Teaching Assistants for Extended School Year (ESY)- Summer 2026

Special Education Teaching Assistant

Lake Forest High School is seeking Special Education Teaching Assistants for Extended School Year (ESY) for Transition Services at West Campus. The ESY dates are from June 8, 2025 through June 25, 2026, Monday-Thursday mornings from 7:45 am to 12:15 pm. There will be no school on June 18, 2026.

The Special Education Teaching Assistant supports students eligible for special education in the classroom, community, work sites, and/or other instructional locations. The responsibilities of this position include adapting classroom, community, vocational tasks and activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of a special education teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing curricula and IEP objectives. The Special Education Teaching Assistant works under the direction of a certified teacher and is expected to exercise independent judgment, a high degree of confidentiality, creativity, organizational skills, and be able to react appropriately in crisis situations.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as an instructional assistant to the classroom teacher and adapts classroom activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of the supervising teacher for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom and vocational objectives and meeting IEP goals
• Administers classwork, tests, homework, make-up work, etc. for the purpose of supporting teachers in the classroom and the community setting
• Communicates with supervising instructional staff, work site staff, and professional support personnel for the purpose of communicating progress and/or implementing IEP goals and objectives
• Implements, under the supervision of assigned teacher, research based interventions and best practices for the purpose of presenting and/or reinforcing learning concepts
• Assists with evaluation of student skills and data collection for monitoring student IEP goals
• Intervenes in potential conflicts utilizing appropriate physical and/or therapeutic approaches for the purpose of defusing confrontations and minimizing disruptions
• Prepares and maintains instructional materials, manuals and electronic files/records for the purpose of ensuring availability of items, providing written reference; and/or meeting students' needs
• Monitors and implements students' daily schedule (e.g. class schedule, toileting, appetite, work schedule, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment
• Assists with the implementation of the behavior management plan (BIP) including behavior escalation, Crisis prevention intervention (CPI) and positive behavioral strategies under the direction of the teacher or related services faculty
• Assists with toileting, including transferring and while maintaining the dignity and confidentiality of the student if needed
• Assists with the transfer and support of student while attending physical therapy or other related services if needed
• Assists with escorting students to and from events, activities, and other programming, including loading and unloading of students from bus or other school vehicles
• Drives students using the district vehicle to and from events, activities, and other programming related to course learning objectives
• Serves as a daily supervisor of the student during events, activities, meals and other programming (e.g. daily walks)
• Supports the daily living of our students including support of clothing, oral hygiene, and as appropriate, feminine hygiene
• Provides, under the supervision of assigned teacher, instruction to students in a variety of individual and group settings for the purpose of reinforcing instructional, functional and vocational and IEP objectives
• Attends meetings and in-service presentations for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information related to job functions
• Assists with general office clerical tasks (filing, copying, etc.) as related to IEP records management
• Helps students develop, learn, and self-monitor social skills, executive functioning skills, and social emotional skills
• Helps students with health related services as directed by school nurse which may include observing and recording individual student health needs
• Maintains and respects confidentiality of student information
• Performs other job related duties as assigned by direct supervisor
• Adheres to Board of Education policies and procedures

Qualifications: Illinois Professional Educator License with Stipulations (PARA)

Salary and Benefits: $22.34/hour, No additional benefits are associated with this position. The 2025-2026 pay rates will be applicable to employees who are working Extended School Year (ESY)- Summer 2026.

To Inspire the Passion to Learn, the Insight to Know Oneself, and the Courage to Make a Difference