Student Support Assistant: Houston, TX

As a Student Support Assistant, you will partner directly with the classroom teaching team to help support various children with diverse learning, behavioral, and developmental needs at a Bezos Academy school within our network of high quality, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools in under-resourced communities. You will work collaboratively with other teachers to create a classroom environment where children can thrive and are on track to be ready for kindergarten. You will collaborate with families, teachers, and school leaders to help implement student support strategies based on individual child needs and formal support plans, grounded in the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). While you will generally support children with additional needs, your support will flex across classrooms depending on need, and you may be deployed as a general assistant teacher in your building when appropriate. This role provides flexible, school‑wide support and is not assigned as dedicated one-on-one support for any individual student, nor does it provide specialized medical or personal care services, special education instruction, or therapeutic services.

You are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and achieving equitable outcomes for students in under-resourced communities nationwide, across all lines of difference. You have prior experience working with young children who have or are at risk of developmental delays or exceptional abilities, ideally in a classroom setting. Above all, you demonstrate passion for our mission to expand access to high quality preschools in under-resourced communities.

LOCATION, BENEFITS, AND COMPENSATION

• We are actively hiring for a Student Support Assistant for our preschool in Houston – Third Ward (2604 Gray St, Houston, TX 77003).

• School schedules vary depending on community needs but generally range from 7:30am-5:30pm. You will work a regular, 8-hour shift within this timeframe Monday through Friday. Your specific schedule will be determined with your school leader when considering all staff, student, and community needs.

• This is a full-time (40 hours per week), benefits-eligible, non-exempt (hourly) position. The full pay range for this position is $23 - $32 per hour (~$47,000 - $66,000 annually). The upper third of the pay range is typically reserved for employees who have been in the role for multiple years and have demonstrated strong performance over time. Starting compensation will vary with prior experience and qualifications but is estimated at $26-$29 per hour.

• This role includes 32 paid days of scheduled breaks, 3 paid days of personal time off, 9 paid days of sick (care) time, 10 paid holidays, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Age 18 with high school diploma or GED

• Four or more years of professional experience as an aide, assistant, paraprofessional, or lead teacher of children ages 3-5

• Experience implementing strategies from student individualized education plans (IEPs) or other student support and behavior plans

• Ability to pass background checks, tuberculosis screenings, and trainings required by the state of Texas to supervise children independently

• Skill in collaborating with families, the community, school staff, school leadership, and others to build trusting relationships and partnerships

• Ability to independently supervise, communicate effectively with, and care for young children safely, including ability to lift a minimum of 40 lbs

• Ability to consistently attend work as scheduled to ensure proper staff-to-child classroom ratios

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of special education experience from infancy through third grade

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education or two years of post-secondary coursework in early childhood education

• Two or more years prior work experience with children and families in low-income communities in the US OR significant personal experience in low-income communities in the US (grew up and/or attended school in)

• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish

• Knowledge of Montessori pedagogy, principles and overall approach

• Knowledge of the local community

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support classroom teachers with the individualized learning, behavioral, and developmental needs of various students at the school

• Help implement strategies in alignment with formal student support and/or behavior plans with Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers maintaining primary implementation responsibilities

• Assist teachers in preparing instructional materials, maintaining an orderly classroom environment, and reinforcing consistent routines

• Provide support for children with diverse learning needs, including short-term or occasional support in small group settings when helpful for classroom participation, emotional regulation, or routines

• Actively supervise students in and out of the classroom and attend to students' academic and emotional needs consistent with Bezos Academy policies and licensing requirements

• Assist in supporting children’s toileting routines and in the transition of children from one area of the school to another in accordance with organizational policy and licensing standards

• Support positive social-emotional skill development by modeling and reinforcing communication, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills

• Monitor students' progress and collaborate with the teaching and student support teams to adjust classroom support strategies, as needed

• Support families to help them understand their child’s needs and equip them with the tools necessary to support their child’s progress with a strengths-based approach

• Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with local and federal legislation, regulations, and guidelines and with Bezos Academy policies within the scope of this role

• Support facilitation of child study and multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) meetings

• Participate in team meetings, staff development, and other activities as directed by the Head of School

• As needed, independently supervise children throughout the day in classrooms and a variety of other situations, including but not limited to arrival/departure, transitions, outside time, rest/nap time, and (if offered) extended hours

• Assume postures at low levels (e.g., kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor) as needed to communicate effectively with children

Bezos Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are in need of an accommodation to participate in the application process, please reach out to [email protected]. We will work with you to ensure you have a fair opportunity to apply for our open positions.

If you are a current Bezos Academy employee, please use the internal job board to apply.