://www.palmdalesd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4326699&type=d&pREC_ID=2532815
For further information regarding Palmdale School District’s Personnel Sexual Harassment Board Policy, BP 4119.11, please click the following link: https://4.files.edl.io/c982/03/14/24/221235-151840c2-594e-486f-ad29-e288bcb5b8a8.pdf
Salary : $19 - $23