Early Childhood Teaching Assistant

Catherine Cook School • Chicago, IL

10d • $33,000 - $35,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Catherine Cook School seeks a collaborative, proactive Early Childhood Teaching Assistant to support students in preschool (ages 3), junior kindergarten (ages 4), and senior kindergarten (ages 5). The role helps build warm, respectful relationships with students and creates a safe, stimulating learning environment. The Teaching Assistant works closely with the Lead Teacher to establish clear classroom roles, duties, and routines, and may lead the classroom independently when the Lead Teacher is away, including managing a substitute teacher's role and interactions.

The assistant supports early childhood learning through play, inquiry, emergent curriculum, social-emotional learning, and a whole-child approach. The role includes documenting student learning and classroom experiences for families and colleagues, communicating with internal and external collaborators, participating in professional development and school community efforts, and contributing to family engagement and student retention. The position is full-time for the 10-month school year in person in Chicago. Weekly shifts rotate among early starts and a longer Wednesday schedule; the role also requires one evening for Curriculum Night. Optional community events and after-school enrichment opportunities may be available.

Requirements

• Experience in early childhood education with children ages 3–6.
• Strong interest in furthering a career in education.
• Proven teaching and organizational skills, including the ability to manage classroom dynamics effectively.
• Strong communication skills.
• Willingness to learn and grow professionally.
• Ability to work the entire school year.
• Ability to fulfill rotating weekly shifts: 7:00 AM–3:00 PM one to two days per week; 7:30 AM–3:30 PM two to three days per week; and 7:30 AM–5:00 PM on Wednesdays.
• Ability to work one required evening for Curriculum Night.

Nice To Haves

• Foundational understanding of emergent curriculum and inquiry-based learning, with an interest in learning more and sharing insights with the team.
• Foundational understanding of child development, learning through play, and whole-child learning.
• Ability to recognize students’ strengths and support each child’s sense of belonging.
• Experience or ability to use documentation to notice and capture students’ learning moments.

Responsibilities

• Build warm, respectful, and supportive relationships with students and help cultivate a safe, stimulating learning environment.
• Collaborate and communicate with the Lead Teacher about classroom roles, duties, and routines.
• Lead the classroom independently when the Lead Teacher is away, including managing a substitute teacher's role and interactions.
• Apply training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building.
• Support students through emotions and friendship dynamics, and teach concepts such as the “size of the problem” to foster independence.
• Model Responsive Classroom practices, social-emotional learning, and ROARS values: respect, ownership, appreciation, responsibility, and safety.
• Prepare classroom materials and respond proactively to student and classroom needs.
• Document student learning and classroom experiences through platforms such as Seesaw, making learning visible to families and colleagues and informing emergent curriculum.
• Communicate the vision, goals, and progress of work with internal and external collaborators.
• Participate in meetings, book groups, professional development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning efforts.
• Engage with parents, participate in conferences, and support student retention and family attraction.
• Serve as an ambassador for Enrollment Management and Development efforts.
• Complete weekly duties and administrative tasks, and use Google and Outlook applications for individual and team collaboration.
• Work the entire school year, including one required evening for Curriculum Night; optional community events and after-school enrichments may also be available.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) plan
• Basic Life, short-term disability, long-term disability, and AD&D insurance premiums fully covered
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care options
• Professional development opportunities
• Generous paid time off
• Pet insurance
• Identity theft protection

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed