Enrichment Teacher

Distinctive Schools; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25+ paid holidays

Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)

403b match

Professional development including tuition reimbursement

Gym and wellness discounts

12 weeks family paid leave

Job summary

Distinctive Schools is seeking an Enrichment Teacher specializing in Art, Music, and Theater for their CICS Prairie location in Chicago, IL. This full-time position involves creating engaging curricula, assessing students' progress, and fostering relationships that support individual growth. Responsibilities include implementing a student-centered approach to instruction, participating in ongoing professional development, and maintaining effective communication with students and families. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree and possess a valid Professional Educator License.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid Professional Educator License or equivalent.
• Ability to travel for professional development and training.
• Commitment to supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic development.

Responsibilities

• Create curriculum aligned to grade-level standards.
• Maintain classroom management and routines.
• Assess student progress and adapt instruction as needed.
• Engage students through innovative instructional strategies.

Skills

Student-centered perspective

Strong content knowledge in subject matter

Effective communication

Data analysis

Proficient with cloud-based software

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

GoogleSuite

Job description

Title: Enrichment Teacher- Art, Music, Theater, etc
Location: CICS Prairie- 11530 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60628
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting salary for certified teachers starts at $70,000
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: August 2026

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Position Overview

Distinctive teachers cultivate a love for learning in every student through strong relationships, high expectations, and a belief that all students can achieve great things in school and beyond. Teachers have a laser focus on instruction that engages learners and provides multiple opportunities for application of learned content. All teachers engage in individual and team deep intellectual preparation and lesson plans aligned to grade-level standards that use the core curriculum. Checks for understanding, student work, and assessments are used to make real-time and planned adjustments and deep review of student work to address gaps in instruction. Teachers have strong content knowledge in the subject-matter they teach in order to recognize, understand and respond to the content problems.

At Distinctive, teachers grow through cycles of practice, feedback, practice, and feedback. Teachers build classroom communities with strong routines, rituals, and management practices that maximize time for instruction. Teachers maintain effective and ongoing communication on progress with students and families.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things
• Contribute to the equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and strong relationships with students, families, and staff
• Cultivate a strengths-based, equity focused mindset
• Foster positive climate and culture
• Serve as a positive role model

Preparation, Instruction and Assessment

• Create curriculum that is backwards planned from college enrollment timeline and school goals
• Design and implement assessments and benchmarks that measure progress towards goal
• Use data to refine curriculum and inform instructional practices
• Support students in creating ambitious college lists, writing personal essays, and submitting thorough applications before early action due dates
• Complete FAFSA, Alternate Financial Aid Application, CSS Profile, and other financial verification forms with students and parents by due dates
• Review financial aid letters with students and caretakers
• Manage a caseload of students in addition to being a teacher of record for college seminar class
• Participates in quarterly family nights to communicate critical info regarding the college process to families
• Support coordination of college visits for all grade-levels
• Host college representatives for informational sessions
• Implement the DS Model
• Provide consistent opportunities for all students to to work on grade-appropriate assignments using the core curriculum, resources, and strategies, with frequent checks for understanding
• Deliver strong Instruction that requires that students hold the cognitive lift and are deeply engaged in the learning
• Use core instructional tools to design, prepare and deliver dynamic lesson aligned to grade-level standards that engage students in rigorous learning experiences
• Commit to student-centered, personalized learning that puts the student in the driver’s seat and integrates their needs, strengths and interests into the learning
• Maintain inventory of all instructional materials
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students' progress and development
• Analyze and use assessments that monitor progress to inform and design appropriate response/strategies, making adjustments as needed to support students in mastering grade level standards
• Assess students daily, weekly, and at the ends of units and analyze assessment data through campus and network wide systems
• Engage in coaching and mentoring opportunities to improve instructional effectiveness
• Participate in all required professional development and meetings
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Principal

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment or Proof of enrollment into a Teacher Certification program within 30 days of employment
• Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration
• Commitment to supporting students’ social, emotional and academic development

Technology Demands

• Ability to review and analyze student and campus data from multiple sources
• Proficient with cloud based software solutions (such as GoogleSuite)
• Ability to learn digital tools and programs as needed for the position

Physical Demands

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing

Benefits

• 25+ paid holidays, upfront sick leave, and an accrual-based personal time bank
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match: Fully match up to 3%, 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Description Disclaimer

Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder’s responsibility.

EEO

Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law. Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail] or call 773.828.4191