1:1 Teaching Assistant

EASTERSEALS CENTRAL ILLINOIS•Germantown Hills, IL

13h•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

At Easterseals Learning Academy, our 1:1 Teaching Assistants provide individualized support to a designated student throughout the school day. Working alongside teachers, therapists, behavior support staff, and families, you'll play an important role in helping a student access their education, develop new skills, and achieve meaningful goals. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a supportive relationship with a student while helping them navigate academic, social, behavioral, communication, and daily living challenges in a structured educational environment. Every day presents opportunities to encourage growth, celebrate progress, and make a lasting impact in a student's life. Easterseals Learning Academy is an Illinois State Board of Education-approved non-public therapeutic day school serving students ages 5–21. School districts throughout Central Illinois partner with us to provide specialized educational programming for students whose needs are best served in a therapeutic and highly supportive learning environment. Our goal is to empower students to achieve their highest potential by strengthening academic achievement, communication skills, social-emotional development, and functional life skills that promote greater independence. What makes our program unique? High staff-to-student ratios that allow for individualized attention and meaningful support. Collaborative teams of educators, therapists, behavior specialists, and support staff. Specialized classrooms and therapy spaces designed to support learning and development. Individualized instruction and interventions tailored to each student's strengths and needs. A commitment to helping students build the skills needed to participate more fully in school, home, and community life. Every member of our team contributes to creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Requirements

Completion of 60 semester hours of college credit from an accredited institution of higher education or successful completion of the approved paraprofessional examination by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification or willingness and ability to complete the required training successfully.
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification or willingness and ability to complete the required training successfully.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
Demonstrate punctuality and reliability.
Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
Collaborate in a team and adapt to change.
Take initiative and prioritize tasks independently.
Utilize office equipment, and software, and maintain records.
Organize and manage resources and files.
Ability to exercise good judgment and interact with diverse groups.
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.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience in special education.

Responsibilities

Develop an understanding of each student's unique needs and become familiar with student records.
Complete paperwork accurately and promptly, including attendance, schedules, requisitions, and other required forms following ESLA procedures.
Assist the teacher with routine paperwork and preparing materials for classroom activities.
Establish priorities to meet deadlines, be prepared for class, and adapt to reassignments when needed.
Conduct lessons or meetings with guidance and training from the teacher.
Support student learning by answering questions, modeling skills, and participating in classroom discussions.
Provide re-teaching, guided practice, and assistance with assignments, tests, and tasks to promote skill acquisition.
Address specific functional or academic needs through modified activities, accommodations, and adaptations.
Support the development of students' health, self-care, and independence through modeling and prompting.
Engage in ongoing training and professional development provided by ESLA to improve skills for supporting assigned students.
Develop competencies in skills necessary to engage students in functional activities throughout the day.
Implement formal and informal Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) with fidelity, collecting and submitting data regularly for analysis.
Make necessary adjustments to student services based on data and guidance from the student support team.
Formulate a daily schedule for students in collaboration with the classroom teacher, administration, and support specialists to ensure engagement throughout the school day.
Attend related service therapy sessions and implement strategies throughout the student's day.
Develop proficiency in students' functional communication and utilize it throughout the day.
Ensure students' functional communication readiness and utilization.
Document student activity and performance for a variety of purposes.
Act as a mandated reporter to ensure student safety.
Supervise students during lunch, bathroom breaks, and transitions outside of the classroom.
Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

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