Academic Instructional Assistant

The Cottonwood School offers dynamic homeschooling pathways for TK-12: a uniquely personalized, whole-learner approach that nurtures academic, social, and emotional achievement. The Cottonwood school is a tuition-free, public charter school serving transitional kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties. We take an integrative approach that education is more than academic learning. We understand that a rich education includes social and emotional development as well as a strong academic foundation.

Our Homestudy Pathway fosters holistic learning through the many activities and events we offer each month—field trips, workshops, hands-on, experiential activities.

Our Cottonwood College Prep Academy is a hybrid on-site High School Pathway that offers Montessori-inspired project-based learning that encourages collaboration and creativity.

At The Cottonwood School, we envision a world where students flourish, communities thrive, and staff are fulfilled.

Application Deadline: Until filled

Start Date: January 5, 2026

Vacancies: 1

Employment Type: Full-Time

Direct Supervisor: Director of CCPA, School Counselors, & Site Operations

Salary Schedule: Schedule E (Office Tech II)

Work Calendar: 260

Classification: Classified

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Location: This position is expected to work on-site at our El Dorado Hills school office 5 days a week. This position is not eligible for telecommuting.

Position Summary

Under the direction of Teachers and the supervision of the Director in this high school college prep academy, the Academic Instructional Assistant will assist teachers with instructional duties, support students in high school math and other related high school courses, and perform related work as required. This is a classified position.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must live in the Northern California and be able to commute to El Dorado Hills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at a charter school
• Previous tutoring experience in high school math courses

Employment Requirements

• Background Clearance
• Tuberculosis Clearance
• I-9 Verification

Duties and Responsibilities

• Tutor students, individually or in groups, in prescribed subject matter, primarily high school math subject matter, under the direction of certificated staff.
• Monitor on-campus student activities as assigned under the guidance and direction of an administrative staff member.
• Support teacher(s) in clerical duties, such as photocopying and recordkeeping, as assigned.
• May set up and use audiovisual equipment and computers to assist students.
• Supports students with technology and "Innovation Lab" technology (including 3D printers, robotics, CAD computers)

Other Duties

• Respond to non-urgent communication within 24 school hours and urgent communication within two school hours. E
• Attend all required virtual and in-person meetings/events as assigned. E
• Resolve escalated employee, parent, and student issues in alignment with core values and ensuring compliance with the school's Uniform Complaint Policy, Technology Use Policy, and the provisions of California Penal Code Section Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act). E
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work collaboratively with staff members and administration as well as build strong relationships with students, staff, parents, and community
• Capable of managing tasks with competing priorities
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to display tact and courtesy at all times and provide excellent customer service
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Google (docs, sheets, forms, drives), and data management environments, Canva

Work Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. These physical standards are generic and tasks may vary depending on the school site or specialized site assignment. The information contained in this physical standards description is for compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Continuously - Sufficient strength, stamina (including physical, mental, and emotional), physical ability, and mobility to visually observe and assist students.
• Continuously - Sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally - Bend at the waist, kneel, stoop, squat, reach, and crouch.
• Seldom - Work variable hours
• Seldom - Lift, push, and/or pull objects weighing approximately 20 pounds.
• Occasionally - Ability to reach in all directions including overhead and horizontally.
• Continuously - Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate equipment including computer keyboard/mouse and standard office equipment necessary to do job functions.
• Continuously - Communicate effectively with students, staff, parents, and community members.
• Continuously - Comply with timelines and deadlines with frequent interruptions.
• Seldom - Travel for department meetings and school training/in-service meetings.
• Continuously - See to operate equipment, read and understand written material, and ability to detect information displayed on a computer screen.
• Seldom - Restrain students when necessary.

Physical Demands Frequency Definitions Based on an 8-hour day:

• Never = 0%
• Seldom = 1 - 10% (less than 45 minutes)
• Occasionally = % (up to 3.0 hours)
• Frequently = % (up to 6 hours)
• Continuously = % (more than 6 hours)

Environment including Hazardous Conditions

This position may include indoor offices/classrooms and outdoor work (including eating and common area(s), auditorium, playground(s), restroom(s), stairs if applicable, and parking lot(s)) with the following possible exposures: dust; wind; sun; insects; bloodborne pathogens and biohazardous waste; variances in weather conditions (snow, rain, sleet, etc.); noise which can range from quiet to loud; fast-paced work environment with possible stressful situations and need to multi-task; traffic congestion; playground projectiles such as baseballs, footballs, basketballs, etc.; intervening physically to stop conflicts between angry or emotionally upset students; and, dealing with students, parents, employees and the general public who may exhibit unpredictable or anti-social behavior.

Employees in this position may have a higher level of exposure to illness or infection from students. May be exposed to students who may ask inappropriately personal questions, display socially unacceptable behavior, display physically aggressive behavior, and insult your personal characteristics including appearance, age, sex, and race. There is also frequent contact with staff and the public.

Right to Revise

This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive and the School reserves the right to revise this job description as necessary without advance notice.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer without notice

E = Essential job functions

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, The Cottonwood School offers eligible Full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that can include: Medical, Dental, Vision coverage, Life & Disability, 403(b) and 457(b) plans, an Employee assistance program, Flexible Spending accounts for Health care and dependent care, pet insurance and more

Requirements:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must live in the Northern California and be able to commute to El Dorado Hills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at a charter school

Employment Requirements

• Background Clearance
• Tuberculosis Clearance
• I-9 Verification