Special Education Assistant Jobs in Lake Forest, IL

A Special Education Assistant plays a crucial role in elementary education by supporting students with special needs under the direction of a Special Education Teacher. They help to handle the everyday needs of these students such as helping them with their schoolwork, personal hygiene, mobility, feeding, and behavioral issues. They also monitor student progress and assist the teacher in devising and implementing personalized educational plans. Special Education Assistants also contribute to maintaining a safe and comfortable classroom environment that promotes learning.

This role demands certain certifications and skills. At a minimum, they must possess a high school diploma but a degree or certification in special education or a related field is preferred. CPR and First Aid certifications are a plus. They should have excellent communication skills to effectively interact with students, teachers, and parents. Patience and empathy are essential as they will be tasked with managing children with varying abilities and behavioral issues. Prior experiences as a Teacher's Assistant, Childcare Worker, or Behavior Therapist can provide valuable experience before becoming a Special Education Assistant.

1-15 of 23 Jobs

Paraprofessional School 2025-2026 SY

  • Evanston, IL (15 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 16 hours ago
  • Evanston, IL (15 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 16 hours ago

At Epic Special Education Staffing, you will have the opportunity to apply your unique experience and expertise with school-based special education as your singular focus....

Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Assistant (part-time)

  • Arlington Heights, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 2 days ago
  • Arlington Heights, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 2 days ago

Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Assistant (part-time) JobID: 4409 Position Type: Teaching Assistant/Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Assistant Date Posted: 8/15/2025 Location: Greenbrier...

Paraprofessional

  • Lindenhurst, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 6 days ago
  • Lindenhurst, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 6 days ago

Prior experience working with children, preferably in an alternative, special education and/or behavioral health program setting....

Paraprofessional - Special Ed

  • Mundelein, IL (9 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 10 days ago
  • Mundelein, IL (9 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 10 days ago

Link to District/Third Party Online Application Web Page # School District Mundelein School District 75 Position Website ILearn Link ILearn Report Card Link Illinois Report Card Job Posting Date...

Paraprofessional - Bilingual (Spanish- English)

  • Mundelein, IL (9 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 12 days ago
  • Mundelein, IL (9 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 12 days ago

School District Mundelein School District 75 Position Website City Website # ILearn Link ILearn Report Card Link Illinois Report Card Job Posting Date 8/6/2025 Application Deadline 8/29/2025 Start...

Middle School Special Education Teaching Assistant, part-time

  • Arlington Heights, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 14 days ago
  • Arlington Heights, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 14 days ago

Middle School Special Education Teaching Assistant, part-time JobID: 4400 Position Type: Teaching Assistant/Special Education Teaching Assistant Date Posted: 8/4/2025 Location: Thomas Middle School...

Paraprofessional - Bilingual

  • Waukegan, IL (8 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 15 days ago
  • Waukegan, IL (8 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 15 days ago

Teacher Assistant Date Posted: 8/5/2025 Location: North Elementary School Closing Date: 08/31/2025    Who We Are: Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 serves nearly 15,500 students in preschool...

Transition Center Special Education Teaching Assistant

  • Round Lake, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 24 days ago
  • Round Lake, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 24 days ago

Transition Center Special Education Teaching Assistant JobID: 6500 Position Type: Support Staff/Teacher Assistant Date Posted: 7/25/2025 Location: Round Lake Transition Center, Round Lake, IL Date Available...

Paraprofessional

  • Evanston, IL (15 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 25 days ago
  • Evanston, IL (15 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 25 days ago

Company: Fusion Location: Evanston, IL Career Level: Entry Level Industries: Education Management Description Position Summary: Our Non-Public Special Education School is seeking a dedicated and compassionate...

Paraprofessional- Program Aides

  • Algonquin, IL (23 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 28 days ago
  • Algonquin, IL (23 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 28 days ago

Duties Assist students with special needs throughout the day with academics and daily school routines. Will assist the students in following a strict schedule and maintaining his/her safety while...

Special Education Paraprofessional - Grade PreK

  • Bensenville, IL (19 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 30+ days ago
  • Bensenville, IL (19 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 30+ days ago

The Special Education Paraprofessional Aide will assist in a classroom setting under the supervision of a certified instructor....

(Paraprofessional) K-4 Special Education Associate - Full-Time - Multiple Positions

  • Winnetka, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago
  • Winnetka, IL (10 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago

: Show/Hide The Winnetka Public Schools District 36 hasopenings for full-time K-4 Special Education Associates for the 2025-20256school year....

Paraprofessional- Liaison

  • Waukegan, IL (8 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago
  • Waukegan, IL (8 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago

Position Type: Support Staff/ Paraprofessional - Special Education Date Posted: 7/3/2025 Location: Clearview Elementary School Closing Date: Until Filled    Who We Are: Waukegan Community Unit...

Long-Term Substitute Teaching Assistant - Special Education

  • Round Lake, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago
  • Round Lake, IL (14 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago

Long-Term Substitute Teaching Assistant - Special Education JobID: 6475 Position Type: Substitute Teacher Date Posted: 7/2/2025 Location: Round Lake High School, Round Lake, IL Date Available: August...

25-26 SY - Part-Time Pre-K Paraprofessional - Queen of the Rosary School - Elk Grove Village - Vic. IV

  • Elk Grove Village, IL (16 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago
  • Elk Grove Village, IL (16 miles from Lake Forest, IL)
  • 45+ days ago

Qualifications High school diploma required; associate's degree or coursework in early childhood education preferred. Experience working with preschool-aged children strongly preferred....

Demographic Data for Lake Forest, IL

Moving to Lake Forest, IL? Find some basic demographic data about Lake Forest, IL below.


Local
National
21,026
934
Medium

Special Education Assistant Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireElementaryTeachers curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course
Are you passionate about supporting children with diverse educational needs? The Teaching Assistant with Special Education & Phonics Course is designed for individuals looking to make a...
Special Education
This course is part of a D2L/Educator and Leadership Institute (ELI) suite of online learning programmes. The programmes aim to boost knowledge in 4 areas: Special Education, School Leadership,...
MathTrackX: Special Functions
Understand trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions and how they can be applied in the real world. This course is part two of the MathTrackX XSeries Program which has been designed to...

Title Synonyms

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Salary for Special Education Assistant Jobs in Lake Forest, IL

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireElementaryTeachers research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Special Education Assistant positions.



Highest Education Level

Special Education Assistants in Lake Forest, IL offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
43.0%
Master's Degree
33.1%
Associate's Degree
9.0%
High School or GED
5.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
5.1%
Doctorate Degree
2.7%
Some College
1.4%
Some High School
0.3%


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