Middle School Alternative Education Teaching Assistant

Decatur Public School District; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Decatur Public School District is seeking a Teacher Assistant to support middle school students with daily academic activities and classroom routines. The role involves assisting teachers with instruction, helping with grading tasks, and ensuring a safe, structured learning environment.

The ideal candidate has at least 60 semester hours of college credit and is eligible for a teacher assistant certificate; prior experience with middle school students is a plus.

Qualifications

• Must have 60 semester hours of college credit.
• Must hold or be eligible for teacher assistant certificate.
• Experience supporting middle school students preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist students with daily academic activities as directed by teachers.
• Assist in grading and assigning work as needed.
• Provide safety and behavioral support to students and report concerns.

Education

60 semester hours

Eligible for TA certificate

Job description

Middle School Alternative Education Teaching Assistant JobID: 10282

• Position Type: Teaching Assistant
• Date Posted: 8/17/2026
• Date Available: ASAP
• Closing Date: 09/17/2026

500.052A

TITLE

Teacher Assistant

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit.
• Hold or be eligible for teacher assistant certificate.

REPORTS TO

Building Administrator

JOB GOAL

To assist the teacher in maintaining appropriate classroom activities and environment in order that students may learn effectively.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

(The following are the essential fundamentals to include but not limited to the following job duties.)

• Assist all students in their assigned daily academics as instructed by teachers.
• Assist in grading work and assigning students individual academic work.
• Alerts the teacher to special needs of individual students.
• Provides escorts and assistance to students as necessary.
• Helps maintain individual records for each student.
• Distributes and collects workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Changes will be implemented as needed to meet the individual needs of students.
• Is responsible for student safety education and accident prevention.
• Reports all unsafe conditions to the school principal promptly.
• Reports all accidents or injuries to the principal as soon as possible.
• Supervises and intervenes to regulate student behavior so as to alleviate the risk that inappropriate behaviors will place students or staff at risk of harm.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Wages, hours, terms, and conditions of employment pursuant to negotiated agreement.

EVALUATION

Performance in the position will be evaluated once every two years in accordance with District's plan for evaluation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Handle work which deals mostly with people, objects, equipment in a general setting; depth perception and field of vision are important. Employee regularly is required to bend, stoop, twist, turn, reach, lift (up to 50 pounds), carry, pull, push, climb, and kneel; walking and standing approximately 50-75% of each shift. Employee must recognize differences in sound, such as voices/noises that are loud and playful instead of angry and combative; ability to differentiate tones and volumes in conversation.

MENTAL DEMANDS

The Teaching Assistant must ensure that children are supervised at all times, and that children are involved in safe and appropriate activities. There may be a number of situations happening at once, and the Teaching Assistant must be prepared to handle accidents and emergencies at any time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Teaching Assistant will be working in a busy and occasionally noisy environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the Teacher will have to supervise all students at all times.

This position falls under the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants - July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2025.

The Salary Schedule is attached above. Benefit information can be found HERE .