Culinary Arts Instructional Assistant

• Position Type:
  Instructional Assistants/ Instructional Assistant
• Date Posted: 6/3/2026

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township (MSDWT) is located in the northern section of Indianapolis. It is a dynamic community with broad diversity in cultures, religions, ethnic groups, races, and socioeconomic levels. MSDWT has been an educational leader in Indiana for the last sixty years.

Our mission is to nurture our students into tomorrow's leaders by cultivating learning environments that ignite innovation, amplify diverse and critical thinking, and inspire growth and achievement.

Job Title Culinary Arts Instructional Assistant

Location J. Everett Light Career Center

Calendar Length 185 Days (School Year)

FLSA Classification Non-Exempt/Hourly

Salary/Hourly Rate $19.50 ($28,860 annually) Additional compensation given for college degree

Benefits Paid leave days, paid holidays, retirement contributions (PERF, 401a, VEBA), life insurance and health, dental and vision insurance offerings.

Position Purpose / Description

The Culinary Arts Support Specialist assists the Culinary Arts Instructor(s) in providing a high-quality, career-focused learning environment by supporting classroom instruction, laboratory preparation, café operations, inventory management, student assessments, and industry-related activities. This position helps ensure the efficient operation of both front-of-house and back-of-house functions, promotes Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, supports student success through differentiated instruction and adherence to Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and fosters strong partnerships with families, businesses, and community organizations to enhance work-based learning, mentoring, internship, and post‑secondary opportunities.

• Support the Culinary Arts Instructor(s).
• Support the Light Café.
• Support efficient operation of the back‑of‑the‑house and front‑of‑the‑house procedures.
• Assist with lab preparation, set up and demonstration.
• Help maintain department equipment and labs.
• Assist with Career‑Technical Student Organization (contests).
• Monitor, promote and support Career‑Technical education.
• Develop a marketing and public relations plan.
• Have excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Assist with inventory management.
• Assist with record keeping to include inventory logs, reference materials, and purchasing documents.
• Have knowledge in seeking and securing post‑secondary opportunities.
• Adhere to all Individual Education Plans.
• Be able to differentiate instruction through tiered‑leveled instruction.
• Administer assessments, as required.
• Be extremely flexible with school day and daily prep time.
• Have knowledge in marketing, business partnerships, project‑based learning, mentoring, internships, and service learning opportunities.
• Develop a strong community and parental involvement.
• Seek or participate in Professional Development activities.
• Assist with covering all classes/programs as assigned.
• Complete mini‑bus training and be available as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Teaching experience is highly desired.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Innovative, creative and forward thinking.
• Have experience and proficiency in food prep, baking and catering.
• Understand the restaurants and food/beverage services career pathway.
• Know how to practice safety, sanitation, and storage procedures in food preparation.
• Know how to identify and demonstrate the proper use of culinary equipment and tools.
• Relate the principles of nutrition to menu development.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

PERCENT OF TIME

Seldom = Less than 25%

Occasional = 26 to 50%

Often = 51 to 75%

Very Frequent = 76% and above

Ability to stand for extended periods of time – Very Frequent

Ability to carry more than 50 pounds – Very Frequent

Ability to lift more than 50 pounds – Very Frequent

Ability to push/pull up to more than 50 pounds – Very Frequent

Ability to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations – Often

Ability to see for the purpose of reading laws and codes, rules and policies and other printed matter –…