PEL Teacher Type 04

Chicago Commons; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 67,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Paulo Freire Family Ctr. in Chicago, IL seeks a qualified preschool teacher for the 10-month Preschool for All program.

You will create a stimulating, safe, and developmentally appropriate classroom where children grow cognitively, socially, and physically from September 1 through June 30. The role requires licensure in Early Childhood Education with bilingual endorsement or a Bachelor's with Level 5 Gateways and a plan to obtain a PEL within five years.

Qualifications

• Must have a Professional Educator License (PEL) in Early Childhood Education with a bilingual endorsement, or a bachelor’s degree and a Level 5 Gateways credential with a written plan to obtain a PEL within 5 years of September 1, 2026.
• Excellent critical thinking and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with teaching team and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead classroom teams to create a welcoming, developmentally appropriate environment.
• Plan and implement activities across language, literacy, math, science, and arts.
• Maintain student progress notes and artifacts in Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Develop strong partnerships with families and attend home visits and conferences.
• Lead implementation of the Reggio Emilia approach and emergent curriculum.

Skills

Organizational skills

Detail-oriented

Critical thinking

Patience

MS Office

Collaboration

Confidentiality

English proficiency

Education

PEL in Early Childhood Education with bilingual endorsement

Bachelor’s degree + Level 5 Gateways credential

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Paulo Freire Family Ctr.
Chicago, IL 60609, USA

• Pay or shift range: $67,000 USD to $72,353 USD The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Description

I. Position Summary

The Preschool for All (PFA) Program is a 10-month program. Teachers in a PFA classroom will work 10 months per year from September 1st until June 30th. This position is responsible for providing a stimulating, safe, and developmentally appropriate educational environment where children have the opportunity to develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills.

II. Education & Certification Requirements

• Candidates must have a Professional Educator License (PEL) in Early Childhood Education with a bilingual endorsement, or a bachelor’s degree and a Level 5 Gateways credential with a written plan to obtain a PEL within 5 years of September 1, 2026.

III. Experience & Training Requirements

• Must be organized and detail oriented.
• Excellent critical thinking skills.
• Must exude patience when implementing techniques to support students.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and appropriately with others.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
• Required to speak and read English proficiently, bilingual a plus.

IV. Desired Outcomes

• Creates a positive learning environment where children can grow and develop in a safe space.
• Demonstrates leadership and professionalism when interacting with peers and clients.
• Maintains an organized, clean, and clutter-free work area.
• Ensures all paperwork including but not limited to lesson planning, observations of children, and maintaining children’s binders is done in a timely manner in collaboration with the teaching team.
• Interacts with students in a respectful, supportive, and positive manner ensuring children feel safe and their voices are heard in the learning process and daily activities.
• Implements an emergent curriculum that considers children’s interests and expands on them.
• Shows a deep knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice within the classroom .
• Integrates the Reggio Emilia approach in daily practice to create rich learning experiences for children.
• Uses sound judgement, fosters inclusion, and engages in ethical behaviors.
• Identifies own learning needs and takes the steps necessary to develop skills and set challenging goals. Working with direct supervisor on a yearly professional development plan and ensures ongoing progress is made toward achieving goals throughout the year.

V. Essential Job Requirements & Duties

• Leads classroom teams in creating a classroom environment that is welcoming and emphasizes the importance of the child; includes furnishings and supplies which are attractive, durable, and developmentally appropriate.
• Introduces, implements, and evaluates developmentally appropriate activities for young children including the following activities: Self Image, Language/Literacy Development, Music and Movement, Social Studies, Science, Math, Art, Large/Small Motor Activities, and In-Depth Projects.
• Supervises and interacts with all children’s activities.
• Trains staff and prepares performance evaluations with the assistance of the Site Director.
• Researches, implements, and evaluates curriculum methods and classroom management strategies.
• Responsible for preparing classroom materials in advance of children’s arrival.
• Develops strong partnerships with families.
• Attends home visits and conducts parent-teacher conference assessment reviews.
• Participates in Family Reviews and IFSP/IEP meetings.
• Leads the implementation of the Reggio Emilia Philosophy, focusing on in-depth studies and classroom explorations.
• Maintains reports on children’s growth and development and ensures quality observations are entered appropriately in Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Conducts weekly team meetings.
• Maintains an organized, clean, and clutter-free work area.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding client and staff’s personal information.
• Works well with others, offering help when needed and seeking assistance when necessary.
• Handles challenges with clients or staff in a way that results in others feeling respectful and valued.
• Communicates with parents, students, and coworkers in a manner that reflects concern for their well-being by treating all with respect, integrity, and dignity without regard to background, race, religion, age, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
• Interacts with students in a respectful, supportive, and positive manner ensuring children feel safe and their voices are heard in the learning process and daily activities.
• Participates in assigned and individually selected training opportunities that align with an established professional development plan and career aspirations.
• Shows a deep knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice within the classroom.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Working Conditions

The unavoidable, externally imposed conditions under which the work must be performed, and which create hardship for the incumbent including the frequency and duration of occurrence of physical demands, environmental conditions, demands on one’s senses, and mental demands. None Known

Qualifications

Behaviors

Required

Enthusiastic

Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Detail Oriented

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Team Player

Works well as a member of a group

Education

Bachelors or better in Early Childhood Education or related field.

Licenses & Certifications

Professional Educator Lic

Gateways ECE-Level 5

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.