Educare Chicago provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old on Chicago’s South Side. As a program that serves low-income families, Educare’s research-based program helps children develop the literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

Your role will report to, and be supported by, the Education Coordinator , who is onsite to help guide and inform your lesson practice and planning as a part of the Educare Chicago structure. As the Lead Teacher, you will work in tandem with the Education Manager on devising comprehensive lesson plans based upon Educare Chicago’s research-based methods for instruction. Lesson planning will entail devising individualized lesson plans for all children within your classroom, creating developmentally appropriate content based upon the ages and abilities within your classroom, and a commitment to best-in-class practices. Your role will also involve the implementation and management of the day-to-day lesson plans.

Working Closely with your Education Coordinator Teacher Aide, and Teacher Assistant, you will:

Supervise, mentor the Teacher Assistant and Teacher Aide
Utilize standardized and authentic assessment data to plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences and individualized lesson plans that will promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child.
Adhere to all Individualized Education Programs, Individualized Family Service Plans, and/or Individualized Health Care Plans and strategies provided by Education Managers or Consultants.
Establish and maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance and emotionally supportive techniques that meets state and local licensing regulations, Head Start Program Performance
Observe, assess, and document each assigned child’s health, skills, and behavioral, growth and development.
Facilitate curriculum planning sessions to develop clear learning objectives that effectively incorporate documentation collected on each child.
Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.
Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, experiences and outcomes for children integrating health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement. Incorporate children’s interests, culture, school readiness goals, State and Head Start guidelines, program curriculum and approach into individualized and group learning opportunities.
Manage and delegate responsibilities regarding daily attendance, health checks, parent sign/scan in, and meal participation reports are completed daily.
Participate in Family/Child Reviews.
Participate in recruitment efforts to help maintain full program enrollment.
Follows all mandates of Head Start regulations, state and local licensing regulations and the Start Early’s philosophy and curriculum.
Job Requirements:

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Must have excellent command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written.
Must be able to manually operate and use a computer and other office equipment.
Ability to clearly hear and understand telephone conversations.
Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in ECE, CD, or related field with a minimum of 27 credits in ECE and two years’ experience in a relevant early childhood group setting required.
Head Start: Type 04 Education Certificate / Educator License with ECE approved Endorsement. Special Education Endorsement preferred.
Clearance of background check by Department of Children and Family Services.
A biannual physical examination and TB test are required as condition of initial employment and continued employment.
Must be able to physically interact with children, including talk, hear, sit, stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift and or move items of up to 40 pounds.
Receive sign on bonus up to $5,000!

Salary:$60,469.00-$71,140.00

Our generous benefit plan includes: Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6-months paid parental leave and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.