Paraprofessional – Early Childhood

Christopher House closes the opportunity gap through a continuum of schools that closes through personalized learning and immersive family supports starting at birth. We operate accredited early learning, elementary, and out of school time programs grounded in research-based curricula and high-quality instruction.

OUR VALUES

Commitment to Excellence

Achievement & Perseverance 

Respect & Compassion 

Equity 

OUR BELIEFS 

Children and Families thrive when: 

• Education begins at birth and continues throughout life, with parents as their children’s first teacher;
• Home environments nurture literacy, achievement, and children’s success;
• Parents have high standards and set high expectations for themselves, their children, and children’s schools; 
• Professionally trained teachers know their students as individuals; 
• Evaluations and program improvements are data driven; 
• Parents and staff work together to continuously evaluate and improve programming; 
• Education includes the development of creativity and perseverance and is multi-disciplinary in order to foster each child’s unique strengths and interests;
• Developing independent, creative, life-long researchers, education includes curriculum designed to help scholars develop socially and emotionally as well as cognitively; 
• Diversity is celebrated and explored so that learners develop broad perspectives on life and learning; and, 
• Parents and caregivers support their children financially and emotionally. 

Position Description: Para Professional 

Reports to: Site Director

Status: Exempt

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Support classroom personnel to include children with special needs in classroom activities/daily routine. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support site/classroom personnel and children as necessary. This position will move across sites as necessary.

Classroom

• Work together with the existing classroom education team to assure the safety and inclusion of children with special needs
• Assist classroom personnel in implementing classroom curriculum in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards
• Participate in the introduction of and teaching of developmentally appropriate skills
• Assist classroom personnel in assuring the health, safety and well-being of all children in the classroom
• Share responsibility for classroom maintenance and orderliness
• Under the direction of the Associate Director of Health and Disabilities and CDHS/CPS Disabilities team, work in collaboration with Teaching staff to assure the safety and well-being of all children in the classroom, with particular emphasis on inclusion of children with special needs in accordance with their Individual Education Plan (IEP)
• Makes recommendations to the Program Director, Associate Director of Health and Disabilities and Site Director, regarding the children’s development and assessed needs in the classroom.

Parent-Teacher Relationship

• Support classroom personnel in communicating with parents, family members, and other program participants in regards to special needs children
• Meet with families as needed and serve as a positive representative for Christopher House.

Team Orientation

• Attend all necessary meetings; collaborate with the Associate Director of Health and Disabilities, Site Director, Teachers, and CPS/CDHS Disabilities Support team
• Engage in positive interaction with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including educators, therapists, family members, administrators, and other para-professionals
• Meet bi-weekly with Associate Director of Health and Disabilities to plan for children enrolled in program and set priorities
• Acts as an advocate for children, parents and staff.

Professional Development

• Attend all necessary trainings as provided by Christopher House, DHS or participating agencies
• Participate in para-professional training through CYS
• Participates in training on developmental issues and safety, parents’ rights and responsibilities with respect to children with disabilities. 

Quality Assurance 

• Seek to understand the 40 Developmental Assets approach and role model asset-building behavior when interacting with participants, employees, and other stakeholders
• Actively seek to align programs with best practices or standards for high quality
• Ensure on time and accurate collection of data using organization’s database and/or funder databases
• Analyze data with team members to determine how to explain information related to findings and improvement strategies
• Report findings to supervisor; make recommendations for improving quality of services and/or department’s outcomes system; ensure successful implementation department strategies
• Use outcome findings to enhance organizations public image and promote programs to families, volunteers, funders, and stakeholders

QUALIFICATiONS: 

• A minimum of two years of experience in a pre-school classroom, preferably in a HS or governmentally funded child care program
• Bi-lingual skills in a variety of languages is a plus. 

EDUCATION:

• Associate of Arts degree or two years of college study, with six (6) credit hours in Early Childhood Education preferred. A degree in Special Education is preferred.
• Paraprofessional license preferred

Christopher House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran's status, or, any other protected characteristic.

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