What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head Start Teacher Assistant for the 26/27 School Year (Start date August 2026) position at Northwestern IL Community Action Agency?
Job Title: Head Start Teacher Assistant
Agency: Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency (NICAA) – Freeport, IL
Job Type: Full-Time (Part-Year) | Hourly | Non-Exempt
Schedule: Monday – Friday | 37.5 hours/week
Location: On-site / In-person
Reports to: Education Manager/Lead Teacher
Make a Difference Every Day!
Are you passionate about helping young children learn, grow, and thrive? Join the NICAA Head Start team as a Teacher Assistant and help create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for preschool-aged children. You’ll work alongside certified teachers to deliver high-quality early childhood education while supporting the developmental needs of children ages 3–5.
Key Responsibilities
Child Supervision & Classroom Support
- Supervise and interact with children during indoor/outdoor activities, meals, and rest time.
- Support daily routines including toileting, handwashing, diapering, and transitions.
- Observe and engage with children to promote developmentally appropriate behaviors and skills.
- Create a warm, welcoming classroom that supports children’s social-emotional development.
Instructional Support
- Assist in implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans using the Creative Curriculum.
- Adapt activities to support children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or special needs.
- Work with small groups or one-on-one to support individual learning goals.
- Help set up learning centers and maintain educational materials.
- Participate in assessments, observations, and child documentation.
Classroom Environment & Safety
- Maintain cleanliness and safety of the classroom and playground.
- Conduct and document safety, health, and emergency preparedness checks.
- Participate in fire/emergency drills and follow DCFS and Head Start guidelines.
- Ensure compliance with all licensing and program standards.
Family & Program Engagement
- Assist with parent communication and engagement activities, including home visits and parent-teacher conferences.
- Encourage parent involvement in classroom events and learning experiences.
- Support recruitment and enrollment efforts for Head Start families.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all communications.
Team Collaboration & Communication
- Attend weekly team planning meetings and provide input on lesson plans and classroom strategies.
- Collaborate with teaching teams and administrative personnel.
- Report concerns regarding classroom operations or staff performance to the Education Manager.
- Assist in other classrooms as needed.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education:
- Required: Preschool CDA within 2 years of hire
- Required: High School Diploma or G.E.D.
- Preferred: Associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field with 20 ECE credits
Experience & Skills:
- Prior experience working with young children preferred
- Ability to demonstrate nurturing teacher-child interactions
- Comfortable working in a team environment
- Strong communication and observation skills
- Basic computer literacy for recordkeeping and reporting
Additional Requirements:
- Must be at least 19 years old
- Valid Illinois Driver’s License and reliable transportation
- Proof of current physical exam, TB test, MMR, and Tdap vaccinations
- Ability to lift 55 lbs. and physically interact with children at their level
- Must pass DCFS and federal background checks
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates encouraged to apply
Pay: $16.50 - $17.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee assistance program
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
Salary : $17 - $17