Instructional Coach

Eastersealschicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Employer-paid life insurance

Education reimbursement up to $40,000

Flexible PTO policy

13 paid holidays

Job summary

A community-focused education provider in Chicago is seeking an Instructional Coach to enhance educational practices for children in early childhood programs. The role involves implementing research-based curricula, mentoring educators, and ensuring support for children with disabilities. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, relevant teaching experience, and skills in coaching. This position offers a collaborative environment and significant professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years teaching in an early childhood classroom.
• 3–5 years working with children with disabilities.
• 1-year coaching teachers.

Responsibilities

• Implement a research-based curriculum and coaching strategies.
• Ensure proper support for children with disabilities.
• Monitor classrooms to ensure a safe, nurturing environment.

Skills

Ability to multi-task in a high stress environment

Ability to interact with diverse personalities

Ability to problem solve

Bilingual (English & Spanish)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education

Certified CLASS Pre-K and Toddler Observer

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Teams

Job description

Description

Easterseals Head Start/Early Head Start provides high‑quality, family‑centered education for children birth to five years old. We collaborate with 40+ early childhood programs located in the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County to promote school readiness in young children of all abilities from families with incomes below poverty guidelines. Easterseals also directly operates two Early Learning Centers in Head Start/Early Head Start in Chicago and in Hickory Hills.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.

Primary responsibilities of the Instructional Coach

Include implementing a research‑based curriculum and coordinated coaching strategies; ensuring the review and analysis of education, disabilities, and mental health data to inform planning; and supporting the referral and inclusion of children with suspected and diagnosed disabilities. This role provides mentoring, coaching, and training to staff to provide quality services. This role spends the majority of the time in classrooms at sites.

This position is located at the Easterseals Early Learning Services Headquarters at 1939 W. 13th Street, Chicago 60608.

Major Functions / Accountabilities

Implement a Research‑Based Curriculum and Coordinated Coaching Strategies that Include

• Assess all education staff using a variety of tools, including staff self‑reflections, to identify strengths, areas of needed support, and staff that would benefit most from intensive coaching.
• Build and maintain relationships between PEL Teacher, Easterseals staff and partner site staff members.
• Provide opportunities for intensive coaching to identified education staff, including observation opportunities, feedback and modeling of effective teacher practices directly related to program performance goals.
• Align coaching with program’s school readiness goals, curricula, and other approaches to professional development.
• Use assessment data to drive coaching strategies aligned with program performance goals.
• Provide ongoing communication between the coach, program director, education director, and any other relevant staff.
• Assist in providing a process for achieving program goals.
• Provide opportunities for education staff not identified for intensive coaching to receive other forms of research‑based professional development aligned with program performance goals.
• Facilitate peer learning communities, reflecting on implementation of teaching practices and how optimal climate in the classroom impacts how children work and play together and maximizes learning and growth.
• Facilitate lesson‑planning meetings to support job‑embedded professional learning on an individualized level, with a single classroom teacher or team.
• Work with EHS/Head Start program sites and teaching staff to review and analyze child outcome data, home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and screenings to inform individual child and program planning.
• Provide intensive CLASS coaching to identified classrooms, resulting in improvements in teacher‑child interactions, CLASS scores, and child outcomes.
• Provide coaching and modeling to teachers on effective home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and parent‑child activities.
• Assist Education and Inclusion Leadership to provide ongoing training related to Education and Disabilities for all EHS/HS programs and sites

Support the Referral Process of Children with Suspected Disabilities and Social‑Emotional Concerns and Ensure the Full Inclusion of All Children in the Program

• Perform individual child observations for children in referral process.
• Collaborate with the site team to ensure that screening results are shared with parents and that re‑screenings, referrals, and follow‑ups are conducted as needed.
• Collaborate with site team to ensure timely referrals to the LEA and Early Intervention.
• Attend IFSP conferences, IEP conferences, and LEA meetings with parents of children with disabilities to support the families and to advocate for the children. Assist parents in understanding their rights and special education law.
• Collaborate with social emotional specialists to implement behavior intervention plans and to model strategies.
• Provide CSEFEL coaching to identified classrooms.
• Assist teachers in modifying curriculum and individualizing lesson plans for children with disabilities based on IEP and IFSP goals.
• Work with EHS/Head Start staff and sites to implement an annual and ongoing outreach and recruitment plan for identifying and enrolling children with disabilities. Attend play dates for children with special needs at sites and collaboratively work with parents and staff to plan transitions into and out of the Head Start program.

Provide Ongoing Monitoring and Support as Part of the Site Team

• As part of the site team, assist with monitoring EHS/HS classrooms to ensure that classrooms are safe, nurturing and engaging learning environments for children.
• Participate in regular meetings to assess progress and planning for education and disabilities content areas.
• Assist directors and teaching staff with compliance with and implementation of performance standards.
• Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, annual self‑assessment, and PIR.

Complete All Requirements as Part of the Program

• Maintain up‑to‑date calendar of visits and activities in Outlook.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings.
• Attend relevant workshops and trainings. Share information from workshops and trainings with parents, teaching staff, and other team members.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education / Certification

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education.
• Certified CLASS Pre‑K and Toddler Observer within 12 months of hire, including annual renewal.

Experience Required

• 3+ years teaching in an early childhood classroom.
• 3–5 years working with children with disabilities.
• Bilingual language skills (English & Spanish) a plus.
• Working with Teaching Strategies Gold and ChildPlus online systems a plus.
• Infant/Toddler programs a plus

Required Knowledge

• Working in a Head Start program.
• Knowledge of CLASS.
• 1-year coaching teachers.

Vehicle / Transportation Requirements

• Valid driver’s license.
• Auto insurance.
• Reliable vehicle.

Skills / Abilities

• Ability to multi‑task in a high stress environment.
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities and communicate in a neutral manner
• Ability to problem solve.
• Basic computer knowledge including Microsoft Office 365, Teams
• Completion of a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per year.
• Willing to work flexible hours to accommodate the needs of the families.

ADA

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor‑sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

Outstanding Benefits Package

Comprehensive Healthcare

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for select plans available to you and your eligible dependents

Excellent Insurance Protection

• Employer‑paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
• Long‑term disability insurance at no cost to you
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work‑life balance support

Exceptional Career Growth

• Up to $40,000 in eligible education reimbursement to fuel your professional development

Generous Retirement Benefits

• Automatic 3% non‑elective contribution to your 401(k) - no match required
• Additional dollar‑for‑dollar match up to 3% - earn up to 6% of total employer contribution

Work‑Life Balance

• 13 paid holidays to enjoy time with family and friends
• Flexible PTO policy that respects your need for rest and rejuvenation

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