Acting Teacher

Acting Teacher – Grand Prairie School

Location:

Onarga, IL. Nexus Family Healing, a national mental health organization, offers an immersive therapeutic setting for boys ages 10‑20 at its private Grand Prairie School. The school provides special education with small classes for grades 5‑12.

Job Type: Full‑time

• Monday‑Friday 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Year‑round school calendar with holidays and pre‑scheduled paid break weeks (e.g., 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week Spring Break, 1 week June, 1 week August).
• 8 additional days of paid time off per calendar year for new employees.
• Salary: $44,000–$48,000 annually, based on prior teaching experience and credentials.

• Assist staff in proper recreation and restraint of youths.
• Lift up to 50 lbs unassisted, up to 100 lbs with assistance.
• Stand and walk for extended periods (2‑4 hours). Ability to twist, bend, and stretch as required.

• Small class sizes.
• Full‑time paraprofessional in each classroom.
• Behavior Intervention Team and residential program staff available throughout the school day.
• Tuition assistance for higher education.
• Paid time off and scheduled break weeks.
• Endless training on mental health & trauma‑informed care.
• Internal advancement opportunities without further education.
• Employee referral bonus.
• Health insurance options, no‑cost life insurance, short/long‑term disability insurance, 401(k) match.
• Talkspace and Hinge Health benefits for the whole family.
• Carrot fertility benefit.

• Cover teaching gaps with at least 24 hours’ notice for staff absences and support leave/vacation coverage.
• Collaborate with the school team to assess student needs, develop lesson plans, and provide age‑appropriate instruction.
• Give one‑on‑one academic support and communicate lesson plans clearly.
• Seek new instructional methods and address student needs.
• Respond to classroom crises using approved de‑escalation techniques; coordinate with clinical staff as needed.
• Resolve problems and emergencies using sound judgment and Nexus procedures.
• Create a supportive classroom environment for learning and treatment.
• Build appropriate student relationships and promote personal responsibility.
• Recognize achievements and redirect misbehavior with constructive feedback.
• Share academic and behavioral updates with educational and treatment teams.
• Integrate cultural diversity into instruction and attend related trainings.
• Maintain student confidentiality, comply with licensing, COA, HIPAA standards.
• Assist in developing IEPs, assess student testing needs, and coordinate with IEP team members.
• Attend required meetings and trainings; model ethical and professional behavior.
• Uphold Nexus’s mission and values in all interactions.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Active substitute teaching license or professional educator license registered with the Illinois State Board of Education.
• Willingness to obtain full teaching licensure & LBS1 licensure within two years of employment.
• Valid driver’s license and meet state and Home Office driving requirements.

• 2+ years of teaching experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in an educational discipline preferred.

• Innovation:
  Leading creative, cutting‑edge ideas.
• Compassion:
  Listening, honoring differences, showing respect and empathy.
• Agility:
  Flexibility and rapid adaptation.
• Responsiveness:
  Quick, positive, accurate responses.
• Excellence:
  Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

At Nexus Family Healing, we actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, serving a diverse group of youth and families and striving for a workforce that reflects that diversity.

Contact our recruiting team today to be considered for this role. Apply via the Nexus Family Healing careers portal.

Keywords: “Special Education”, “Special Education Teacher”, “LBS1”, “PEL”, “Teacher”, “High School Teacher”, “Junior High Teacher”, “Middle School Teacher”.