JJC Alert: Due to extreme cold, JJC will operate virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Classes will take place virtually. Students must check iCampus for course specific instructions from faculty members.
For more information on JJC’s decision-making process regarding winter weather conditions, visit jjc.edu/closures
January 20, 2025 08:41:55
Teacher assistants support public or private school teachers in daily classroom activities. They provide assistance in regular classrooms, in special education classrooms and in one-on-one situations with special needs students. Teacher assistants are being employed at all levels of education from early childhood through secondary education.
Students in the Teacher Assistant program learn how to provide support in general education and special education classrooms, from pre-K through grade 12. They learn about the educational system, about approaches to teaching, and how to work with students in general and special education
JJC's Teacher Assistant program includes three field experiences in which students have the opportunity to work directly with younger students in a variety of classrooms. The first field experience occurs when students take Introduction to Education; the second one is when they take the Students with Disabilities class; and the third is a practicum experience in which they spend 64 hours in one classroom.
In addition, all of the coursework and experiences in the Teacher Assistant program transfer to other institutions and is included in teacher education programs at four-year colleges or universities. So, if students later decide to obtain a teaching license, their JJC coursework will transfer to their teacher education program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of teacher assistants is projected to grow 8 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Rising student enrollment along with state and federal funding for education programs should affect growth.
Students who want to become teachers can earn an associate degree with a concentration in education at JJC, then transfer to a four-year school to earn a bachelor's degree.
To get started, students should:
Check out Available JJC Education Classes
Learn How to Get Started as a JJC Education Major
