Assistant Teacher Job Description
Overview
![assistant teacher](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.jobtrees.com%2Froles%2FAssistant%2BTeacher.jpg&w=828&q=100)
An assistant teacher is an individual who assists a teacher with instructional responsibilities. The main difference between an assistant teacher and a teacher's aide or teacher's assistant is the the assistant teacher is involved in forming the education plan for the students while the aide's focus on supporting the plan made by the teacher. Assistant teachers often help the main teacher by supporting students with learning disabilities, such as ADHD, Autism, or even physical disabilities, such as blindness or deafness. They are also help teachers prepare lesson plans, track attendance, supervise students and set up material for classes.
Steps to take to start your career as an Assistant Teacher and other jobs like it
- Most teacher assistant or preschool positions require a high school diploma or GED equivalent as well as some additional coursework. Completing post-secondary education (for example a bachelor’s degree) or specialized training in education, child development, or a related field enhances your qualifications as a teacher assistant. Many community colleges and vocational schools offer certificate or associate degree programs specifically for aspiring teacher assistants which are much less costly than a 4 yr degree and less time invested.
- Practical experience working with children is highly valued in teacher assistant roles. Consider volunteering at schools, daycare centers, summer camps, or community organizations that provide services to children. This experience will help you develop skills in classroom management, communication, and working with diverse groups of students.
- Depending on your location and the specific requirements of the school or district, you may need to obtain certifications or credentials to work as a teacher assistant. Some states or school districts require paraprofessionals to pass a standardized assessment, such as the ParaPro Assessment, to demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and math. Once you have the necessary qualifications and experience, start applying for teacher assistant positions in schools or educational settings.
- If this is work that you enjoy, consider using it as a stepping stone toward becoming a teacher. Teaching comes with more advanced education and certification requirements but the position also comes with greater opportunity to impact student lives and the pay improves as well.
Why I Choose Teaching
I hated school with a passion. Teachers were mean to me. Then junior year of high school, I was in a class, an American history class, and the teacher of that class was also a track coach and ended up loving running and ended up starting to like school because this teacher just brought it alive and was really passionate about it. And I could tell and made me want to learn more and more. So after my junior year, instead of Ds, Cs, Ds and Fs, I was getting As and As, which was wonderful. And I never thought I'd go to college, but I ended up going to junior college to complete, continue running. And then after that, I had all these units and got transfer agreements to a university. And in that university, I ended up finding out that I loved kids and I loved teaching kids and being with kids and watching them learn and grow and just having a good laugh every day. And I just reflected back, said, you know, I'm going to make school fun and exciting for kids in a way that was not for me.
Early Career Tips
Make sure that you set aside money for retirement every month starting from the beginning, even if it's just a little. I know you don't make as much in the beginning as a veteran long term teacher, but it's really important to be prepared for the end of your career, even though you're just starting. Don't date anyone at work. It's the worst thing. It bites in the butt every time and from personal experience. Ask for help whenever you need it. Make sure that you get in good with your team, your grade level team, and always be nice. The custodian and the staff that work in the office, they work really hard and they pretty much run the school.
Teaching Requirements
You have to obviously have a bachelor's, some sorts of people now have a master's education and then you have to have a teaching credential program. Most universities have them. You have to get fingerprinted, you have to have TB tests. You have to have to have kind of a general like of children, you know, and kind of just asking for education and wanting to pass on your filters of life and how you see the world onto your own mind and what you need to be seeing.
- Preschool Assistant TeacherMerritt AcademyMerrifield, VA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant Teacher: PreschoolChildren of AmericaColumbus, OH, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Child Care Part Time Assistant TeacherBright Horizons Family SolutionsNew York, NY, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Childcare Assistant TeacherMission HealthEdwardsville, IL, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Child Care PART TIME (12:00PM-6:00PM) Assistant Te...Bright Horizons Family SolutionsBronx, NY, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant Teacher at Summit Academy North Elementa...KinderCareRomulus, MI, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Floating Assistant TeacherLoyola University of Chicago IncChicago, IL, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Two's Assistant TeacherSpring Education GroupNewtown, PA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant Teacher at Fernway ElementaryKinderCareCleveland, OH, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant Teacher: PreschoolChildren of AmericaNorth Wales, PA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant Teacher: PreschoolChildren of AmericaEvesham, NJ, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Child Care Assistant Teacher (Cleveland, North Roy...YMCA of Greater ClevelandNorth Royalton, OH, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant TeacherOlive Crest Academy - Orange CountySanta Ana, CA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Assistant TeacherIndiana Public SchoolsVincennes, IN, United StatesPosted: Sep 5, 2024
- Assistant TeacherFullBloomBuckeye, AZ, United StatesPosted: Sep 5, 2024
Education you need to become an Assistant Teacher
These are the most common degrees or certificates earned by Jobtrees users prior to becoming an Assistant Teacher
There may be other required degrees or certifications needed for this job. The below info shows you the most commonly desired education level from employers when hiring for this job.
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Neuroscience
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Psychology
- Master of Arts (m.a.) in Special Education
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Child and Adolescent Development
Annual Pay Estimate for Assistant Teacher and Other Important Info
See how many years Assistant Teacher's are in their job, how much they make, how long it took to get there and how available this job is in terms of open positions.
Connect and Share
Career Paths for Assistant Teacher
Find data driven insights on the path to get to this role and where it can lead
Jobs to start your career in becoming an Assistant Teacher
- Show MoreInternJob posting titleCompany Name2025 Spring and Summer Intern - Creative MarketingWorkivaConstruction Intern - Field Job Details | Black & Veatch Family of CompaniesBlack & VeatchAdvisory Intern,customer & Operations | Multiple East Locations Summer 2025KPMGDistribution Center Inventory, Control and Quality (icq) InternCVS HealthAudit Intern - Winter 2026RSM
- Show MoreAdministrative AssistantJob posting titleCompany NameMarketing Administrative Assistant (part Time)Compass Group USA IncPrivate Wealth Management Administrative AssistantStaffmark GroupAdministrative Assistant 4 - Minimum Qualifications WaivedState of NevadaWork at Home Data Entry Remote Position Administrative AssistantFocusGroupPanelSenior Administrative Assistant (administrative Support Assistant III) - Premium Products & ExperienCapital One
- See More
Other Jobs similar to Assistant Teacher
- See More