PFAE - PEL Lead Teacher

Ymca-of-Metropolitan-Chicag; Palatine (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA seeks an Expansion Lead Teacher to co-lead a preschool group, ensuring safety, care, and development. You will foster language-rich activities and social-emotional growth, collaborate with families, and implement curriculum aligned with funding and standards.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in ECE, IL PEL license or Gateway Level 5, and 1–3 years of preschool experience in a quality program. Strong communication and computer skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ECE required or equivalent.
• PEL license or Gateway Level 5 credential with contingency to obtain IL ELP license by start date.
• Strong communication skills and ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with basic computer tasks, email, and internet navigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide responsive, individualized care and safe supervision of all children.
• Maintain regular communication with families through daily contacts, home visits, and conferences.
• Design meaningful learning experiences based on each child’s needs and interests.
• Observe and assess children’s development and document progress.
• Support health and safety procedures and maintain a safe learning environment.

Skills

ECE Degree

PEL License

Communication

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in ECE

PEL License or Gateway Level 5

Tools

Internet & Email

Computer Skills

Job description

The Preschool for All Expansion Lead Teacher serves as one of two primary teachers for an assigned group of preschool age children, responsible for the safety, care, and well-being of the entire group. Accountable for responsive care to all children, enriched by high quality language experiences, with an emphasis on social/emotional growth. Also accountable for focused observations, planning, and adapting routines and daily experiences with each individual child’s abilities and interests. This also includes child assessment, and evaluation of the effectiveness of child development activities. The Preschool for All Expansion Lead Teacher maintains regular communication with parents, and implements curriculum and program requirements, in adherence to performance and outcome standards, as prescribed by the multiple funding partners, federal, state and local standards, and organizational goals and values.Scope of Responsibilities:Provide a positive climate of prompt and consistent responsive and individualized care to help children develop secure relationships and attachment throughout the day including diapering/toileting meal and active play and floor times.Adhere to continuity of relationship practices and work with assigned group of infants and toddlers applying best practices for infant/toddler care.Provide a language rich classroom environment which includes consistency in talking, singing and relating to children’s verbal and nonverbal cues, at eye level.Assure families receives an opportunity to build strong relationships and experience clear communication with teaching staff.Obtain families’ social-cultural background information and designs meaningful learning experiences for children based on their findings. Utilize fidelity measures to support English Language Learners and to inform linguistic and culturally responsive practices.Follow consistent routines and make certain the schedule for infants, toddlers, and twos is regular enough to be predictable, but flexible enough to meet their individual needs, diapering and feeding on demand.Meet the individual needs of each child, at their physical level (kneeling, bending, or sitting on the floor).Maintain awareness and supervision of the needs of the entire group to ensure the safety of each child whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in common areas.Promote family engagement and awareness through a variety of methods and ensure parents receive adequate information about their child’s experiences through daily contacts, scheduled home visits and parent conferences.Partner with families to increase their understanding of child development and stages, including social/emotional well-being and early literacy; and to support relationships between children & their families.Participate in required health and safety procedures to reduce the spread of germs for the sake of children, parents and staff.Integrate and assist children with special needs and adapt activities accordingly.Utilize routines such as diapering, toileting/training, cleaning, feeding and changing wet clothes as opportunities for strengthening development, learning, and skill growth.Observe children daily upon arrival to detect signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs and complete daily health check.Participate and support agency/center efforts toward recruitment, enrollment, attendance and retention of eligible families.Maintain regular job attendance, professionalism in attire and demeanor, observe and respect issues of confidentiality, ethics, and best practices.Support the YMCA’s mission and center operations as assigned.Minimum and Preferred Requirements Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesBachelor’s Degree in ECE w/state issued current Early Learning PEL License or a Gateway Level 5 credential and signed contingency to obtain an Illinois Early Learning PEL license by start date.1-3 years’ experience in a preschool classroom, preferably NAEYC accredited and/or EHS or PI funded program.Apply early childhood development theory, curriculum and practices in daily activities and adapt to children’s individual needs.and interests. Familiarity with Creative Curriculum and Gold Assessment preferred.Proficient verbal and written communication skills and ability to tailor communication to different audiences.Flexibility to care for children 3 years - 5 years, interact at their eye level, move quickly, monitor and assess situations.Ability to build rapport and to respect the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the population served.Maintain a safe learning environment at all times in classroom, playground and common areas.Motivated continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills.Complete and maintain detailed, accurate evidence of children’s learning, records and other documentation as established.Intermediate computer skills, internet and email and the ability to learn and adapt to new technology.Demonstrates evidence of YMCA Leader competencies in previous experience or practice.Travel in Chicago land area communities for family Home Visits and training.Discreetly handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality at all timesAbility to obtain YMCA and DCFS background check clearance and provide documentation of current physical based on program requirementsBachelor’s Degree in ECE w/state issued current Early Learning PEL License or a Gateway Level 5 credential and signed contingency to obtain an Illinois Early Learning PEL license by start date.1-3 years’ experience in a preschool classroom, preferably NAEYC accredited and/or EHS or PI funded program.Apply early childhood development theory, curriculum and practices in daily activities and adapt to children’s individual needs and interests. Familiarity with Creative Curriculum and Gold Assessment preferred.Proficient verbal and written communication skills and ability to tailor communication to different audiences.Flexibility to care for children 3 years - 5 years, interact at their eye level, move quickly, monitor and assess situations.Ability to build rapport and to respect the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the population served.Maintain a safe learning environment at all times in classroom, playground and common areas.Motivated continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills.Complete and maintain detailed, accurate evidence of children’s learning, records and other documentation as established.Intermediate computer skills, internet and email and the ability to learn and adapt to new technology.Demonstrates evidence of YMCA Leader competencies in previous experience or practice.Travel in Chicago land area communities for family Home Visits and training.Discreetly handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality at all timesAbility to obtain YMCA and DCFS background check clearance and provide documentation of current physical based on program requirements