Early Childhood Program Teaching Assistant

Experience Champaign Urbana; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Urbana School District #116's Urbana Early Childhood School is seeking an Early Childhood Program Teaching Assistant to work under the supervision of a certified classroom teacher and building principal. The role supports instructional planning, assists with language development, behavior management, and daily classroom operations.

The candidate will help prepare materials, assist with the food program, and ensure a safe, respectful learning environment.

Qualifications

• Paraprofessional Certificate or 60 hours of college credit required.
• 2 years of school-based experience preferred.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills required.
• Ability to work with students with behavioral or learning needs.

Responsibilities

• Be part of instructional planning in classroom as arranged by classroom teacher.
• Assist with data recording, debriefing, and planning improvements.
• Attend inservice training sessions as required.
• Assist students to achieve independence and progress toward educational goals.
• Prepare instructional materials and organize classroom resources.
• Facilitate large and small group activities and child-directed learning.
• Assist with food program tasks and classroom displays.
• Support language development and sign language as needed.
• Maintain professional conduct and confidentiality.
• Assist with bus procedures and family communications.
• Collaborate with staff to meet ISBE and district mandates.
• Provide for special needs and daily care as appropriate.

Skills

Highly organized

Excellent communication

Collaboration skills

Problem solving

Behavior/support experience

Prioritization under pressure

Education

Paraprofessional Certificate or 60 hours college credit

Job description

Urbana School District #116

TITLE: Early Childhood Program Teaching Assistant

LOCATION: Urbana Early Childhood School

SUPERVISOR: Certified Classroom Teacher, Building Principal

JOB SUMMARY: Work under the assigned teacher's immediate supervision and the principal's general supervision.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Be a part of instructional planning in classroom as arranged by classroom teacher.
• Participate in debriefing sessions at the end to evaluate the session, record data, and plan for needed changes.
• Attend inservice training sessions as required by principal/district.
• Assist all students to successfully achieve independence, progress on his/her educational goals and objectives, meet the individual unique needs, engage in positive social interactions with peers.
• Implement lesson plans and behavior management procedures developed by the classroom team.
• Prepare instructional materials before class and organize them to be easily accessible.
• Organize and maintain orderly classroom centers.
• Facilitate instruction in large and small group activities and facilitate learning in child-directed activities.
• Assist with tasks related to the food program.
• Prepare classroom displays, bulletin boards, arrange for audio visual equipment, etc.
• Learn and use language intervention techniques (including sign language whenever necessary) to increase the child's language development during all activities and interactions with children.
• Play with children in a manner that will contribute to developing their self-esteem, curiosity, and thought processes in and out of the classroom.
• Assist teachers with record keeping.
• Maintain knowledge of individual child goals/objectives and family needs as appropriate.
• Maintain a high level of professional behavior, including keeping confidential records.
• Take children to the bathroom and assist children with personal care activities.
• Be a role model by always demonstrating the expected behavior of the children.
• Assist staff and children to maintain a clean classroom environment, such as clean tables and chairs at the end of the day and put chairs on top of tables in preparation for custodian.
• Follow classroom arrangements and procedures for bus arrival and departure.
• Follow established procedures for documenting communications between family and school.
• Collaborate with classroom and building staff to support all ISBE and district mandates and expectations.
• Provide for special needs of individual students, including lifting, hygiene, medical needs, and restroom assistance if necessary.
• Perform all other duties that the classroom teacher and principal assign.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION

• Must meet all requirements for the position designated by the ISBE. A Paraprofessional Certificate or 60 hours of college credit are required.

EXPERIENCE

• 2 years of school-based experience preferred

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Highly organized
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent problem-solver
• Should be able to work with students with a history of behavior or learning problems
• Proven to work under pressure and can prioritize multiple tasks

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Salary and Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage. There are many opportunities for employees to earn additional compensation (stipends, differentials, extra duty pay, etc.) during the regular school year and in the summer.
• This is a position within the collective bargaining unit and is not an administrative position.
• This is a non-exempt position.
• Student Contact Days and other days stipulated on the work calendar in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.

EVALUATION: To be completed as per PNS by the principal with input from the classroom teacher.

START DATE: ASAP

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REVISED: March, 2025