Lead Teacher (0 to 3)

Chicago Commons•Chicago, IL

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Chicago Commons is seeking a Lead Teacher for their Paulo Freire Center, focusing on children aged 0 to 3. This role is integral to the Reggio-Inspired approach to education, which emphasizes collaboration between children, families, and teachers to foster a dynamic, problem-solving learning environment. The program serves at-risk communities in Chicago, addressing challenges related to poverty and limited resources. The lead teacher is responsible for creating a safe, nurturing, and positive learning space that empowers children to explore, think critically, and develop creatively. This position requires the ability to lead a classroom team and foster strong partnerships with families.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Must be able to read and write English proficiently.
Must be able to regularly operate a word-processing system and therefore must be able to read, produce and transmit data on such a system.

Responsibilities

Develops a classroom atmosphere where children can grow and develop in a safe and positive learning space.
Leads classroom teams in creating an atmosphere in which children can grow and develop; develops a classroom environment that is welcoming and emphasizes the importance of the child; includes furnishings and supplies which are attractive, durable, and developmentally appropriate.
Introduces, implements, and evaluates developmentally appropriate activities for young children including Self Image, Language/Literacy Development, Music and Movement, Social Studies, Science, Math, Art, Large/Small Motor Activities, and In-Depth Projects.
Supervises and interacts with all children’s activities.
Trains staff and prepares performance evaluations with the assistance of the Site Director.
Researches, implements, and evaluates curriculum methods and classroom management strategies.
Responsible for preparing classroom materials in advance of children’s arrival and maintaining a clean classroom environment.
Assists with the responsibility of ordering supplies needed for the program.
Recommends maintenance and repairs as needed.
Develops strong partnerships with the families.
Attends home visits and conducts parent-teacher conference assessment reviews.
Participates in Family Reviews and IFSP/IEP meetings.
Leads the implementation of the Reggio Emilia Philosophy, focusing on in-depth studies and classroom explorations.
Responsible for maintaining reports on children’s growth and development for all students in the classroom.
Conducts weekly team meetings.
Attends and participates in parent meetings and in-service training.
Performs other duties as assigned.