Job Title: Teaching Assistant

Position Status: Full-Time, 35 hours per week during regular school sessions and 32.5 hours per week during summer sessions

Location: Easterseals Learning Academy, 110 Fandel Road, Germantown Hills, IL 61548

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm during the regular school year; 7:45 am—2:15 pm during the summer sessions (20 days in the summer, two weeks in June, and two weeks in July).

Why work at the Learning Academy at Easterseals Central Illinois?

About us: Our goal at Easterseals Learning Academy is to empower students to achieve peak academic performance, enhance social and emotional skills, develop effective communication, and gain functional life skills for community independence. We are an approved private school by the Illinois State Board of Education, serving students ages 3-21 with Autism, emotional disabilities, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and other health impairments. School districts from all over the area contract with Easterseals to assist them in providing educational programs for children with autism and related intellectual disabilities. We provide an alternative school placement for these students and help them grow toward independence.

What we offer:

• High Staff-to-Student Ratio: our highly trained staff and evidence-based instructional strategies provide personalized support that meets each student’s unique needs.
• Fully Equipped Learning Environment: Classrooms and therapy rooms are designed to foster growth across all areas of learning and development
• Individualized Education: Our curriculum aligns with state learning standards, while our instructional programs and services emphasize individualized approaches that help students transition back to their schools and communities.

See the Impact:

Perks & Benefits that set us apart from other schools:

Expected pay for this position is $17.00 to $19.00/hour. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. Easterseals staff have access to a well-rounded benefits package and additional perks, such as:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Sick and Personal time
  • 10 Paid Holidays throughout the year
  • Event Days: Earn additional PTO hours if you volunteer with us
  • All time off is in addition to Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Easter/Spring Break, and Summer Break
• Comprehensive Group Health Insurance
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependent Care
  • Long-Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Coverage
  • Life Insurance: Both Employer Paid and Employee Paid options available
• 401(K) with employer match
• Professional Development & CEU Allowance
• Easterseals qualifies for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program

Position Objective: The Teaching Assistant supports the teacher in providing designed instruction and educational programs for children who have a primary educational diagnosis of Autism, intellectual Disability, or other health impairment.

Job Functions:

• Completes paperwork such as attendance, weekly schedule, requisitions, and other required forms accurately, promptly, and according to ESLA procedures.
• Understands, documents, and assists with any classroom or individual behavior management plans.
• Performs day-to-day operations of the job showing self-confidence and independence.
• Seeks consultation or guidance from the Teacher in unfamiliar situations, as needed.
• Assists Teacher in routine paperwork and with making and preparing materials for classroom activities.
• Develops an awareness of each student’s special needs; becomes familiar with student records and information.
• Establishes priorities to complete work, meet deadlines, and be prepared for class each day.
• Able to be reassigned as the need arises.
• Conducts lessons with guidance and training from the teacher.
• Supports student learning by answering questions, modeling or demonstrating skills, and participating in classroom discussions.
• Provides re-teaching, guided practice, and assistance with assignments/tests/tasks to promote the acquisition of new skills.
• Addresses specific functional or academic needs through modified activities, environmental accommodations, and adaptation.
• Supports the development of students’ health and self-care by modeling, prompting, and positively reinforcing independence and self-care skills.

Marginal Responsibilities:

• Supervises students during lunch, bathroom, and transitions outside of the classroom.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Successful completion of 60 semester hours of college credit from an accredited institution of higher education OR
• Successful completion of the paraprofessional examination approved by Illinois State Board of Education.
• Experience in special education, preferred.
• Registered Behavior Technician certification or willingness to complete training.
• Receive training and pass competency tests in Crisis Prevention Intervention.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and software (MS Office Suite).

Competency Requirements

• Demonstrate a positive attitude towards rules and regulations, notice, and comment on desirable aspects of student behavior, and demonstrate good humor and a reasonable sense of self-control over situations.
• Maintain a high level of respect and professionalism for staff, parents, and community members at all times.
• Maintain confidential information to safeguard clients and families.
• Responsible for keeping resources and client files in order.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Must have visual ability sufficient to read and complete written correspondence, reports, etc., and computer screen information.
• Frequent use of hands to grasp, handle or feel.
• Regular standing, walking, sitting, and reaching.
• Occasionally lift and/or carry up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Engages in physical restraint of students, as necessary.
• Ability to drive a personal vehicle to meetings and service sites.

Work Environment

• Primarily operates in school environments with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Easterseals Central Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Easterseals is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, call 309.686.1177.