Special Education Paraprofessional - 2025/2026 School Year (North Kenwood/Oakland Campus)

The UChicago Charter School’s North Kenwood/Oakland campus is named after and located at the juncture of the South Side neighborhoods of North Kenwood and Oakland, historic communities formed by African Americans and others seeking a better life, including high quality educational opportunities for their children. In 2008, North Kenwood/Oakland was honored as the recipient of the Illinois State Federation of Community Schools’ Dimon Distinguished Community Schools Award.

The University of Chicago Charter School Corporation expects our teachers and staff to enable each and every one of our students to learn and achieve at high levels. Learning is demanding intellectual work that depends on good instruction, comprehensive academic and social supports, and a school culture of high expectations, all of which is made possible by the best individual and collaborative efforts of our teachers and staff.

Position Summary:

This position will provide support and facilitate the learning needs of special education students in the classroom by working to implement their inclusion in classroom activities to the maximum extent possible.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with classroom teacher and special education teacher to determine student expectations and inclusion in activities.
• Work to meet the IEP requirements for the student by proactively communicating suggestions and ideas to better support the student.
• Adapt activities to meet the unique needs of the student.
• Create opportunities for student to work with classmates.
• Work with special education staff, case workers and campus director to determine schedule and release times based upon student needs (specials, lunch, etc.)
• Implement evaluation programs to track student’s progress and participate in the Academic Social Support Services program as scheduled and needed.
• Support the engagement of parents and community by maintaining regular two-way communication and partnerships with parents and family in regard to curriculum, assessment, and student-specific concerns.
• Collaborate with parents and special education staff on a regular basis to refine plan and define needs of the student in a manner that allows for the student to be most successful.
• Contribute to the professional community of the school by participating in NKO’s Professional Development programs. This includes all weekly Professional Development sessions and all other meetings as appropriate.
• Engage in all professional development and reading activities to deepen knowledge on how to support students.

Position Qualifications:

• Commitment to the success and achievement of all students, and especially diverse learners.
• Valid Illinois State Board of Education Paraprofessional License with appropriate endorsement required.
• Completion of an Associate’s degree or sixty (60) semester hours of college credit from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, or the successful completion of a state approved paraprofessional assessment, supplemented by at least one year of work experience involving the care and supervision of children with disabilities.
• Experience serving in an urban school environment preferred.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, staff, students, parents, and community partners.
Ability to communicate clearly with multiple stakeholders.

Salary Range

$33,949 - $42,000

The included pay rate or range represents the University of Chicago Charter School's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. The salary will be commensurate of years of experience and education.

Benefits

UChicago Charter School offers a wide range of benefits programs for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits guide .

UCCS recruits, hires, compensates, promotes and otherwise manages employees and prospective employees on the basis of individual merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any and all other factors protected by law. This policy includes UCCS’s commitment to maintain a workplace free from sexual or other unlawful harassment or discrimination of any nature.