Lead Toddler and Early Preschool Teacher

The Goddard School; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan

Referral program

401(k)

401(k) matching

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Employee discounts

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Signing bonus

Training & development

Tuition assistance

Vision insurance

Job summary

The Goddard School of South Loop in Chicago, IL is seeking experienced Lead Teachers for our Toddler and Early Preschool classrooms. As a Lead Teacher, you will lead the day, create a safe, engaging, and nurturing learning environment, and partner with families and the leadership team to support children’s growth.

Ideal candidates have experience with toddlers/preschoolers, ECE coursework or CDA, and the ability to meet Illinois DCFS Lead Teacher requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience with toddlers and/or preschool-age children.
• Ability to meet Illinois DCFS Lead Teacher requirements.
• Strong communication with families and teamwork.
• Commitment to licensing, health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead classroom activities and learning experiences.
• Plan developmentally appropriate lessons and routines.
• Observe and document child development and communicate with families.
• Collaborate with supporting teachers and leadership.

Skills

Lead classroom leadership

Communication with families

Teamwork

Dependability

Education

Early Childhood Education coursework or degree

CDA or equivalent qualification

Job description

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Retirement plan
• Referral program
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Signing bonus
• Training & development
• Tuition assistance
• Vision insurance

The Goddard School of South Loop – Chicago, IL

Full-Time | Lead Teacher(s)

Do you love working with young children, take pride in your classroom, and want to work at a school where great teachers are valued and supported?

The Goddard School of South Loop is looking for experienced and passionate Lead Teachers for our Toddler and Early Preschool classrooms. We believe children thrive when they are surrounded by teachers who are nurturing, dependable, engaged and genuinely excited to help them grow. We also believe great teachers deserve a workplace that invests in them. Our goal is to build a team of educators who don't simply supervise children—we want teachers who build relationships, create meaningful learning experiences, take ownership of their classrooms, support their teammates, and continue growing professionally.

What You'll Do

As a Lead Teacher, you will take an active leadership role in your classroom and help create a safe, loving and engaging environment for children.

You will

• Build warm, trusting relationships with children and families
• Provide attentive, active supervision throughout the day
• Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences
• Create a classroom environment where children can explore, learn and develop independence
• Observe children's development and individual needs
• Maintain regular classroom documentation and family communication
• Establish consistent classroom routines and positive guidance practices
• Keep your classroom organized, welcoming and prepared for learning
• Work collaboratively with supporting teachers and provide classroom leadership and direction
• Participate in school events, professional development and team initiatives
• Partner with our leadership team when challenges arise rather than feeling like you have to solve everything alone

The Teacher We're Looking For

We're especially interested in educators who:

• Genuinely enjoy spending their day with young children
• Are warm, patient and nurturing
• Understand that active supervision and children's safety come first
• Take ownership of their classroom rather than waiting to be told what needs to be done
• Are dependable and understand how much their attendance matters to children and their teammates
• Communicate professionally with families, coworkers and leadership
• Are comfortable receiving feedback and interested in continuing to grow
• Work well as part of a team
• Bring positive energy and solutions when challenges arise
• Understand that teaching young children involves much more than completing a lesson plan—it is about relationships, engagement, observation and purposeful interactions throughout the entire day

You do not need to know everything on Day One. We value teachers who are willing to learn, receptive to coaching and committed to becoming stronger educators.

What You Can Expect From Us

We know that taking care of children begins with taking care of the people who teach them.

At The Goddard School of South Loop, we strive to create an environment where teachers feel supported, appreciated and able to grow.

Depending on eligibility and position, our team members may receive:

• Competitive compensation based on education and experience
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Health and other eligible benefits
• 401(k) benefits
• Childcare benefits/discounts
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Support with continuing education and credential advancement
• Opportunities for increased responsibility and career growth
• Classroom resources and curriculum support
• Regular appreciation and recognition throughout the year
• An accessible leadership team that is actively involved in the school

We believe good work should be noticed. We regularly recognize team members who demonstrate exceptional commitment, teamwork, professional growth and care for our children and families.

A School Where Teachers Can Grow

Our leadership team believes in coaching, not simply correcting. We understand that early childhood education can be demanding. When something isn't working, our goal is to identify the challenge, provide resources and support, and help our teachers become successful. At the same time, because families entrust us with their children every day, we hold ourselves to high standards for safety, professionalism, reliability and accountability.

If you are looking for a school where you can simply "watch kids," this probably isn't the right position.

Experienced Assistant Teachers who meet Lead Teacher qualifications and are ready to take the next step in their career are also encouraged to apply.

Join Our Goddard Village

The relationships our teachers build with children can last for years. Many of our families begin with us during infancy and remain through Pre-K, giving our educators the opportunity to watch children grow from babies into confident kindergarteners.

We take that responsibility—and that privilege—seriously.

If you're an educator who wants to make an impact, continue growing, and be part of a supportive school community, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have:

• Experience working with toddlers and/or preschool-age children
• Early Childhood Education coursework, degree, CDA or equivalent qualifications preferred
• Ability to meet Illinois DCFS Lead Teacher requirements for the assigned classroom
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of an early childhood classroom
• Commitment to maintaining all licensing, health and safety requirements

Note

Candidate must be CO-VID vaccinated.

Each Goddard School location is privately owned and operated by Goddard Franchisor LLC franchisees. The Goddard School franchise owner(s) are the employers at each school, and the franchise owner(s) set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.