Special Education Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

A Special Education Assistant plays a crucial role in elementary education by supporting students with special needs under the direction of a Special Education Teacher. They help to handle the everyday needs of these students such as helping them with their schoolwork, personal hygiene, mobility, feeding, and behavioral issues. They also monitor student progress and assist the teacher in devising and implementing personalized educational plans. Special Education Assistants also contribute to maintaining a safe and comfortable classroom environment that promotes learning.

This role demands certain certifications and skills. At a minimum, they must possess a high school diploma but a degree or certification in special education or a related field is preferred. CPR and First Aid certifications are a plus. They should have excellent communication skills to effectively interact with students, teachers, and parents. Patience and empathy are essential as they will be tasked with managing children with varying abilities and behavioral issues. Prior experiences as a Teacher's Assistant, Childcare Worker, or Behavior Therapist can provide valuable experience before becoming a Special Education Assistant.

1-11 of 11 Jobs

Instructional Assistant Special Education

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 5 days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 5 days ago

groups of special education students; perform related duties as assigned....

Paraprofessional I - Sunnyhills Child Development Center - 106087

  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 5 days ago
  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 5 days ago

Paraprofessional I - Sunnyhills Child Development Center - 106087 Job Summary Location: Sunnyhills Child Development Center Work hours: 5 hours a day Work Calendar: 9.5 months Work Schedule: 8:00am...

Instructional Aide II - Special Education Aide/Paraprofessional

  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 13 days ago
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 13 days ago

Welcome to Live Oak School District! Our mission is to empower, inspire and ensure equitable opportunities for every student to thrive. We teach and nurture the whole child in an academically...

Special Education Instructional Assistant II - Lietz Elementary (.3750 FTE/ 3 hours daily)

  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 13 days ago
  • San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 13 days ago

The District is situated between the beautiful Los Gatos foothills and the city of San Jose. The District occupies the southwest corner of Santa Clara County where its six elementary schools and...

ABA Special Education Instructional Aide (Behavior Technician)

  • Saratoga, CA (14 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 19 days ago
  • Saratoga, CA (14 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 19 days ago

education/classroom teacher, performs tasks to aid in the teaching of special education and general education....

Instructional Assistant - Special Education .75 FTE (6 hours per day) Various Sites

  • Campbell, CA (18 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 27 days ago
  • Campbell, CA (18 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 27 days ago

education needs in an organized setting.Resume2 Letters of Recommendation Under the direction of Director II-Special Education and Site Administrator assignedadministrator, assist a certificated teacher...

Paraprofessional I Secondary Pool (Special Education)

  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

Child development theory and principles. Basic techniques to motivate students and manage student behavior. Safe work practices....

Paraprofessional I Elementary Pool (Special Education)

  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

Child development theory and principles. Basic techniques to motivate students and manage student behavior. Safe work practices....

Special Education Aide

  • Los Altos, CA (20 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Los Altos, CA (20 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

Special Education Aide Los Altos, CA, US...

2025-2026 Special Education Paraprofessional

  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

2025-2026 Special Education Paraprofessional Job Summary ESSENTIAL FUNCTION: The Special Education Paraprofessional will work closely with special needs students on a regular basis in order to provide...

Instructional Assistant, Special Education, 5.9 hrs daily

  • Scotts Valley, CA
  • 45+ days ago
  • Scotts Valley, CA
  • 45+ days ago

Scotts Valley Unified School District provides every student with educational and social learning opportunities so they can develop their skills and thrive in a modern world. We are small,...

Demographic Data for Santa Cruz, CA

Moving to Santa Cruz, CA? Find some basic demographic data about Santa Cruz, CA below.


Local
National
101,449
2,927
Medium/Lg

Special Education Assistant Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireElementaryTeachers curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course
Are you passionate about supporting children with diverse educational needs? The Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course is designed for individuals looking to make a...
MathTrackX: Special Functions
Understand trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions and how they can be applied in the real world. This course is part two of the MathTrackX XSeries Program which has been designed to...
Special Education
This course is part of a D2L/Educator and Leadership Institute (ELI) suite of online learning programmes. The programmes aim to boost knowledge in 4 areas: Special Education, School Leadership,...

Title Synonyms

Users interested in this job title also searched for the following job title


Salary for Special Education Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireElementaryTeachers research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Special Education Assistant positions.



Highest Education Level

Special Education Assistants in Santa Cruz, CA offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
43.0%
Master's Degree
33.1%
Associate's Degree
9.0%
High School or GED
5.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
5.1%
Doctorate Degree
2.7%
Some College
1.4%
Some High School
0.3%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills



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