Special Education Paraprofessional - 2025/2026 School Year (Donoghue Campus)

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Donoghue, a public elementary campus of the University of Chicago Charter School, seeks a paraprofessional to support inclusive education for students with disabilities, assist with classroom activities, and help create a welcoming, effective learning environment for diverse learners.

In collaboration with classroom and special education teachers, you will help determine student expectations, support IEP goals, modify activities, monitor progress, and communicate regularly with parents to refine

Qualifications

• Paraprofessional licensure and endorsement required.
• Associate’s degree or 60 credit hours or paraprofessional assessment required.
• At least one year of work experience involving care and supervision of children with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Work with classroom and special education teachers to determine student expectations and inclusion in activities.
• Meet IEP requirements by proactively communicating suggestions to support the student.
• Adapt activities to meet the unique needs of the student and create opportunities to work with classmates.
• Coordinate with special education staff, case workers and campus director to determine schedule and release times.
• Implement evaluation programs to track student progress and participate in Academic Social Support Services as scheduled.
• Maintain regular two-way communication with parents and families regarding curriculum, assessment and student concerns.
• Engage in professional development and keep current on strategies to support students with disabilities.

Skills

IEP implementation

Collaboration with teachers

Communication with families

Education

Paraprofessional licensure and endorsement

Associate’s degree or 60 credit hours or paraprofessional assessment

At least 1 year of work experience with children with disabilities

Job description

Serving pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, Donoghue is the second public elementary campus of the University of Chicago Charter School Corporation. Donoghue, which opened in 2005, is a college preparatory campus committed to professional development, inquiry, and high expectations for all staff and students. Donoghue serves as a catalyst for community building by offering programs for students and families beyond the school day.

Position Summary

Facilitate the learning needs of special education students in the classroom by working to implement their inclusion in classroom activities to the maximum extent possible.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with classroom teacher and special education teacher to determine student expectations and inclusion in activities.


• Work to meet the IEP requirements for the student by proactively communicating suggestions and ideas to better support the student.


• Adapt activities to meet the unique needs of the student. Create opportunities for student to work with classmates


• Work with special education staff, case workers and campus director to determine schedule and release times based upon student needs (specials, lunch, etc.)


• Implement evaluation programs to track student’s progress and participate in the Academic Social Support Services program as scheduled and needed.


• Support the engagement of parents and community by maintaining regular two-way communication and partnerships with parents and family in regards to curriculum, assessment, and student-specific concerns. Collaborate with parents and special education staff on a regular basis to refine plan and define needs of the student in a manner that allows for the student to be most successful.


• Contribute to the professional community of the school by participating in NKO’s Professional Development programs. This includes all weekly Professional Development sessions and all other meetings as appropriate.


• Engage in all professional development and reading activities in order to deepen knowledge on how to support students.

Position Qualifications

Paraprofessional licensure and endorsement required. Completion of an Associate’s degree from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, or the successful completion of at least sixty (60) semester hours of college credit at a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body or the successful completion of a state approved paraprofessional assessment, supplemented by at least one year of work experience involving the care and supervision of children with disabilities.

Pay Range: $33,949.00 - $42,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University of Chicago Charter School's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. The salary will be commensurate of years of teaching experience and education.

UChicago Charter School offers a wide range of benefits programs for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in Benefits guide.

UCCS recruits, hires, compensates, promotes and otherwise manages employees and prospective employees on the basis of individual merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any and all other factors protected by law. This policy includes UCCS’s commitment to maintain a workplace free from sexual or other unlawful harassment or discrimination of any nature.