Full Time Instructional Assistant

Sulam@JDS at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School

For the 2025–2026 School year

10 months (school year) from 8:15am to 3:15pm.

Salary Range

Full time salary range $32K–$38K  (commensurate with qualifications/experience)

Who We Are

Sulam@JDS is an exciting new initiative between the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) and Sulam. This inclusion program is for students with diverse learning needs at CESJDS Lower School, providing them with the highly specialized support they need while attending a rigorous, pluralistic independent Jewish day school. 

Sulam@JDS is a highly collaborative program that partners with all stakeholders; parents, students, general educators and specialists, to ensure a meaningful, high quality individualized program for each student. We believe that every student is valuable to our community and has the right to be included in all aspects of their community school. We provide the necessary educational, social, and emotional support to ensure success and maximize possibilities and potential. 

Job Description

The role of Special Education Instructional Assistant is a unique opportunity to both contribute to and learn from a collaborative team of experienced professionals. The person in this position will receive ongoing training and support from experts in special education and related disciplines. Given direct supervision from a special educator, the specific responsibilities include: 

  • Providing academic, social, emotional, and/or behavioral support to Sulam@JDS students in inclusive settings, including: 

    • CESJDS classrooms 

    • Lunch, recess, activities, programs, assemblies, trips, etc. 

  • Supporting the implementation of students’ academic accommodations and modifications

  • Supporting the implementation of students’ social, emotional, and/or behavioral support plan

  • Collecting data on student performance and progress

  • Communicating regularly with the Sulam@JDS team, CESJDS teachers, and students’ parents

The Special Education Instructional Assistant will possess the following qualifications and characteristics: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or a related field 

  • Experience working as a paraprofessional with school-age children in educational and/or recreational settings 

  • Ability to support students with Hebrew language and Judaic studies curriculum preferred

  • Positive energy and enthusiasm; passionate commitment to helping children meet with success 

  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written 

  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills 

  • Desire to learn, read and grow in knowledge 

  • Responsive to direction and feedback 

  • Ability to assess the environment and take initiative 

  • Flexibility to adapt to circumstances and challenges in the moment 

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to DJ Kaplan at dkaplan@cesjds.org