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Associates

 

Role of an Associate

Paraprofessionals play an essential role within school districts.  Under the supervision of a licensed teacher, a paraprofessional supports teachers and students many ways. 

The primary role of our Associates is to assist the teacher in all facets of daily classroom management. This can vary between teachers and between schools, but most Associates can expect to divide their time between working with students, providing behavioral support and completing administrative tasks assigned by the teacher.  As a type of paraeducator, an Associate is not a teacher, which means that he or she is not responsible for the overall learning that will take place. Ultimately, it is the classroom teacher’s responsibility to ensure that students learn, make progress on their IEP goals, and are safe and productive in school. Some associates support students' functional life skills such as eating and utilizing the bathroom throughout the day.  Still, the Associate in the classroom is an integral part of the educational team because he or she provides the support a teacher needs to maximize instructional time.

District Application Process

Step 1 - Correct Licensure  

In order to be a Paraprofessional in Illinois public schools, you must possess:

- Current Illinois ELS- PARA (Educator License with Stipulations - Paraprofessional) license 

           OR

- Current Illinois Substitute license 

Step 2 – Application 

Next, complete an external application at our online application site. 

Step 3 – Interveiw Analysis

Human Resources receives notification of your submitted online application and will be contacted for interview.  If selected to be a Paraprofessional in Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103, Human Resources will contact you via email with the next steps to complete the online

Paraprofessional Licensure Requirements and Steps

Must be at least 19 years of age to appply.

Must provide proof of one of the following:

  • Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
  • 60 semester hours of coursework

If you do not have college coursework, you may take one of the following tests to qualify.

Please refer to the Lake County Regional Office of Education for more information regarding testing information.

  • High school diploma/GED** + score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro test
  • High school diploma/GED** a score of 4 or higher on the ACT Workkeys Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information tests

* If you hold a bachelor's degree or higher, it is recommended that you apply for a substitute license.

*FOREIGN CREDENTIALS: If your degree was conferred outside of the United States, a Foreign credential review will be required.   

State Licensure Application Steps

  1. Submit an application online Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
  2. A $100 fee will be assessed electronically when the application is submitted (please have a credit card available).
  3. Send an official* transcript to either address:
    • licensure@lake.k12.il.us  (request the college send your transcript directly to this email address) OR
    • Illinois State Board of Education
      Educator Licensure
      100 N. 1st Street
      Springfield, IL 62777

*Note: To be official, transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope from the college or university or be sent directly by the institution. Transcripts received that are not in a sealed envelope from the university or sent directly from the university will be considered unofficial and cannot be used for evaluation purposes.

Once your license has been issued, please log into your ELIS account and pay the applicable registration fees (Lincolnshire-Prairie View SD 103 is in ROE 34- Lake County).  The license is not valid for employment until these fees are paid.