Lead Head Start Teacher - $4,000 Sign On Bonus

About the role

Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford seeks a Lead Head Start Teacher to support Early Learning Services sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This role is ideal for someone passionate about supporting learning environments and opportunities that help children develop physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing supervision, training, and support to teacher assistants and classroom assistants, including performance evaluations and professional development plans.
• Implement reflective and relationship-based practices, including reflection meetings with direct reports.
• Provide coaching and modeling to teachers on effective parent/teacher conferences and parent-child activities.
• Serve as a leader for the classroom team and provide guidance.
• Ensure the implementation of developmentally appropriate practice within the classroom, including utilizing materials and studies from the Creative Curriculum.
• Facilitate with the classroom teaching team the creation of an inclusive environment where children can learn.
• Facilitate with the classroom teaching team the creation and implementation of group lesson plans.
• Research new ideas, methods, resources, and materials for lesson plans.
• Ensure that all children within the classroom have sufficient, high-quality observations, maintain up-to-date documentation in Teaching Strategies GOLD, child education files, and child portfolios.
• Communicate with parents/families and report child progress through scheduled parent-teacher conferences and home visits.
• Implement a system to ensure that all developmental screening information is completed within 45 days of children’s enrollment.
• Implement a system to ensure that all children identified as benefitting from further evaluation are referred.
• Participate in the referral process by documenting observations and interventions attempted in the classroom.
• Participate in Individual Education Program (IFSP) meetings.
• Support social-emotional development using the pyramid model.
• Utilize data from child outcomes, screenings, and IEPs to guide lesson planning for individual children and for the group.
• Maintain care of classroom equipment and supplies, control inventory, and report all repairs needed.
• Promote an atmosphere of teamwork where staff, parents, and children interact positively with each other.
• Participate in all required and recommended training, including Teaching Strategies GOLD, Creative Curriculum, and CLASS training.
• Support the agency’s School Readiness goals and track progress towards goals.
• Train and participate in evaluations for the classroom team.
• Prepare reports on classroom activities, including attendance records.
• Participate in the ongoing self-assessment of the program.
• Travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.

Requirements

• Education/Certification: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, or in another field with at least 30 semester credit hours in ECE required. Gateway ECE Level 5PEL credential required.
• Experience Requirements: 2-3 years of early childhood classroom experience. 1-2 years of experience in Head Start/Early Head Start preferred. 1 year of experience in serving culturally and linguistically diverse children in early childhood settings.
• Required Knowledge: Microsoft Office Suite or related software including Microsoft Teams. Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD. Head Start Performance Standards. ISBE/PFA.
• Skills/Abilities: Ability to multitask in a high-stress environment. Ability to interact with diverse personalities. Ability to problem solve. Basic computer knowledge, including Microsoft Office programs. Completion of a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per year. Willing to work flexible hours to accommodate the needs of the families.

Benefits

This position offers a $4,000 sign-on bonus.

Pay

$42,557 - $69,514/Annually