Instructional Associates Specialized; Transitional Kindergarten - TK; ParaEducator​/ParaProfessional

Salary: $25.43 per hour plus fully paid employee medical and dental benefits.
Salary is non-negotiable.

The impact you will have: As an Instructional Associate – Transitional Kindergarten in San José Unified, you will play an important role in supporting our youngest learners as they begin their educational journey. You will help create a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom environment where students build foundational academic, social-emotional, and developmental skills through play-based and hands-on learning experiences. Through patience, encouragement, and collaboration with teachers and families, you will help students develop confidence, independence, positive relationships, and a love of learning that supports long‑term success.

A more detailed job description is available at

Who you are: You are a caring and patient professional who enjoys supporting young children during their earliest school experiences. You create warm, engaging, and supportive interactions that help students feel safe, confident, and excited to learn. You are collaborative, flexible, and committed to helping students build foundational academic, social-emotional, and independence skills in a nurturing classroom environment.

• One of the following:
• Passage of the San José Unified Instructional Associate Assessment (view tutorial here). This will be completed after your application and interview,
  or
• an Associates Degree or higher,
  or
• two years of college (48 units)
• Prior experience working with students with special needs is preferred
• Completion of San José Unified’s Crisis Intervention training within 60 days of start date.

• Supporting the teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children
• Assisting with classroom activities that promote early literacy, math, language, social-emotional, and developmental skills
• Providing individualized and small group support to students during instructional and play-based learning activities
• Supervising students in the classroom, on the playground, during transitions, and throughout the school day in a caring and respectful manner
• Supporting positive behavior, routines, and independence skills appropriate for Transitional Kindergarten students
• Assisting students with toileting an other personal care needs
• Helping maintain a clean, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment
• Collaborating with teachers, staff, and families to support student growth and well‑being
• Observing and documenting student progress or behaviors as directed
• Maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and positive relationships with students, families, and staff

Effective January 1, 2026, in accordance with California Senate Bill 848 (School Employee Misconduct/Child Abuse Prevention Act), applicants for employment with San José Unified are subject to enhanced child safety, training, and employment disclosure requirements.

Under SB 848, schools are required to strengthen background vetting procedures and obtain employment history information related to allegations of egregious misconduct involving students. Former employers may be contacted to release records regarding substantiated findings of misconduct as permitted by law. Failure to provide complete and accurate information regarding prior educational employment or relevant misconduct findings may result in disqualification from the hiring process or withdrawal of an offer of employment.

SB 848 also expands mandated reporter requirements and requires annual child abuse prevention training for employees and…