Program Support Assistant Jobs in Freeport, IL (NOW HIRING)

TITLE: Early Childhood Paraprofessional  

QUALIFICATIONS: High School diploma.

Associate degree or 60 college credit hours or pass the ETS (Educational Testing
  Service) ParaPRO Assessment Test

Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) with a Paraprofessional Endorsement

Experience and training to work effectively with at-risk students

Evidence of emotional stability and maturity

Able to get up and down from the floor and small tables to assist with early childhood activities. 

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

JOB GOAL:  Responsible for assisting the classroom teacher in providing a well-organized, smoothly functioning classroom environment in which students can take full advantage of the instructional program and available resource materials.

Inputs 

(activities done by the position/ how they spend their time/ daily schedule

Evidence

(what can we see as a result of the daily schedule - logs, data book, quarterly reports, calendar) 

Outcomes

(what happens for students - attendance, test scores, Panorama scores - how do we know this position is getting good ROI?)

1.Classroom Support

   - Assist lead teacher in implementing daily lesson plans and activities

   - Prepare and organize classroom materials and equipment

   - Supervise children during indoor and outdoor activities

   - Facilitate small group activities and one-on-one instruction

2. Student Care

   - Assist with personal care needs (e.g., toileting, handwashing)

   - Monitor children's safety and well-being

   - Provide emotional support and encouragement to students

3. Behavior Management

   - Implement positive behavior support strategies

   - Assist in managing classroom behavior and discipline

   - Document behavioral incidents as needed

4. Communication

   - Participate in team meetings and parent-teacher conferences

   - Maintain open communication with lead teacher and other staff members

   - Assist in maintaining student records and progress reports

5. Professional Development

   - Attend required training sessions and workshops

   - Stay current with best practices in early childhood education

1.Classroom Environment

   - Well-organized and clean classroom space

   - Updated and engaging bulletin boards and learning centers

   - Properly maintained classroom materials and equipment

2. Student Engagement

   - Active participation of students in small group activities

   - Completion of assigned tasks by students with paraprofessional support

   - Positive interactions between paraprofessional and students

3. Documentation

   - Accurate and up-to-date student records

   - Detailed behavior incident reports

   - Completed daily activity logs

4. Communication Artifacts

   - Contribution to team meeting minutes

   - Regular updates to lead teacher on student progress

   - Parent communication logs

5. Professional Growth

   - Certificates of completion for training sessions

   - Implementation of new strategies learned in professional development

1. Student Achievement

   - Improved performance on age-appropriate assessments

   - Enhanced language and communication skills

   - Increased readiness for the next educational level

2. Social-Emotional Development

   - Better self-regulation and emotional management

   - Improved social skills and peer interactions

   - Increased self-confidence and independence

3. Behavior Management

   - Decreased frequency and severity of behavioral incidents

   - Improved adherence to classroom rules and routines

   - Enhanced conflict resolution skills among students

4. Parent and Family Engagement

   - Increased parent satisfaction with their child's progress

   - Greater family involvement in the child's education

   - Improved home-school communication and partnership

5. Classroom Atmosphere

   - More positive and inclusive learning environment

   - Increased student participation and enthusiasm for learning

   - Enhanced overall classroom productivity and efficiency

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 176 day Classified position with salary and hours to be established by the Board of Education. 7.0 hours per day

EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions     established by the Board of Education.

SALARY RANGE: In accordance with the USW (United Steelworkers) Negotiated Agreement  - Starting wage $16.93 per hour as stated in the 2025/2026 union contract.

This job description has been reviewed and is in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.