Lead Teacher

College of Lake County; Grayslake (IL); On-site; USD 23,082 - 32,875; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition support

Paid holidays

Job summary

College of Lake County is seeking a Lead Teacher to join the Child Care Center team at the Grayslake campus. You will plan and facilitate developmental activities supporting children’s growth across physical, intellectual, emotional, and social domains under the supervision of the Child Care Director.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development or related field with DCFS credits or ability to obtain, plus at least two years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, education or related field with at least eighteen (18) hours of credit in early childhood education or courses approved by DCFS.
• Minimum of two (2) years of job-related experience.
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities; maintain relationships with students, faculty and staff.

Responsibilities

• Develops classroom arrangement for children’s safe, calm participation in program activities.
• Develops a consistent schedule of daily and weekly program activities.
• Oversees housekeeping procedures within classroom and common areas.
• Monitors Health Department sanitation procedures.
• Plans activities to support children’s physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth.
• Participates in classroom and center staff meetings and parent conferences.

Skills

Diversity & inclusion

Communication

Educational program planning

Classroom management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development

18 hours in early childhood education

Job description

Why choose the College of Lake County for your next opportunity? The College of Lake County (CLC) offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health, Delta Dental and Superior Vision insurance plans, tuition support for employees and qualified family members, three retirement plans, disability, group and supplemental life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending account plans, a compressed work week in the summer (Closed Fridays!), generous vacation, sick and personal time off and 14 paid holidays each year. Some benefits will not be available for Part-Time or Part Time Staff Under 20 Hours (ex: health insurance).

Position Title

Lead Teacher

Job Summary

The College of Lake County is looking for a Lead Teacher to join the team. The Lead Teacher, under the supervision of the Child Care Director, plans and facilitates developmental activities as part of an overall program for children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth.

Project and Process Management

• 80% Develops classroom arrangement for children’s safe, calm, comfortable and successful participation with program equipment and materials in consultation with the Center Director.
• 80% Develops a consistent schedule of daily and weekly program activities in consultation with the Center Director.
• 80% Maintains assessment materials containing examples of children’s program participation and growth process in social, intellectual, emotional, and physical areas.
• 80% Oversees housekeeping procedures within classroom and in common center areas as assigned.
• 80% Monitors Health Department sanitation procedures.
• 80% Under the supervision of the Child Care Director/Coordinator, plans and facilitates developmental activities as part of an overall program for children’s physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth.
• 80% Participates in, shares during, and/or prepares for classroom and center staff meetings, parent meeting, parent conferences or center promotional activities as necessary or assigned.

Personnel Management

• 10% Prepares reports, attends meetings and/or enacts plans to help class and center staff improve teaching skills and increase understanding of children’s development.
• 10% Assumes responsibility for operation of Child Care Center in the absence of the Director or Coordinator as assigned.
• 10% Supervises Assistant Teachers, Work study students, Interns, and Student Teachers as assigned.

Student/Customer Service

• 5% Assists in enrollment and orientation of families and their children as assigned.
• 5% Participates in, shares during, and/or prepares for classroom and center staff meetings, parent meeting, parent conferences or center promotional activities as necessary or assigned.

Other

• 5% Performs other related duties as assigned by the Child Care Center Director/Coordinator.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, education or related field with at least eighteen (18) hours of credit in early childhood education or courses approved by DCFS, or the ability to obtain credits within two (2) years of employment.
• Minimum of two (2) years of job-related experience.
• Proven ability to work effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities; demonstrate sensitivity to and ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Desired Qualifications

• Previous work experience in a preschool and childcare center environment.
• Experience with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation standards and system.
• Experience with the EXCELERATE quality rating system for Illinois.
• Professional Educator License Level 5 Gateways certification from the State of Illinois or ability to obtain.
• Toddler Gateways credential or ability to obtain.

Work Schedule

An 8.5 hour shift between the hours of 7:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday.

Pay

$20.31 per hour.

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full time. Total Hours Per Week: 40. Position Type: Staff. Job Family: Specialist.

Posting Information

Posting Date: 07/20/2026. Expected Start Date: 08/21/2026. Compensation Grade: B23. Location: Grayslake Campus. Department: Children's Learning Center Department.

EEO Statement

College of Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a policy of non-discrimination. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, ancestry, citizenship, parental status, pregnancy or any other status protected by law.

College of Lake County (CLC) is a comprehensive community college located in northeastern Illinois committed to being an innovative educational institution providing life-changing paths for our students by offering exceptional learning experiences.

CLC aspires to be a place where every student succeeds, every employee thrives, so that every business achieves and every community grows. Our mission is to be innovative and value-driven in supporting student success through developing and encouraging employees of all backgrounds on their journey toward achieving personal and professional growth.

CLC achieved a milestone in 2025 with its designation as a Leader College of Distinction. CLC is part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network, made up of 300+ colleges committed to supporting student success at their institutions and promoting economic vitality throughout their communities. CLC has been a member of the ATD Network since 2019 and has held Leader College status since 2023.