Paraprofessional - Epic Academy
Chicago, IL
About the Job
JOIN A TEAM THAT BELIEVES STUDENTS WILL MEET THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC BEHAVIORS AND ACHIEVEMENT EXPECTATIONS
EPIC Academy is a CPS neighborhood charter high school that opened fall of 2009 in the South Chicago community with the mission to inspire and equip every student to build a path to college and career success. We embrace the challenge of public education - to develop every student's resolve to reach his or her full potential regardless of the odds. EPIC Academy serves one of the most challenged student demographics in Chicago: 96% Free/reduced lunch, 25% Students with IEPs, 15% English Language Learners, with the average 9th grader entering on the 4th-grade academic level. The prevailing area expectation is to graduate high school and get a job.
We view these "obstacles" as opportunities to build on our students' assets. EPIC Academy has 3 Goals for every student:
- Be prepared for college.
- Develop college-bound beliefs & behaviors.
- Graduate from college.
To achieve these goals, we inspire students to imagine their future, provide belief-altering experiences that broaden their vision of what is possible, and build students' academic skill sets to attain their goals. Our results speak for themselves:
- Top 10% CPS HS in ACT growth - out-performing nearly all CPS selective enrollment schools
- Top 25% CPS HS in College Enrollment - out-performing the average college enrollment of other area schools by 26 percentage points
- 33% of EPIC Seniors earn college credit before graduation
- $9.4M in college scholarships from the last graduating class
EPIC Philosophy
We believe post-secondary education is the equalizer for life options and long-term happiness. Our students are capable of graduating from their best value higher educational institution. It's our work to ensure that we dare each student to imagine an ambitious future vision and then expect and coach the hard work and skills required to realize it.
- Prepare the classroom to promote a healthy and safe learning environment
- Ensure classroom safety guidelines are met at all times
- Utilize various techniques to be successful with managing students
- Engage with children to enhance and encourage learning
- Assist the teacher in modifying materials to meet the specific needs of a child
- Provide basic caregiving duties, support, and encouragement in all aspects of development
- Assist with other personal or physical care assistance
- Take necessary precautions to protect students
- Monitor the classroom and minimize distractions and disruptions
- Perform other duties as assigned