Starting rate is $23.92 per hour
North Shore Academy is a grade 5-12 therapeutic school, serving students who have been identified with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that interfere with their ability to be successful in school. These struggles can manifest themselves in externalizing behaviors (aggression and defiance), internalizing behaviors (anxiety and depression based avoidance and reactivity) and autism spectrum behaviors (rigid thinking, social skills challenges). All students have in common a remarkable resilience and desire to connect with others. At NSA, we work to build a school community where students can experience a sense of belonging and can build the skills that they need to be successful in school. Teaching Assistants play a crucial role in supporting the development of student skills and enhancing the power of our therapeutic community by building important relationships with students so that they can teach, mentor, and collaborate with students during their most challenging moments.
If you are interested in a position as a Teaching Assistant at North Shore Academy, please note that you must obtain either Paraprofessional Approval, Substitute Teacher Certification from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). To find out more on how to obtain your Paraprofessional Approval, please select the following link which will take you to the Lake County Regional Office of Education’s website and provides specific steps to take to obtain this approval: http://www.isbe.net/licensure/html/paraprofessional.htm For staff needing to take the Paraprofessional Test to obtain their approval TrueNorth 804 is an approved proctor of this exam. Please ask us about this when you apply!
Title or Position: Teacher Assistant
North Shore Academy
Job Responsibilities:
Under the direction of a Special Education teacher or other assigned administrator, assist in all aspects of the instructional program and behavioral management of students. The teaching assistant may be responsible for small group instruction under the direct or indirect supervision of the teacher or other person designated by TrueNorth 804 to direct or supervise teaching assistants. The teaching assistant will participate in activities necessary to maintain classroom integration and to support a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) in all curricula activities which include classroom, community, vocational, recreational/leisure, and domestic domains as directed.
Core Competencies:
- Proficient Communication skills
- Effective Collaborative Problem-solving ability
- Engages in Continuous Professional Improvement
- Possesses Job Specific Skills required to meet essential job function
Essential Job Functions: - Assist the teacher in organization and preparation of instructional materials.
- Operate classroom and office equipment in support of learning activities.
- Provide guidance and support to “at risk” students in assigned learning environment as appropriate.
- Conduct individual and small group instruction, under the direction of the teacher.
- Assist in behavior management and use behavior management skills in implementing behavioral strategies, under the direction of the teacher.
- Provide support and assistance to a teacher in implementing IEP objectives for individual students.
- Assist in collection and data recording.
- Participate in team planning meetings, staffings, parent conferences as requested by the teacher.
- Participate in orientation and other trainings, as required.
- Participate in in-service programs and professional meetings, as requested by the teacher.
- Communicate effectively with students, staff and parents.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Assist in physical restraint of students for safety of students and others.
- Transport students by van as directed (must obtain Type B drivers license).
- Work collaboratively with teachers, parents, and support personnel to improve services for students.
- Perform such other duties and services under the supervising teacher’s direction as requested.
- Participate in community and vocational instruction within or outside the school facility, not to exceed 80% of work time.
Requirements: - Combination of education, training, and/or experience which demonstrates ability to perform the required duties.
- High School Diploma
- Some College Preferred
- State Paraprofessional License (60 or more college credit hours or pass Paraprofessional test to apply for license) OR Substitute Teacher license (Bachelor’s degree required)
- Favorable background check and provide physician’s statement.
Compensation:
This position follows the TrueNorth Educational Support Professionals Collective Bargaining Agreement for both regionally competitive pay and excellent benefits.
