Substitute Teaching Assistant

Oak Park Elementary District 97; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Park Elementary District 97 is seeking a Teacher Assistant Substitute to provide classroom support for students and staff. The role emphasizes aiding students, especially those with special needs, to complete tasks and ensuring safety and a positive learning environment.

The substitute aligns with the district's equity commitments and works under the Core Instruction Administration at assigned school buildings. Primary reporting location is the assigned school, PK-8. Compensation is $120/day.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree preferred.
• Illinois Professional Educator License or Illinois Substitute Teacher License or ELS with Paraprofessional Endorsement.

Responsibilities

• Lift students as required.
• Assist students' academic needs.
• Communicate with students in a professional manner.
• Collaborate with others in the classroom.
• Assist the teacher and students in daily activities.
• Understand students' needs across educational, medical, physical, sensory and social-emotional domains as directed by the teacher.
• Maintain student behavior using behavior management strategies.
• Operate equipment related to classroom needs (copy machine, computers, assistive tech, OT/PT devices).

Skills

Lift students

Assist students' academic needs

Professional communication

Collaborative teamwork

Classroom support

Knowledge of diverse student needs

Behavior management

Operate classroom equipment

Education

Associate's Degree, preferred

Illinois Professional Educator License

Illinois Substitute Teacher License

ELS with Paraprofessional Endorsement

Job description

• Champions the vision of the school district
• Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset
• Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility
• Leads with an unrelenting commitment to universal student success
• Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals
• Leads with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work
• Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community
• Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
• Demonstrates a passion for working with a culturally, racially linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles
• Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth
• Understands the intersection of public school leadership, student learning and equity
• Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations

Teacher Assistant Substitute

Revised May 2025

Perm/contract

SY25-26

Department

Core Instruction

FLSA Status

Non-exempt

Reports To

Core Instruction Administration

Primary Reporting Location:

Assigned School Building

Level

PK-8

Compensation

$120/day

Date Available

SY26-27

Bargaining Unit & Classification

N/A

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Portrait Of a District 97 Leader

• Champions the vision of the school district
• Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset
• Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility
• Leads with an unrelenting commitment to universal student success
• Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals
• Leads with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work
• Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community
• Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
• Demonstrates a passion for working with a culturally, racially linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles
• Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth
• Understands the intersection of public school leadership, student learning and equity
• Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations

About The Role

The job of the Teacher Assistant Substitute is to provide support to students and teaching staff in a classroom setting. The role involves helping students, especially those with special needs, to complete educational tasks, ensuring their safety and well-being, and supporting a positive learning environment. The Teacher Assistant Substitute conducts theirself in ways that demonstrates their alignment and agreement with the district's equity commitments as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity.

Essential Skills And Responsibilities

• Ability to lift students is required
• To assist students academic needs.
• Ability to work and communicate with students in an appropriate professional manner required
• Ability to work collaboratively with others
• Assist the classroom teacher and student(s) in daily activities
• Demonstrate knowledge of students' needs, including but not limited to: educational, medical, physical, sensory, speech/language, social/emotional, recreational, vocational, etc., as established by the teacher.
• Under the direction of the teacher, maintain student behavior by utilizing behavior management strategies
• Operate all equipment related to support of teacher and/or student needs: copy machine, computers, assistive technology, related OT and PT devices, other items as required

Candidate Qualifications

• Associate's Degree, preferred
• Illinois Professional Educator License or
• Illinois Substitute Teacher License or
• ELS with Paraprofessional Endorsement

Physical Requirements

This position requires the performance of light workwhich may require exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere. The position requires indoor and outdoor supervision during varying temperatures and climatic conditions.