2nd Grade Lead Teacher

Catherine Cook; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Catherine Cook School is seeking an innovative Second Grade Lead Teacher to foster intellectual curiosity and promote social-emotional well-being in a vibrant learning community. The ideal candidate will engage students through hands-on learning and develop strong literacy and math skills. This full-time position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403(b) plan

100% of the premium covered for Basic Life insurance

Professional Development opportunities

Generous paid time off

Pet Insurance

Identity Theft Protection

Qualifications

• At least three years of teaching experience at the Lower School level.
• Willingness to learn and grow professionally.

Responsibilities

• Creating a nurturing, curious, and joyful classroom community.
• Implementing strategies for Social-Emotional Learning.
• Developing differentiated, integrated, and innovative curriculum.

Skills

Community Builder

Collaborative Team Player

Effective Communicator

Innovative Curriculum Development

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Education

M.A. in Education

Job description

Second Grade Lead Teacher

• Type: Full Time, 10-month
• Start Date: August 2025
• Supervisor: Head of Lower School
• Location: Chicago, IL on site

Why consider Catherine Cook School?

Cook is a vibrant and inclusive learning community where curiosity, connection, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to developing creative, collaborative problem solvers who tackle global challenges from multiple perspectives. Our dedicated faculty and staff help students from preschool through 8th grade become empowered learners and leaders.

All Cook employees are trained and supported in incorporating wellness and belonging into their work with students and adults. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) are the cornerstones upon which we build a curriculum and community. At Cook, we commit to all community members being active learners, from our preschool students to us as adults.

We invite you to consider how Cook will benefit from having you, along with your experiences in educating and learning, as a part of our community.

How will this role contribute to the growth of the Cook community?

Catherine Cook School seeks an experienced, innovative Second Grade Teacher. The ideal candidate will foster intellectual curiosity through hands-on learning, empower civic engagement through social action, develop strong literacy and math skills, ensure all students thrive through differentiated instruction, and promote social-emotional well-being.

How will I contribute and grow personally and professionally in this role?

• Creating a nurturing, curious, and joyful classroom community where students explore and express their ideas

• Building a dynamic classroom community and demonstrating effective classroom management while incorporating Responsive Classroom techniques

• Implementing strategies for Social-Emotional Learning where students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to demonstrate self-regulation, empathy, and the ability to establish and maintain positive relationships

• Contributing to and collaborating as a grade level team to share ideas, responsibilities, and planning time to create lessons, units, and shared experiences

• Fostering productive partnerships and communicating thoughtfully, respectfully, and clearly with parents/caregivers

• Developing differentiated, integrated, and innovative curriculum in all subject areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies/Research Workshop)

• Implementing the components of a balanced literacy program, including small group instruction, where students are agentic learners

• Assessing student progress using a wide range of formative and summative strategies, including conferring and student work moderation

• Utilizing technology to expand learning opportunities and create a collaborative learning environment

• Investing in developing one’s own cultural competency

• Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices and curriculum that are developmentally appropriate, to encourage kindness, bravery, and empathy within our classrooms and fostering a student’s perspective of self, others, and the larger world regarding race, ethnicity, and culture

• Mentoring and working closely with Teaching Assistants to maximize student engagement and support

• Attending faculty meetings and actively pursuing professional development

• Reflecting consistently on teaching practice with the Head of Lower School

• Creating informative and well-written progress reports

What will the ideal candidate for this role embody?

• Community Builder: Skilled at building a strong and dynamic classroom community with effective management strategies, using the Responsive Classroom approach.

• Collaborative Team Player: Work effectively with the grade-level team, sharing ideas and responsibilities.

• Effective Communicator: Communicate thoughtfully, respectfully, and clearly with parents and caregivers, building productive partnerships.

• Community Engagement: Skilled in fostering community involvement and coordinating community-related activities.

• Innovative Curriculum Development: Ability to develop differentiated, integrated, and innovative curriculum across all subject areas.

• Skilled Assessment: Develop and employ a variety of formative and summative assessment strategies to monitor student progress.

• Adaptability: Flexibility to handle various tasks and responsibilities as needed.

• Positive School Culture: Ability to promote and develop a positive school culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education; M.A. in Education preferred

• At least three years of teaching experience at the Lower School level

• Willingness to learn and grow professionally

What else is there to know about employment at Cook?

Catherine Cook offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and financial security of our employees. Our benefits for full-time eligible employees include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 403(b) plan

• 100% of the premium covered for Basic Life insurance, STD, LTD, AD&D

• HRA, HSA, FSA, Dependent Care available

• Professional Development opportunities

• Generous paid time off

• Pet Insurance

• Identity Theft Protection

In compliance with IL’s Pay Transparency Act, this position's salary range is: $50,000 - $115,000. Ultimately, in determining your pay, a variety of factors including your key skills and other job-related factors, including peer equity, market, and organizational elements are considered, among others.

Catherine Cook School is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.