1:1 Teaching Assistant

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 5-21 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 $21.00 to $22.00/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 1:1 Teaching Assistant is responsible for supporting a designated student with special needs, facilitating their educational development and engagement. This position involves collaborating with the instructional, support, and administrative staff to ensure the student's success.

Job Functions:

• 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. 

Marginal Responsibilities:

• 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. 

Education/Experience 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.
• Preferred experience in special education. 

Competency Requirements

• 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. 

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, and 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.