Head Start Paraprofessional (4 Positions)

$22,138

Kankakee School District 111Posted May 11, 2026

Job description

Position Title: Head Start Paraprofessional (4 Positions) Payroll/Personnel Type: 9 Months Job #: 375 Reports to : Director of Early Childhood Shift Length: 7.25 Hour Day Union Eligibility: Not Eligible Starting Salary: $22,138.25 QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma, Paraprofessional Certification, or enrolled in a program leading to an associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or CDA credential.

Experience preferred. Bilingual may be preferred. JOB GOALS: Perform specific duties related to the care and education of children and the operation of the classroom. PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Assist in carrying out the classroom lesson plans/activities.
  2. Carry out and participate in all gross motor and music activities for the children, as planned by the gross motor and music assistants. Actively participate with the children to develop skills. Sitting or standing in groups for adult conversation is not acceptable.
  3. Follow a daily schedule of housekeeping, as directed. (wipe tables before and after meals, sweep floor after meals, clean food service surfaces before and after meals, etc.)
  4. Actively participate in greeting children upon arrival, all classroom activities, outdoor play, meals, toileting, hand washing, tooth brushing, field trips, and children's departure.
  5. Lead small or large group activities as assigned by the teacher.
  6. Participate in family-style meals, which includes sharing the same menu as the children, allowing children to help with setting up lunch and cleaning up afterwards, and allowing children to serve themselves, pour their own milk, and pass the serving bowls. During meals, provide appropriate discussion about colors, textures, numbers, sizes, shapes, etc., and model good eating habits and table manners. Any other food or beverages must be eaten outside of the classroom during breaks.
  7. Assist in observing and documenting progress toward mastery of skills or concepts, as directed.
  8. Take initiative to individualize with students during free choice/work times.
  9. Assist teacher in preparing the room and materials before the children arrive daily and on institute days.
  10. Use time wisely.
  11. Demonstrate effective student and classroom management techniques, under the direction of the teacher.
  12. Assist in promoting children's language development by modeling appropriate language, using open-ended questions, using a wide variety of vocabulary words, and expanding language concepts.
  13. Encourage children to explore, experiment, question, and build concepts.
  14. Speak to children respectfully, using a tone and volume appropriate for a preschool setting.
  15. Help maintain orderly arrangement of classroom materials and supplies.
  16. Assist children during clean-up time to ensure the classroom is ready for the next session.
  17. Alert the teacher to all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.
  18. Assist the teacher in monitoring the condition of equipment and materials and the inventory of supplies.
  19. Assist in maintaining individual records for each child.
  20. Help plan activities and methods for keeping parents interested and involved in their child's development and classroom activities.
  21. Constructively participate in all required staff meetings and training sessions.
  22. Demonstrate dependability in attendance and punctuality.
  23. Follow universal precautions to avoid bloodborne pathogen exposure.
  24. Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
  25. Follow dress code
  26. Keep cell phones and personal devices put away during class times.
  27. Provide and ensure appropriate supervision of students at all times.
  28. Maintain positive and productive relationships with all co-workers and supervisor(s).
  29. Attend and assist during Education Home Visits, Parent Committee Meetings, and Parent/Teacher Conferences, as scheduled.
  30. Must attend all Staff Meetings and ILT meetings, as directed
  31. Perform additional job related duties as assigned.
  32. Implement the Performance Standards that relate to classroom operations. Certifications and Training Required: ? CPI ? CPR ? First Aid ? Pyramid Training ? Theraplay Training ? Gateway Registry WORKING CONDITIONS: Frequency Options: None Occasional (0-15% of time) Frequent (16-50%) of time Constant (Over 51% of time)
  33. Scheduled to work approximately 40 hours per week.
  34. Exposure to noise. constant
  35. Exposure to heights of approximately 3 feet. occasional
  36. Exposure to temperatures above 90 degrees. occasional
  37. Exposure to chlorine and other cleaning chemicals. occasional
  38. Exposure to blood and bodily fluids. frequent
  39. Exposure to child aggression and other such hazards. occasional
  40. Exposure to dust. occasional
  41. Walking a distance of approximately 1-2 miles. constant
  42. Carrying approximately 30-50 pounds. occasional
  43. Pushing approximately 50 pounds. occasional
  44. Lifting approximately 30-50 pounds. occasional
  45. Climbing approximately 40 steps. occasional
  46. Working alone or independently. occasional
  47. Standing. frequent - constant
  48. Sitting on a child size chair or on the floor. frequent - constant
  49. Bending. frequent - constant
  50. Squatting. frequent - constant
  51. Kneeling. frequent - constant
  52. Climbing stairs. frequent - constant EOE/AA/D/V Disclaimer: The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. In connection with hiring for this position, the district shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or national origin.

Description copied from Kankakee School District 111's careers page. Read the full posting before you apply.

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