PIONEER VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS·South Hadley, Massachusetts
The Instructional Support Professional will facilitate community-building lessons, support student study skills, and assist classroom teachers in implementing Individual Education Plans. They will also monitor student social-emotional needs and maintain a safe, structured learning environment.
PVPA has an immediate opening for an Instructional Support Professional in the Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year. We are looking for a reflective practitioner who collaborates effectively with colleagues and understands the varied needs of middle school students.
The ideal candidate is someone who is interested in building a positive school culture, rapport with students, facilitating community-building circles and collaborative games, and collaborating with classroom teachers. Experience with and/or interest in learning more about restorative practices, social justice, and arts integration is required. Under the direction of the Director of Student Services, you will be responsible for:
1.
Facilitating lessons that include student study skills and strategies for homework completion, community building, and meaningful engagement at PVPA 2.
Facilitating community-building activities and collaborative games 3.
Working with the Dean of Students to address student areas of growth identified by the School Culture Team 4.
Working with content teachers to align study skills strategies and social-emotional growth with specific assignments 5.
Being familiar with readings, assessments, and assignments for all academic content within a particular grade 6.
Supporting student to organize their work, providing them with appropriate resources and materials 7.
Helping students to self-advocate with regard to managing workload and communicating with teachers 8.
Monitoring student work and supervising students taking make-up tests and quizzes 9.
Monitoring students' social-emotional needs and concerns and referring them to the School Culture Team and/or Wellness Team 10.
Actively and consistently communicate with content teachers about upcoming assignments and expectations 11.
Echo those expectations to students as part of daily updates 12.
Review material with students one-on-one or in small groups 13.
Ensure that students follow school and classroom rules 14.
Maintaining a structured, safe, quiet work environment 15.
Supporting students within a general education environment to ensure full implementation of Individual Education Plans 16.
Tailor support to students’ individual learning styles and needs 17.
Provide Assistance to classroom teachers 18.
Model appropriate and responsible behavior 19.
Participate in ongoing professional development, including participation in weekly Collaborative Meeting time with other teachers
Qualifications;
The successful candidate will minimally have three years of experience working with middle school students, a BA degree is preferred, be able to pass a background check (CORI/SORI & Fingerprinting), and be computer literate.
The base rate is $23.97/hour, annualized $31,042. Additional potential for bonus at the end of the fiscal year as determined by the collectively bargained agreement. The 2026-2027 school year consists of 180 school days plus 5 professional development/curriculum work days and a full-time thirty-five-hour work week.
To apply, please visit the PVPA Career Center [https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=25ca1bdd-0907-4251-b5e1-b1d81b80f69f&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US] and be prepared to provide:
1. A current resume 2. Letter of interest/introduction 3. Contact information for three references 4. Transcripts indicating degrees awarded 5. Evidence of licensure or any endorsements if applicable
The candidate must have at least three years of experience working with middle school students and be computer literate. A bachelor's degree is preferred, and the candidate must be able to pass a background check including CORI/SORI and fingerprinting.
Market context
In Massachusetts, instructional support roles for middle school students are typically driven by ongoing classroom and student-support needs, especially in districts that rely on experienced staff to help maintain routines and engagement. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for candidates with direct middle school experience, computer literacy, and the ability to clear CORI/SORI and fingerprinting checks; a bachelor’s degree may strengthen your application. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, and make sure your resume clearly shows three or more years working with middle school students plus any relevant technology skills.
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