Afterschool Front Desk Associate
A Part-time Non-Benefits Eligible Staff Position beginning February 3, 2025

NPES is seeking a welcoming, reliable, collaborative, flexible, and detail-oriented Office Associate to staff NPES’ front desk when school is in session Mondays through Fridays from 3:00-6:00 p.m., for approximately 170 days per calendar year. The Office Associate reports directly to the Office Manager, and is the first point of contact for visitors to the school after school hours.

Responsibilities
● Serve as after-school receptionist, extending a warm welcome to parents, visitors, contractors and delivery staff
● Follow school safety protocols in granting electronic entry to the building and issuing passes and lanyards to visitors (while ensuring all are signed in)
● Support parent pickup during school dismissal and the arrival of club vendors
● Assist parents as needed during pick-up from afterschool programs
● Manage telephone calls effectively, transferring callers to relevant staff and taking messages as needed
● Help direct parents/caregivers where to go for pickup as needed
● Support the manager of NPES’ after-school childcare program as requested (i.e., students taking a break in the office or contacting parents)
● Complete administrative clerical tasks left by the Office Manager, i.e. data entry in spreadsheets or web-based apps, proofing documents, organizing, filing, completing online forms, email communications, etc.
● Monitor older students from a short distance as needed in the nearby Innovation Lab (checking them out of the Procare app when they are picked up by parents)
● Administer basic health support for students, i.e. ice packs, cough drops, temperature checks, and school first aid (and complete student notes in school information system)
● Support the manager of our after school childcare program as requested
● Sort and distribute mail
● Receive packages and/or food deliveries and notify faculty/staff of their arrival
● Help manage lost and found
● Opportunities to work evening events after 6:00 p.m. are available

Requirements
The Office Associate is charged with maintaining a friendly, orderly, and productive work environment in the main office. Requirements include:
● Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
● Strong organizational and time-management skills
● High-degree of comfort using technology to complete tasks (databases, spreadsheets, web applications, etc.)
● Love of and ability to interact positively and effectively with elementary school students
● The ability to plan and execute projects successfully in a work environment that can be busy and unpredictable
● The ability to multitask and play different roles
● A growth mindset and an eagerness to learn
● A commitment to growing cultural literacy to contribute to an inclusive, equitable, and just community where all are treated with dignity and respect
● Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
● A willingness to learn about the NPES mission and program and represent it with enthusiasm and pride

Compensation and Benefits
● A positive, engaging, and supportive work environment that values authenticity, collaboration, well-being, gratitude, and cultural competence
● A competitive hourly/daily wage for Chicago-area independent school staff ($20 per hour)
● The opportunity for additional work as desired after 6:00 p.m. or on weekends for special events and activities
● A present, accessible, and supportive office manager and administrative team, with a genuine interest in setting colleagues up for success and an open-door policy
● Accrued paid-time-off as defined by Chicago and Cook County

About NPES
North Park Elementary School is an independent school accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) located in Chicago's North Center-Ravenswood community. NPES currently serves 243 students in Preschool through 8th Grade. Our students grow in the context of a positive, authentic, and committed independent school community of educators who know and appreciate them, peers who care for and support them, and parents and caregivers who engage meaningfully in our community. NPES’ core educational beliefs NPES’ work in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The NPES Mission
North Park Elementary School is a small school with a big impact. We educate students in our inclusive and engaging school culture, affirming, challenging, and supporting each child as they achieve their full potential as reflective learners and involved, empathetic members of their communities.

Location/Accessibility
NPES is located in Chicago’s North Center/Ravenswood community. We are accessible by the CTA Brown Line (the station is three blocks east of the school, on Montrose), the north-south CTA Damen Bus (#50 Bus), the east-west CTA Montrose Bus (#78), and the METRA train to both the suburbs and downtown Chicago (the Ravenswood Station is .8 miles from the school). Ample free street parking is available within one block of the school. The walkable community surrounding our school offers many amenities, including shopping, dining, parks and recreation.

Please submit a cover letter with resume to North Park Elementary School Office Manager Kerry Maman at maman@npeschool.org.