Paraprofessional - Special Education - Instructional Program

McLean County Unit District No; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 26,174 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully Board Paid Medical, Dental, and

Vision coverage included

Job summary

McLean County Unit District No. is seeking a Paraprofessional - Special Education for the Instructional Program (Grades 2-5) at Prairieland ES.

The role supports students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviors under teacher guidance. The position requires an educator license with stipulations for paraprofessional or professional educator status at hire, strong communication skills, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

• Must possess an educator license with stipulations endorsed for paraprofessional educator or professional educator license at the time of hire.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to work with teachers, education support personnel, building administrators and the general public.
• Enforce school regulations and policies in a professional manner.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with fellow employees and pupils.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Requires ability to push/pull up to 10 lbs.
• Must be detailed oriented.

Responsibilities

• Discusses assigned duties with classroom teachers in order to coordinate instructional efforts.
• Prepares lesson materials, bulletin Board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations as needed.
• Presents subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
• Serves as a resource person, if requested, to the student personnel evaluation team regarding assigned students.
• Supervises students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, gymnasiums, or on field trips.
• Conducts demonstrations to teach such skills as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
• Distributes teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
• Distributes tests and homework assignments, and collects them when completed.
• Enforces administration policies and rules governing students.
• Grades homework and tests, computes and records results.
• Completes required reports in a timely manner.
• Teaches socially acceptable behavior using behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
• Works with students with multiple physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
• Familiar with adaptive equipment including communication equipment, wheel chairs, adaptive feeding tools, etc.
• Assists students with self-care, hygiene, and feeding as necessary.
• May perform tasks students cannot do, e.g., taking notes, handling materials, holding books.
• May work with/handle resistive students.
• Serves as chief information source to substitute teachers in absence of regular teacher.
• Maintains high ethical standards and confidentiality of student information.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Flexibility

Teamwork

Education

Educator license with stipulations endorsed for paraprofessional or professional educator

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Paraprofessional - Special Education - Instructional Program Grades 2-5
Location: Prairieland ES
Department: Building Personnel
Reports to: Principal/Assistant Principal
FLSA Class: Non-Exempt
FTE: 1.0

SUMMARY

This position is responsible for working closely with students in a general education classroom with students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviors on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the support they need to gain full benefit from the District's special education program.

DUTIES

• Discusses assigned duties with classroom teachers in order to coordinate instructional efforts.
• Prepares lesson materials, bulletin Board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations as needed.
• Presents subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
• Serves as a resource person, if and when requested, to the student personnel evaluation team conferring about one of the students to whom assigned.
• Supervises students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
• Conducts demonstrations to teach such skills as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
• Distributes teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
• Distributes tests and homework assignments, and collect them when they are completed.
• Enforces administration policies and rules governing students.
• Grades homework and tests, and computes and records results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
• Completes required reports in a timely manner.
• Teaches socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
• Works with students with multiple physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
• Is familiar with and uses adaptive equipment including, communication equipment, wheel chairs, adaptive feeding tools, etc.
• Assists students with self-care, hygiene, and feeding as necessary.
• May be required to perform tasks that students are not able to do, i.e. taking notes, handling materials, holding books, etc.
• May work with/handle resistive students.
• Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.
• Assists the classroom teacher in other tasks necessary in maintaining a professional and positive classroom environment, and performs other teacher aide duties as may be assigned by the classroom teacher, administration or Board of Education.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a registered license with the Regional Office of Education #17 at the time of hire.
• Must have excellent Oral and Written communication skills to work with teachers, education support personnel, building administrators and the general public.
• Enforce school regulations and policies in a professional manner.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with fellow employees and pupils.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Requires employee to have the ability to push/pull up to 10 lbs.
• Must be detailed oriented.

Certification:

Must possess an educator license with stipulations endorsed for paraprofessional educator or professional educator license at the time of hire.

Compensation:

Fully Board Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision available.

Per the 2026-2027 Teaching Assistant Salary Schedule, the starting pay range is $19.48 - $22.40 per hour and is based upon experience.