At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting - pillars of work……early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit healthcare organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.

The Teacher Assistant is responsible for implementing program objectives as part of a teaching team and providing support to the Master Teachers with all classroom activities. This includes but is not limited to, implementing curriculum, supervising children, communicating with parents, and providing a healthy and safe environment for children.

This position is located at the Easterseals Early Learning Center - Hickory Hills at 8020 87th Street, Hickory Hills, IL  60457.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Implement classroom systems to align with requirements in the Head Start/ Preschool for All programs
• Ensure the implementation of developmentally appropriate practice within the classroom, including utilizing materials and studies from the Creative Curriculum
• Research new ideas, methods, resources, and materials for lesson plans
• Ensure that all children within the classroom have sufficient, high-quality observations, maintain up-to-date documentation in Teaching Strategies GOLD, child education files, and child portfolios
• Provide a safe environment for children at all times by implementing active supervision practices
• Communicate with parents/families and report child progress through scheduled parent-teacher conferences and home visits
• Implement a system to ensure that all developmental screening information is completed within 45 days of children’s enrollment.
• Implement a system to ensure that all children identified as benefiting from further evaluation are referred
• Participate in the referral process by documenting observations and interventions attempted inthe classroom
• Participate in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings
• Work closely with consultants and other Easterseals personnel
• Support social emotional development using the pyramid model
• Utilize data from child outcomes, screenings, and IEPs to guide lesson planning for individual children and for the group
• Maintain care of classroom equipment and supplies, control inventory, and report all repairs needed
• Promote an atmosphere of teamwork where staff, parents and children interact positively with each other
• Participate in all required and recommended training, including Teaching Strategies GOLD, Creative Curriculum, and CLASS training
• Participate in all required and recommended meetings
• Support agency’s School Readiness goals and track progress towards goals
• Train and participate in evaluations for classroom team
• Complete an ongoing professional development plan
• Prepare reports on classroom activities, including attendance records
• Participate in the ongoing self-assessment of the program
• All other duties as assigned

Education/Certification:

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with a minimum of 30 college credits with 15 hours in ECE preferred
• ECE Level 4 preferred
• Minimum of CDA in Preschool
• Paraprofessional license required within 6 months of hire

Experience Required:

• 1 year of early childhood classroom experience
• 1 year of experience in Head Start/Early Head Start preferred
• 1 year of experience in serving culturally and linguistically diverse children in early childhood settings

Skills/Abilities:

• Bilingual skills in Arabic preferred
• Ability to multi-task in a high stress environment
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities
• Ability to problem solve
• Basic computer knowledge including Microsoft Office programs
• Completion of a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per year
• Willing to work flexible hours to accommodate the needs of the families

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

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