Teacher Assistant

Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

EAP

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc seeks a teacher assistant to support lead teachers in supervising students, preparing materials, and assisting daily instructional activities.

The role emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and clear communication with diverse staff and families. Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work are valued.

Qualifications

• Must have a 2-year degree in a related field with a minimum of six (6) hours in Early Childhood Education, CDA, or 12-hours of Early Childhood Education.
• Must be able to travel when needed for trainings.
• Experience successfully working with a culturally diverse staff and clients.

Responsibilities

• Teamwork: be an effective team player; contribute ideas and feedback; meet commitments.
• Innovation: seek new approaches to improve efficiency; support new ideas and collaboration.
• Excellence: maintain high quality work with attention to detail and integrity.

Skills

Adaptable

Effective Communicator

Growth Mindset

Integrity

Collaborator

Education

2-year degree in related field or 60 college credit hours with 15 hours ECE

ECE Level 3

6 months to 1 year classroom experience

Job description

Basic Function/Position Overview

A teacher assistant works under a lead teacher to supervise students, prepare materials, and support daily classroom instruction.

Reporting Relationship

• Teamwork Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team. This is distinctly different from those who withhold ideas and opinions, offer ideas or opinions that rarely add value to team discussions, have established a track record with many unmet commitments, and/or have not contributed skills that complement the skills of others on the team.
• Innovation Looks out for new and innovative approaches that will improve efficiency. Embraces and champions new ideas and encourages others to do likewise. Recognizes and rewards people and teams who are creative and innovative. This is in sharp contrast to those who tend to embrace the status quo, struggle with new approaches and discourages others when they are creative and innovative in the pursuit of increased efficiency or effectiveness.
• Excellence Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards. This differs from those who cannot be relied upon to produce high quality work, pay little attention to detail, show little pride in a job well done and/or set a poor example for co-workers or direct reports
• Adaptable: Adjust to new conditions, changes, challenges, and experiences.

Basic Function/Position Overview

A teacher assistant works under a lead teacher to supervise students, prepare materials, and support daily classroom instruction.

Reporting Relationship

Reports To

Lead Teacher/ Site Director

Supervises (Position Title):

None

Principal Duties/Responsibilities

• Teamwork Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team. This is distinctly different from those who withhold ideas and opinions, offer ideas or opinions that rarely add value to team discussions, have established a track record with many unmet commitments, and/or have not contributed skills that complement the skills of others on the team.
• Innovation Looks out for new and innovative approaches that will improve efficiency. Embraces and champions new ideas and encourages others to do likewise. Recognizes and rewards people and teams who are creative and innovative. This is in sharp contrast to those who tend to embrace the status quo, struggle with new approaches and discourages others when they are creative and innovative in the pursuit of increased efficiency or effectiveness.
• Excellence Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards. This differs from those who cannot be relied upon to produce high quality work, pay little attention to detail, show little pride in a job well done and/or set a poor example for co-workers or direct reports

Child Development & Youth Services Essential Competencies

• Adaptable: Adjust to new conditions, changes, challenges, and experiences.

A Person Who Is Adaptable

• is open-minded and self-aware: recognizes, appreciates and is open to different ideas and approaches;
• believes, embraces, and actively participates in change processes;
• is flexible and seeks to identify multiple ways to solve problems; and
• is optimistic.
• Effective Communicator: Is understood by others (both verbally and in writing) and understands the ideas and perspectives of others.

A Person Who Is An Effective Communicator

• delivers messages with clear, thoughtful, and concise information;
• actively listens by checking for understanding and is open to understanding others’ viewpoints;
• responds to questions and requests in a timely manner regardless of who they are coming from;
• accurately document interactions / meetings / action steps, commitments, etc.; and
• shows empathy and compassion for people and their circumstances.
• Uses a Growth Mindset: Embraces their potential to learn and grow and views successes and failures as development opportunities.

A Person Who Uses a Growth Mindset

• uses challenges, mistakes, and obstacles as opportunities for growth, and learn through effort;
• is honest, open-minded, and accountable to self and others about their own growth and learning needs;
• seeks out and utilizes feedback and other resources for learning and development; and
• is curious and open to new ideas and experiences.
• Has Integrity: Honesty, trustworthiness, ownership, accountability, and respect are hallmarks of integrity.

A Person Who Has Integrity

• is honest and fair with others;
• follows through on promises;
• treats clients, coworkers, and others with dignity and respect;
• produces high quality work to benefit the organization, peers, colleagues, and those we serve (regardless of personal gain); and
• exhibits strong moral principles by doing the right thing.
• Collaborator: Cooperates and works well with peers, colleagues and team members by giving and receiving ideas, comments, and feedback with an open mind.

A Person Who Is a Collaborator

• contributes ideas, resources, and information with others;
• demonstrates capacity to understand and relate to others’ feelings and circumstances without judgment;
• is willing to help out others and take accountability for their share of the work;
• works to resolves disputes or conflicts and compromise when it makes sense to do so;
• display a positive attitude and demeanor when engaging with others.

Requirements

• Must have a 2-year degree in a related field with a minimum of six (6) hours in Early Childhood Education, CDA, or 12-hours of Early Childhood Education.
• Must be able to travel when needed for trainings.
• Experience successfully working with a culturally diverse staff and clients.

Working Conditions

• Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids or tissues;
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases;
• Job requires standing for long periods of time, as well as stooping, squatting, and running.

Specifications (/Qualifications/Requirements)

• Must have a 2-year degree in a related field or 60 college credit hours with a minimum of fifteen (15) hours in Early Childhood Education.
• Must have at least ECE Level 3.
• Must have 6 months to 1 year of classroom experience.
• Must be able to travel when needed for trainings.

Skills & Ability

• Visual and auditory acuity within professionally determined normal ranges, with correction if need;
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, fax machine, copier, and tape recorder;
• Must be able to travel when needed for trainings.
• Must be able to enter and exit a vehicle without assistance, and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions;
• Must be able to lift 55 pounds or more.
• Experience successfully working with a culturally diverse staff and clients.

Compensation

$40,000

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Paid Sick Time
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 403(b) Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-term & short-term disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Family medical leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Mental/Physical Demands:

Ability to conceptualize and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are performed in a typical office environment. No unusual or adverse working conditions exist.

This description documents the general contents and requirements of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhausted statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The principal duties and responsibilities shown are all essential job functions except for those indicated with an asterisk (*). The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.