1:1 Teaching Assistant

1:1 Teaching Assistant

Position Status:
Full-Time, 35 hours per week during regular school sessions and 32.5 hours per week during summer sessions

Location:

Easterseals Learning Academy, 110 Fandel Road, Germantown Hills, IL 61548

Schedule:

Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm during the regular school year; 7:45 am—2:15 pm during the summer sessions (20 days in June).

Make a Difference One Student at a Time

Help a student build confidence, independence, and the skills needed for success.

At Easterseals Learning Academy, our 1:1 Teaching Assistants provide individualized support to a designated student throughout the school day. Working alongside teachers, therapists, behavior support staff, and families, you'll play an important role in helping a student access their education, develop new skills, and achieve meaningful goals. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a supportive relationship with a student while helping them navigate academic, social, behavioral, communication, and daily living challenges in a structured educational environment.

Every day presents opportunities to encourage growth, celebrate progress, and make a lasting impact in a student's life.

About Easterseals Learning Academy

Easterseals Learning Academy is an Illinois State Board of Education-approved non-public therapeutic day school serving students ages 5–21. School districts throughout Central Illinois partner with us to provide specialized educational programming for students whose needs are best served in a therapeutic and highly supportive learning environment. Our goal is to empower students to achieve their highest potential by strengthening academic achievement, communication skills, social-emotional development, and functional life skills that promote greater independence.

What Makes Our Program Unique?

• High staff-to-student ratios that allow for individualized attention and meaningful support
• Collaborative teams of educators, therapists, behavior specialists, and support staff
• Specialized classrooms and therapy spaces designed to support learning and development
• Individualized instruction and interventions tailored to each student's strengths and needs
• A commitment to helping students build the skills needed to participate more fully in school, home, and community life

Every member of our team contributes to creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.

See the Impact of Your Work

As a 1:1 Teaching Assistant, you'll become an important part of a student's daily support system.

You'll work closely with one student throughout the school day, helping them engage in classroom activities, build communication and social skills, navigate behavioral challenges, and develop greater independence. You may help a student participate in a classroom activity they previously avoided, successfully communicate a need, develop a self-care skill, or gain confidence in a new environment. While progress may happen one step at a time, the impact can be life-changing.

By providing consistent support and encouragement, you'll help create opportunities for growth that extend far beyond the classroom.

You'll Thrive in This Role If...

• Value building meaningful relationships and supporting others one-on-one
• Believe every student deserves individualized support to reach their full potential
• Are patient, compassionate, and able to remain calm in challenging situations
• Enjoy helping others gain confidence and independence
• Can provide both encouragement and structure throughout the day
• Are observant and able to recognize small successes and opportunities for growth
• Work well with teachers, therapists, behavior specialists, and families as part of a larger support team
• Are adaptable and comfortable adjusting strategies to meet a student's changing needs
• Find purpose in helping someone achieve goals they may not be able to reach on their own

Many successful 1:1 Teaching Assistants come from backgrounds in education, special education, childcare, behavioral health, psychology, social work, direct support, therapy services, and other helping professions. Equally important is a willingness to learn, a commitment to…