Teacher's Assistant (5th-6th Grades)

Richmond, CA

Full Time

Middle School (Non-Faculty)

Entry Level

$32.67 - $34.49 per hour. 40 hours per week, academic-year (10-months). Final placement within this range is based on confirmed job-related skills and relevant experience.

When You Join Making Waves Academy You Commit to Intergenerational Change. You will join a team dedicated to rigorously and holistically preparing students from the 5th grade to their ultimate career success. Our bold mission is to interrupt inequity by supporting every Wave-Maker's journey to a rewarding life dream. As an employee, you will uphold high expectations for academics and behavior within a close-knit, supportive community. You will be instrumental in fostering essential durable skills like critical thinking and self-advocacy, crucial for any field. This is more than a job; it’s a commitment to empowering students to lead fulfilling lives, have rewarding careers and give back to their respective communities to recycle their success. We are looking for leaders and advocates ready to make a lasting impact.

What You Will Be Doing…

Provide one-on-one and small-group instruction to reinforce core Math and ELA concepts, specifically tailoring support for students requiring intensive academic intervention.
Actively monitor and support student behavior across all school settings, including classroom time, transitions, lunch, recess, and off-site field trips.
Helping to prepare engaging instructional materials, classroom displays, and educational activity setups to support the daily lesson plan.
Ensure a productive learning environment by organizing classroom spaces and managing the logistics of daily operations.
Proactively prepare all necessary supplies and tools before lessons begin to ensure a seamless flow of instruction.
Support teachers in maintaining meticulous student records, including grading assignments and recording essential assessment data.
Work as a seamless extension of the instructional team to maintain a cohesive classroom culture for all students.

What We're Looking For…

Bachelor's degree and experience working with children (grades 5-6 preferred) in an educational setting. Classroom teaching experience is very desirable.
Strong foundational knowledge in Math and ELA with the ability to break down complex 5th and 6th-grade concepts into accessible steps.
A natural 'bridge-builder' who finds fulfillment in helping students navigate academic frustrations and celebrate small wins on the path to proficiency.

The Making Waves Academy Fit
We are looking for a community member, not just an employee. You must actively support our mission, and be willing to participate in campus life, including weekly supervision duties. Excellent communication skills, flexibility, and a high degree of patience are non-negotiable. Fluency in Spanish is a distinct advantage for serving our diverse community.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation
Joining Making Waves Academy means securing a robust, comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your long-term financial, physical, and professional well-being right here in the Bay Area. We ensure your stability and growth so you can focus on maximizing every Wave-Maker's potential.

Financial Well-being
We offer competitive, above-market salaries that reflect your vital expertise in educational support, recognizing your commitment to our students. Beyond your base pay, you will have immediate access to a dedicated retirement savings plan, helping you build financial confidence for the future.

Health and Wellness
Your health is our priority. We proudly cover 100% of most premiums for medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, and acupuncture options for you and your family. We also offer benefits such as employee assistance programs to support your mental and emotional wellness.

Time to Recharge
We believe educators need time to recharge. You will receive generous paid time off, plus all school holidays and breaks. This schedule is designed to ensure meaningful time away from campus, facilitating a sustainable and healthy work-life balance that is critical to preventing burnout.

Professional Growth
We commit to your continuous improvement! You will benefit from ongoing training, dedicated collaboration time, and resources specifically designed to enhance your expertise. You’ll be part of a culture that sees professional growth as essential to our mission.

Apply for this position

Required*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address*

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

Cover Letter

Who referred you to this position? Enter their first and last name here.

What's your highest level of education completed?*

What languages do you speak fluently?

Looking back at your entire professional journey, identify the one personal or professional moment that most clearly defined your current career trajectory and instilled in you the belief that working at Making Waves Academy for historically underrepresented students is the critical next step in your life’s work. How does this moment prove that you are uniquely motivated to be an indispensable part of our community and mission?*

Have you ever worked for Making Waves Academy?*

Are you a graduate of Making Waves Academy (former Wave-Maker)?*

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? (A job offer will be contingent upon providing documentation of your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.)*

Making Waves Academy currently does not offer employment visa sponsorship. Will you now, or at any time in the future, require employment visa sponsorship to continue working in the United States?*

By checking the box below, I certify that all information provided in this application is truthful. I also understand giving false or misleading information on this application, my resume, or during the interview can lead to disqualification from the hiring process or termination if already hired.* Yes, I understand.

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Human Check*

Submit Application

Join the Wave: Careers at Making Waves Academy

Welcome to the career page for Making Waves Academy (MWA), a free, public charter school in Richmond, California.

We are more than a school; we are a powerful system committed to rigorously preparing students with the education, career skills, and financial freedom needed to meet their goals and thrive.

If you are mission-driven and dedicated to closing the achievement gap, you belong on our team.

Why MWA is an Exceptional Place to Work

Our culture and integrated model ensure you can make the deepest possible impact while building your own thriving career:

Life-Changing Impact: Work directly with students who achieve phenomenal results. We boast a 100% A-G completion rate and a college graduation rate of 76% (far surpassing national peers).

Growth-Oriented Culture: We invest in your development through dedicated professional learning and collaborative structures. You'll find a supportive, diverse team culture committed to continuous improvement.

Competitive Compensation: We offer a highly competitive salary scale and comprehensive benefits, recognizing the excellence and dedication required to achieve our extraordinary mission.

Ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of our Wave-Makers? Explore our open positions below!

Teacher's Assistant (5th-6th Grades)

Apply for this position