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Assistant Teacher (3 openings)

***$1,500 Hiring Bonus for external candidates (50% after 90 days of employment and 50% after one year of employment)

Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), has been a local, state and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.

Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work. Under the direction of the Site Director, the Teacher Assistant works in collaboration with the Teacher. The Teacher Assistant collaborates with the teaching team in maintaining a safe, clean and healthy environment, collects assessment data used to document student progress and works with children individually and in small groups. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with Organization standards.

This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.

Benefits of Working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiassed and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.
• We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

• Assists the Teacher in the completion of developmental screenings of all children to help identify any special needs.
• Implements active supervision of children at all times and ensures child safety.
• Leads activities and experiences that encourage curiosity, exploration and problem solving appropriate to the development of each child.
• Assists in developing lesson plans based on Illinois Early Learning Guidelines, Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) and Teaching Strategies GOLD objectives and the specific needs of each child.
• Works in collaboration with the classroom team to implement the curriculum, Project Approach and modeling excellent teaching practices. Complete regular assessments of each child in Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Assists teachers in collecting and organizing documentation for children’s education files.
• Actively engages in weekly team meetings to facilitate planning to meet student needs.
• Participates in initial and end of the year home visits to facilitate the transfer of learning.
• Attends and participates in program meetings, agency meetings, and parent conferences.
• Participates in ongoing staff development activities, workshops and conferences.
• Maintains a safe and healthy classroom environment. Assures that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored.
• Maintains confidentiality of child and family information at all times.
• Executes our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.
• Independently works on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.
• Other Functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Must hold either an Associate’s Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education or equivalent and must have at least 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of college credit with 12 semester hours in child development or ECE courses and either 10 hours of ECE observation or 200 hours of documented ECE work experience. Must obtain ISBE Paraprofessional Certificate within 30 days of hire (paid for by IAFC). Must hold or obtain Gateways to Opportunity Early Childhood Education Credential Level 4 (within six months of hire).

$19.14/ hour plus $1,500 hiring bonus (50% at 90 days of employment and 50% at 1yr of employment ). This position will work in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

Illinois Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.
While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

As established by the Illinois Action for Children Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved. If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.