Special Education Teacher Assistant - Long Term Leave

Community

Consolidated

School

District

21

Job

Description

Special

Education

Teaching

Assistant

Supervisor:

Building

Administrator

Employee

Group:

Teaching

Assistant

Qualifications:

Valid

Illinois

Paraprofessional

Approval

or

Illinois

Substitute

Teaching

License

Bilingual

preferred

Willingness

to

be

trained

in

nonviolent

crisis

prevention

(NVCI/CPI)

Willingness

to

ride

the

school

bus

if

required

Purpose:

The

Special

Education

Teaching

Assistant

position

supports

success

in

the

school

environment

for

a

classroom

of

students,

small

groups

of

students,

or

an

individual

student.

The

Special

Education

Teaching

Assistant

works

under

the

direction

of

a

licensed

teacher

in

assisting

students

with

social-emotional

regulation,

communication

and

linguistic

needs,

motor

and

sensory

development,

and

any

health-related

services

and/or

academic

and

functional

support.

This

level

of

support

increases

the

student's

engagement

and

availability

for

learning.

The

Special

Education

Teaching

Assistant

may

support

students

in

both

the

general

education

and

special

education

classrooms.

Essential

Functions:

Adapts

classroom

activities,

assignments,

and/or

materials

under

the

direction

of

licensed

staff

to

support

and

reinforce

classroom

objectives.

Implements,

under

the

supervision

of

the

assigned

teacher

or

related

service

personnel,

instructional

programs

and

lesson

plans

(academic,

functional,

and

social),

and

assists

students

with

assignments

to

reinforce

learning

concepts,

enhance

the

learning

environment,

and

foster

independence.

Monitors

individual

and/or

groups

of

students

across

a

variety

of

settings

to

maintain

a

safe

and

positive

learning

environment.

Assists

with

self-help

(e.g.,

feeding,

life

skills,

personal

hygiene

activities,

diapering,

toileting)

and

other

health-related

services

to

support

health

and

wellness

in

the

school

setting.

May

implement

behavioral/safety

plans

designed

by

the

IEP

team

to

present

and/or

reinforce

learning

and

safety

objectives.

Monitors

the

student's

daily

schedule

and

behavior

plan

to

maintain

a

safe

and

positive

learning

environment.

Escorts

students

as

needed

to

provide

necessary

support,

including

but

not

limited

to

classrooms,

hallways,

lunchrooms,

playgrounds,

restrooms,

and

buses.

Implements

assistive

technology

to

enhance

communication

and

learning

for

students.

Monitors

individual

students

across

a

variety

of

settings

to

maintain

a

safe

and

positive

learning

environment.

Promotes

good

study

habits,

as

appropriate,

and

student

independence

to

improve

student

outcomes.

Models

conversation,

manners,

cleanup

activities,

listening,

and

everyday

interactions

to

demonstrate

appropriate

social

behavior.

Assists

with

data

collection

under

the

supervision

of

licensed

staff

to

monitor

student

progress.

Assists

students

with

assignments

to

reinforce

learning

concepts,

enhance

the

learning

environment,

and

foster

independence.

Demonstrates

punctuality

and

regular

attendance

to

ensure

consistent

instruction

for

students.

Other

Functions:

Maintaining

communication

logs

or

other

parent

communication

systems

as

needed.

Maintaining

documentation

for

Medicaid

eligible

service

reimbursement.

Participates

in

in-services

to

acquire

and/or

convey

information

related

to

job

functions.

Assists

with

classroom

activities,

assignments,

and/or

materials

under

the

direction

of

licensed

staff

to

support

and

reinforce

classroom

objectives.

Provides

assistance

to

other

students

as

needed

to

enhance

learning

and

safety

for

all.

Performs

other

related

duties

as

assigned.

Job

Requirements:

Specific

skill

and

knowledge-based

competencies

required

to

satisfactorily

perform

the

functions

of

the

job

include:

Concepts

of

grammar

and

punctuation

Fluency

and

clarity

in

spoken

English

Reading

fluency

and

comprehension

Basic

mathematical

skills

Safety

practices

Operation

of

standard

office

equipment

including

using

pertinent

job-related

software

applications

Specific

ability-based

competencies

required

to

satisfactorily

perform

the

functions

of

the

job

include:

Effectively

presenting

information

in

one-to-one

and

group

situations

to

students

Working

with

emotionally,

physically,

and/or

mentally

impaired

students

Maintaining

confidentiality

Maintaining

composure

under

stressful

situations

Maintaining

effective

decision-making

skills

Communicating

tactfully

and

courteously

with

diverse

groups

Adapting

to

changing

work

priorities

Working

collaboratively

as

part

of

a

team

Applying

common

sense

understanding

to

carry

out

instructions

Specific

physical

ability-based

competencies

required

to

satisfactorily

perform

the

functions

of

the

job

include:

Moving

up

to

50

pounds

(pulling,

pushing,

lifting,

carrying)

Sitting,

standing,

walking

Visually

supervising

students

Utilizing

computer

keyboards

and

screens

to

enter,

retrieve,

and

transform

information

or

data.

The

physical

demands

described

here

are

representative

of

those

that

an

employee

must

meet

to

successfully

perform

the

essential

functions

of

this

job.

Reasonable

accommodations

may

be

made

to

enable

individuals

with

disabilities

to

perform

the

essential

functions.

Updated

June

2026