Lead Infant Toddler Teacher

Marillac St. Vincent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 54,900; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Chicago is seeking a Lead Teacher for infants and toddlers. This full-time role involves ensuring a safe and stimulating classroom environment, coaching assistants, and implementing individual educational plans for children aged birth to three. Candidates should possess an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education along with three years of relevant teaching experience. A collaborative spirit and effective communication skills are essential as you work with families and teaching staff to promote children's development and success.

Qualifications

• Three years prior teaching experience with children ages birth to 3 years.
• Knowledge of developmental practices for children ages 15 months to 3 years.
• Ability to establish collaborative relationships with families.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement educational plans for young children.
• Ensure provision of a safe and nurturing environment.
• Coach Teacher Assistants and conduct team meetings.

Skills

Child development expertise

Communication

Teamwork

Leadership

Education

Associate degree in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor’s degree in ECE or CD (preferred)

Tools

Teaching Strategies Gold

Creative Curriculum

Job description

Job Title: Lead Teacher – Birth to Three

Organization: Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

Status: Full Time

Hours per Week: 40

Division: Marillac Social Center

Department: Early Childhood Programs

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Base Pay Range: $45,000.00/yr – $54,900.00/yr

Mission

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services strengthens, empowers and gives voice to those in need – in the Vincentian spirit of service – through education and comprehensive programs to build vibrant communities in Chicago.

Core Values

• Integrity: Acting with transparency, humility and honesty
• Excellence: Providing quality care with compassion
• Creativity: Being continuously resourceful and inventive
• Advocacy: Supporting the cause of those who lack resources for a reasonable quality of life
• Respect: Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people
• Empowerment: Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

Team Behaviors

• Versatility – understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting as required, eager for positive action, self-control, active listening.
• Collaborative work model – cooperating and sharing responsibility, contributing to the group effort, realizing a sense of commitment and ownership.
• Mutual accountability – holding others accountable with their roles, providing and receiving feedback and taking constructive action.
• Client/customer advocate – identifying opportunities to improve quality of services, presenting oneself professionally.
• Protects confidentiality & privacy – respecting and protecting information about all staff and clients.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure teaching teams work cooperatively to plan and implement individual educational plans for young children ages birth through 3 years.
• Ensure that all necessary paperwork for classroom is completed accurately and turned into manager on time.
• Ensure that all information entered into TSG is accurate and done weekly by all team members.
• Ensure the teaching team provides a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment enriched by high quality language experiences with an emphasis on social and emotional growth.
• Implement all program requirements in adherence to performance and outcome standards as prescribed by the center’s multiple funding partners and in accordance with each child’s ability, the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s core components, and the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines.
• Ensure that we make appointments and complete home visits and parent teacher conferences.

Coaching

• Coach Teacher Assistants in the classroom.
• Model developmentally appropriate practice.
• Complete and execute collaborative staff goal setting and implementation.
• Goal setting includes strengthening teacher‑child interactions, curriculum development, child assessments, observation and documentation, integrating content through studies and partnering with families.
• Review staff goals quarterly, develop new goals, and provide feedback and guidance.
• Guide, direct and evaluate Teacher Assistants, Foster Grandparent, and Child Development students.
• Conduct team and individual reflective guidance meetings.
• Work collaboratively with team on time‑off requests.

Administration

• Work collaboratively with team to develop and maintain confidential education information for each child.
• Facilitate and document weekly team meetings.
• Ensure all required program documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.
• Monitor and ensure that daily attendance and meal participation reports are completed.
• Ensure all confidential information is protected.
• Work collaboratively with Supervisor and Director to assess strengths, challenges and develop goals annually.
• Input classroom data into appropriate information systems.

Child Development

• Observe, assess and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth and development.
• Provide opportunities for the children to develop positive self‑images and experience success.
• Ensure the development of individualized education for each child is documented.
• Ensure the development and implementation of individualized educational activities is incorporated into lesson plans for each child.
• Identify any developmental concerns and follow agency protocol.

Curriculum

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Early Childhood Education.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of infant and toddler development.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities promoting the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child.
• Work collaboratively with team to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement.
• In collaboration with the Birth to 3 manager implement and help assess the program’s educational plan.
• Work collaboratively with support staff to integrate assessment results into curriculum and lesson planning.

Classroom Environment

• Establish and maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques that meets state and local licensing regulations, NAEYC performance standards and St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.
• Establish and create a secure environment that invites learning through exploration and discovery.
• Ensure that all children are always under appropriate supervision.
• Develop and maintain an attractive, clean, safe, and engaging environment that encourages children’s independence and self‑selection of activities.
• Work collaboratively with team to ensure they care for equipment and materials.
• Notify supervisor and appropriate parties of any needed repairs or maintenance in classroom, playground, gym, and large motor room.
• Ensure that daily, weekly and monthly health and safety policies and procedures are implemented and documented.

Parent Involvement

• In coordination with birth to 3 manager, teaching team and Family Support, schedule and ensure completion of at least two parent‑teacher conferences for each child.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for parent participation in the program.
• Provide examples and ideas for educational activities for parent‑child participation at home.
• Encourage family engagement, including quarterly Family Engagement Events.
• Develop effective partnerships with families.
• Ensure that teaching team is sending information and activities via Remind App and TSG family.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend all required meetings and trainings, including mentoring and coaching trainings.
• Regularly participate and make contributions at teacher meetings, trainings, supervision, weekly team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned within scope of the job description.
• Track utilization of materials, recommend supplies, equipment and supplies needed for program.
• Provide classroom coverage as needed to ensure teacher‑child ratios.
• Provide recommendations in evaluations and corrective actions of Teacher Assistants.
• Complete required documentation for monthly State Pre‑K reports.
• Follow all mandates of NAEYC, state and local licensing and St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.

Complete a minimum of (20) CEUs annually to meet DCFS and Accreditation continuing education with infant and toddler focus.

Experience / Education

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and an IT credential Level 4 and ECE Level 5 required.
• Bachelor’s degree in ECE or CD, preferred. Member of Gateways.
• Three years prior teaching experience with birth to 3‑year‑old children.
• Three year experience working in early childhood setting.
• Knowledge of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for children ages 15 months to 3 years.

Qualifications

• Ability to establish a respectful and trustworthy relationship with birth to three and their families.
• Ability to establish a respectful, cooperative and collaborative relationship with co‑teachers.
• Ability to work respectfully and cooperatively with Teacher Assistants, including assisting them in increasing their professional knowledge and skills regarding developmentally appropriate practices for birth to three.
• Ability to take a leadership role in classroom to ensure that paperwork is accurate and timely.
• Ability to read and speak English proficiently.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Education and Training

Job location: Chicago, IL