First Grade Teaching Assistant

Overview

First Grade Teaching Assistant – Brookside Lower School. Cranbrook Educational Community is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic part-time First Grade Teaching Assistant to join our Lower School team for the 2026-27 academic year. Working under the guidance of our experienced First Grade Teachers, this candidate will play a vital role in fostering a positive and engaging learning environment for our young students.

This is a part-time position working 28 hours per educational week.

• Collaborate with and support lead teachers in the delivery of daily lessons and classroom activities.
• Provide individualized and small-group academic support to students, with a focus on reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Partner with lead teachers to design and implement lessons for targeted small group instruction in literacy, writing and math based on student/classroom needs.
• Encourage positive peer interactions and reinforce appropriate school behavior in alignment with school expectations.
• Supervise students during transitions, lunch periods, and recess, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Maintain professional and positive communication with students, teachers, and families.
• Contribute to effective classroom management by consistently reinforcing established routines and behavioral expectations.
• Assist with the preparation of instructional materials and the daily organization of the classroom learning environment.
• Perform essential clerical tasks, including copying, filing, organizing student work, and managing classroom inventory.

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with professional training and/or experience in Early Childhood, Child Development, or Elementary Education.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with children in a friendly and approachable manner.
• Sensitivity to the feelings and individual needs of students.
• Proven ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Capacity to build positive and effective working relationships with children and colleagues.
• A commitment to fulfilling all responsibilities in accordance with Cranbrook Schools’ mission.

For consideration, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae or résumé, copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts and any certifications (if applicable), and two or three letters of recommendation with contact information. Please be sure all documents are uploaded at the time you submit your application.

Apply here:
First Grade Teaching Assistant - Brookside Lower School | Cranbrook Faculty Employment Opportunities

Cranbrook History:
Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending its Pre-K through 12 independent college-preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors, students, and campers to its campus each year.

Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website:(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Cranbrook Mission and Values:
Cranbrook Schools are independent day and boarding schools that provide students with a challenging and comprehensive college preparatory education. We motivate students from diverse backgrounds to strive for intellectual, creative, and physical excellence, to develop a deep appreciation for the arts and different cultures, and to employ the technological tools of our modern age. Our schools seek to instill in students a strong sense of personal and social responsibility, the ability to think critically, and the competence to communicate and contribute in an increasingly global community.

Guiding Principles:
Cranbrook Schools comprise a college preparatory day and boarding educational institution, early childhood through 12th grade, consisting of three divisions: a lower, middle and an upper school. We are structured to recognize and respond to the developmental, cognitive and creative needs of boys and girls and are dedicated to excellence in all aspects of education.