Teaching Assistant
About the Employer
Qualifications
To be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Class Size Teacher Assistant must possess the following qualifications:
Position Overview
The Joint Class Size Assessment Council (JCSAC) allocates class-size teacher assistant positions to address oversized classrooms in priority schools and other impacted schools. These positions are reviewed annually and concluded at the end of each school year. Under the general direction of the school principal and under the immediate supervision of a teacher holding a valid state certificate directly engaged in teaching subject matter or conducting activities, assists in the instruction of pupils and performs related duties as required.
Job Responsibilities
The Class Size Teacher Assistant will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
• Assists in the supervision of students during lunchroom and playground activities
• Provides security functions within the school, such as monitoring corridors and reviewing student identification card
• Assist students in understanding and completing classroom assignments
• Assist teachers in preparing bulletin boards and displaying students' work in classrooms
• Operates photocopying and duplicating machines to reproduce educational materials
• Assists in maintaining the orderly arrangement of classrooms
• Greet and direct visitors to appropriate areas of the school
• Consult with teachers regarding concerns of individual students
• Operate audiovisual equipment such as cassette recorders, movie projectors, film strip projectors, tape recorders, and photographs.
• Provides tutoring services to students under the supervision of the classroom teacher
• Assist in collecting and grading students' homework assignments and examination materials under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
• Assist in supervising the loading and unloading of students on school buses.
• Assist in the receipts processing and insurance of new books under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
• Collect daily classroom absentee reports and contact parents and guardians to verify the causes of student absence.
• May assist elementary school teacher with wraps and toilet as necessary
• May assist in the supervision of the school procedure to sell public transportation passes to students
Education Requirements
Graduation from high school (or G.E.D. equivalent)
Certification Requirements
Must possess a valid TASN (NCLB) Paraprofessional License from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which may be applied for and obtained after the successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credit at a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or successful completion of a paraprofessional exam (Work Keys or Parapro). Also refer to: Illinois State Board of Education ISBN Applied For Link Work Keys Parapro
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Good knowledge of proper English grammar and spelling, basic knowledge of mathematics, and knowledge of Chicago Public Schools rules and regulations.
• Ability to work with and for school-aged children, ability to follow written and oral instructions, ability to operate basic office equipment, ability to communicate effectively with the public.
• Good oral and written communication skills, good reading skills, skills in operating audio-visual equipment and personal computers is highly desirable
Physical Requirements
Light work: exerting up to twenty (20) pounds of force occasionally, up to ten (10) pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force often to move objects. Even though the weight of force moved may be only a negligible amount, a position should be rated as light work (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing or pulling of arm control
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to: Unvaccinated staff must submit to weekly testing.
• Establish/maintain Chicago residency - employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the city of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.
• Completion of the Class Size Teacher Assistant - Interim Assignment Acceptance Form is required for this position
• Be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing - employees are required to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of their hire date. Full vaccination is defined as at least two weeks after your second shot of a two-shot vaccination course, or at least two weeks after a one-shot vaccination course.