Teacher Assistant

Kairos Academies; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Kairos Academies is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to support student-centered classrooms and ensure high-quality instruction. The role involves providing academic support, tracking student progress, and collaborating with lead teachers to foster a positive learning environment. Ideal candidates will have a commitment to equity and experience with middle or high school students.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of experience working with middle or high-school-aged students.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and belief in the potential of all students.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic support through small-group instruction and one-on-one interventions.
• Support students in mastering daily and weekly goals.
• Reinforce instructional objectives and behavior expectations.

Skills

Commitment to equity

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

High School Diploma

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Kairos Academies seeks a dedicated and mission-driven Teaching Assistant (TA) to support rigorous, student-centered classrooms and ensure all students have access to high-quality instruction. The Teaching Assistant is critical in advancing Kairos’ commitment to academic excellence, personalization, and whole-child support. This position is structured and compensated under the Teacher First Compensation model, which emphasizes professionalism, clarity of expectations, and career growth for all instructional team members.

Core Responsibilities:

• Provide academic support through small-group instruction and one-on-one student interventions in alignment with classroom teacher plans.
• Support students in mastering daily and weekly goals by reviewing content, tracking progress, and offering re-teaching opportunities as needed.
• Reinforce instructional objectives and behavior expectations in collaboration with lead teachers.
• Support implementation of personalized learning tools and platforms (e.g., Gradient, blended learning models).
• 85%+ of students on caseload meet or exceed weekly academic progress benchmarks.
• Real-time student intervention notes and tracking are completed weekly with the lead teacher.
• Model Kairos’ core values of Love, Excellence, Agency, and Diversity in all student and staff interactions.
• Uphold classroom routines and reinforce behavior expectations aligned with Kairos’ campus-wide student culture systems.
• Participate in and support whole-school activities, including arrival, dismissal, transitions, and school events.
• 95%+ daily attendance at scheduled duties, transitions, and huddles.
• Student culture logs are completed weekly (when applicable), and positive reinforcement and intervention are aligned with school expectations.

Teacher First Compensation Alignment:

• Attend and contribute to all professional development and planning time allocated to instructional team members, in-service, campus huddles, and team check-ins.
• Actively contribute to whole-school service (e.g., mentoring, culture leadership, academic support) as aligned with role.
• Demonstrate ownership of student outcomes and proactive problem-solving in collaboration with the teaching team and leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership or collaboration in at least one whole-school service initiative each semester.
• Active contribution to team goals reflected in performance reviews and weekly planning check-ins.

Qualifications:

Required:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of one year of experience working with middle or high-school-aged students
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and belief in the potential of all students

Preferred:

• Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree (in progress or completed)
• Experience in an urban charter or public school setting
• Familiarity with restorative practices or personalized learning environments

Work Schedule & Conditions:

• Full-time, in-person position aligned with Kairos Academies’ academic calendar
• Must be available during all professional development and in-service days
• Participation in after-school or evening events may be required occasionally