Job Description

Title: Paraprofessional
Location: West Belden 2245 N McVicker Ave, Chicago, IL 60639
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting at $42,029, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: February 2026

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

A Distinctive Schools Paraprofessional serves as an advocate for the needs of the diverse learning population. Supporting and assisting teachers in fulfilling the academics and social-emotional needs of students is a top priority. The paraprofessional, under the supervision of the school-based leadership team, and in collaboration with the special education teacher and the general education teachers, provides support to individual students in areas that may include academics, functional performance, or physical assistance.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things
• Celebrate student milestones, accomplishments, and growth towards their goals
• Create a developmentally appropriate, positive, inclusive, equitable and safe learning environment
• Foster a culture of belonging through positive and professional relationships with colleagues, students and families
• Support mission of school and network

Academic/Functional/Behavior Supports

• Deliver academic, behavioral, and functional skills instruction to assigned students in whole-class, small-group, and individual settings
• Prepare materials and resources for use in the classroom that support students’ learning goals
• Carry out the educational programs developed through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, performing daily activities using specific materials/methods and/or material modifications designed by the special education teacher and support personnel (speech, OT/PT, etc.)
• Implement individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) for assigned students as required
• Collaborate with the general education and the special education teacher to plan instruction for individual students
• Maintain clear communication between family, student and teacher in a professional way
• Assist with the maintenance of records of student needs, instructional programs, student progress, preparation of forms, organizing and maintaining files
• Collect data to measure assigned students’ growth utilizing a variety of evidence-based measures
• Assist in toileting and feeding of students
• Assist in lifting or transfer of students

Professional Development

• Participate in on-going professional development to continuously improve their ability to serve assigned students
• Attend and participate in campus and network/regional meetings and professional learning opportunities

Requirements (minimum)

Education: High school diploma

Qualifications: Paraprofessional License (Applicable for IL only)

Physical demands: Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO: Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191