PFAE - PEL Lead Teacher

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; Palatine (IL); Vor Ort; USD 42.000 - 56.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is seeking a Preschool for All Expansion Lead Teacher to co-lead a group of preschool children, ensuring safety, care, and learning through responsive practices and language-rich experiences.

The role emphasizes social‑emotional development, daily planning, and close collaboration with families, including observations, assessments, and adherence to program standards across funding partners.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree in ECE with current Illinois PEL or Gateway Level 5 credential.
• 1–3 years’ preschool classroom experience; NAECY accredited or EHS/PI funded program preferred.
• Apply early childhood development theory and adapt to individual needs; familiarity with Creative Curriculum and Gold Assessment.

Aufgaben

• Provide responsive, individualized care to help children develop secure relationships and attachments.
• Maintain a language-rich classroom environment with consistent talking and interactions at eye level.
• Communicate regularly with families and coordinate home visits and conferences to support child development.
• Observe and assess children daily to inform planning and instruction; support English Learners and culturally responsive practices.

Kenntnisse

Verbal and written communication

Computer literacy

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s Degree in ECE with Illinois PEL or Gateway Level 5 credential

Jobbeschreibung

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 Abilities

• Bachelor’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 times
• Ability to obtain YMCA and DCFS background check clearance and provide documentation of current physical based on program requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’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 times
• Ability to obtain YMCA and DCFS background check clearance and provide documentation of current physical based on program requirements