Lead Teacher

McKinley Community Services, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in community services is seeking a passionate educator to lead and inspire teaching staff in delivering high-quality educational experiences for young children. This role involves planning, coaching, and implementing the Creative Curriculum while ensuring compliance with state and federal standards. As a key figure in the classroom, you will guide the team in fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment, conducting developmental screenings, and engaging with families through home visits. If you are committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required.
• 5+ years of teaching experience in early childhood education classrooms.

Responsibilities

• Lead teaching staff in planning and implementing educational activities for children.
• Conduct developmental screenings and assist families with services as needed.

Skills

Early Childhood Education

Teaching Strategies Gold

Coaching

CPR and First Aid

Developmental Screening

Creative Curriculum

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Teaching Strategies Gold

Job description

CDYS-Trumbull Park
10534 S Oglesby Ave
Chicago, IL 60617, USA

Job Description Summary: Performs duties leading teaching staff with planning, coaching, and implementing educational activities for 3 to 5 year old in the Child Development Program that comply with state early learning standards and federal performance standards from OHS. Assumes various regular and/or delegated tasks specifically in the area of education. Take the lead in helping the entire classroom team implement Creative Curriculum and TS Gold in alignment with Illinois Early Learning Standards to guide learning.

Reporting Relationship:

Reports To: Site Director

Child Development & Youth Services Core Competencies:

• Adaptable: Adjust to new conditions, changes, challenges, and experiences.
• Communicator: Is understood by others (both verbally and in writing) and understands the ideas and perspectives of others.
• Uses a Growth Mindset: Embraces their potential to learn and grow and views successes and failures as development opportunities.
• Has Integrity: Honesty, trustworthiness, ownership, accountability, and respect are hallmarks of integrity.
• Collaborator: Cooperates and works well with peers, colleagues, and team members by giving and receiving ideas, comments, and feedback with an open mind.

Responsibilities:

• Obtain written parental consent to screen the child.
• Conduct developmental screenings to identify any issues or concerns that may limit learning and address them as soon as possible.
• Administer screenings in the child’s native language.
• Ensure parents complete the social emotional screening for their child.
• Complete Developmental and Social Emotional screenings on all enrolled children, within 45 days from the child’s first day of attendance in the program.
• Share information from screenings with parents during home visits and the parent/teacher conference.
• Assist families with locating services as a result of screening information, when needed.
• Have no more than 17 children in class during each session. Classrooms will be staffed with one Lead Teacher, one Assistant Teacher, and a PEL teacher.

Classroom Hours:

• Provide classroom instruction for at least 7 hours for full day programming, five days per week.
• Work with the classroom team to fully implement the Creative Curriculum using high-quality teaching strategies (through Teaching Strategies Gold) and ongoing individualization.
• Model excellent teaching practices. Work with children in large groups, small groups, and individually to ensure that their instructional needs are being met.
• Develop weekly lesson plans using the Creative Curriculum.
• Use planning time to discuss child assessment results and develop individualized instruction plans.

Home Visits:

• Conduct two home visits during the school year (1 spring, 1 fall) on each child in the class.
• Use home visits as an opportunity to discuss the child’s progress, results of developmental screenings, and desired goals for the child.

Health and Safety:

• Prioritize health and safety of children in the program.
• Ensure classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored.
• Include lessons on Health and Safety in lesson plans.
• Follow procedures for notifying parents in the event of an emergency involving their child.
• Adhere to the procedures for Mandated Reporters to report cases of suspected or known child abuse and neglect.

Requirements:

• Position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field.
• A level 5 certification in ECE from INCCRRA.
• A minimum of 5 years teaching experience in an early childhood education classroom.
• Must have up-to-date Interrater Reliability Certification for Teaching Strategies.
• 3 years of coaching experience in an early childhood education classroom, preferred.
• Ability to administer CPR and First Aid and implement safety procedures.

Mental/Physical Demands:

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. The employee is required to stand, walk, engage, and lift children. The employee must be able to frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Conditions:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are performed in either an office or classroom environment. Duties require outside work or responsibilities at other locations.

This description documents the general contents and requirements of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The principal duties and responsibilities shown are all essential job functions.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Early Childhood Education or related field.

Preferred

Masters or better in Early Childhood Education.

Experience

Required

A minimum of 5 years teaching experience in an early childhood education classroom. Must have up-to-date Interrater Reliability Certification for Teaching Strategies. 3 years of coaching experience in an early childhood education classroom, preferred.