EL (English Learner) Instructional Assistant (IA)

Job Type: Location Type: On-site

 

Position Type:
Hourly/Hourly

Date Posted:
9/2/2025

Location:
Multiple Locations Available

District:
Ann Arbor Public Schools

POSITION TITLE: EL (English Learner) Instructional Assistant

FTE: Hourly 16.50*
*This is a grant funded, hourly position

POSITION LOCATION: Multiple Locations Available (In-Person)

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: EL Director, Building Principal, EL Teacher

Position Summary:
Join our dedicated team supporting English Learners in their educational journey! As an EL Instructional Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in creating an inclusive learning environment that fosters academic growth and personal development. You’ll work directly with students to bridge language barriers, support learning across various subjects, and help build the foundation for their educational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support English Learners with math, science, social studies, vocabulary development, concepts, and homework assistance
• Assist students with instructional technology and digital learning tools
• Create and maintain positive, culturally responsive learning environments
• Build effective relationships with students, families, and district staff
• Assist in motivating students to develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge appropriate to their individual abilities
• Collaborate with teachers to implement instructional strategies that meet diverse learning needs
• Participate in district-sponsored professional development opportunities
• Regular, reliable and punctual attendance

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Minimum: Proof of completion of at least 60 college credit hours
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree
• Ability to speak at least one language other than English from our priority list, preferred
• Capability to support students across multiple subject areas including math, science, social studies, vocabulary development, and instructional technology
• Availability to participate in district-sponsored professional development opportunities
• Willingness to work with students from any language background as needs arise

Essential Functions:
To perform this job successfully, candidates must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Language Requirements:
We welcome bilingual candidates who are fluent in English plus any additional language. While we encourage applications from speakers of all languages, we have particular need for candidates fluent in our high-priority languages:

Current High-Priority Languages:

• Arabic
• Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese)
• Dari
• French
• Japanese
• Korean
• Pashto
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

We strongly encourage applications from candidates fluent in any language, as our diverse student population benefits from multilingual support. Flexibility to work with students from any language background is valued, as district needs may vary throughout the school year.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work under direct supervision of EL teacher, content area, or grade level teacher in a classroom
• Provide transition to ELs using English and/or the student’s native language
• Help beginning ELs acquire basic English, academic, and cultural skills
• Help students with grade level and content area assignments and concepts
• Support the classroom/content area teacher with specific information that will facilitate the academic and cultural progress of the student
• Communicate with families when asked to do so to help facilitate classroom learning
• Translate at meetings and conferences when asked to do so by your building administrator
• Communicate with your supervising teacher on a regular basis
• Keep accurate records
• Other duties as assigned

This position requires regular and reliable attendance on site to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This job has no supervisory repsonsibilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Read, write, and comprehend basic instructions, short correspondence, and memos
• Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to staff, parents, students, and administrators
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing

Mathematical Skills:

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, fractions and decimals
• Demonstrate mastery of whole number, fractions, decimals, and percentages in computations

Reasoning Ability:

• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form
• Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations?

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Work with parents and children of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school Community
• Perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodationsmay be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. Occasionally the employee will bend or twist at the neck more than the average person. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 lbs such as boxes of books and technology carts. The employee is directly responsible for safety, well being, or work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as reading handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus. The position required the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with public and staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of students.

METHOD OF APPLICATION:
All applicants must apply online at A2schools.org >> District Links >> Job Postings