Lead Toddler and Early Preschool Teacher

The Goddard School of Chicago (South Loop), IL•Chicago, IL

5d•$18 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Goddard School of South Loop is seeking experienced and passionate Lead Teachers for their Toddler and Early Preschool classrooms. They are looking for educators who are nurturing, dependable, engaged, and excited to help children grow. The school aims to build a team of educators who build relationships, create meaningful learning experiences, take ownership of their classrooms, support teammates, and continue professional growth. As a Lead Teacher, you will take an active leadership role in your classroom, creating a safe, loving, and engaging environment for children. This involves building relationships with children and families, providing active supervision, planning and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, creating an environment for exploration and independence, observing children's development, maintaining documentation and family communication, establishing routines and positive guidance, keeping the classroom organized, collaborating with supporting teachers, and participating in school events and professional development. The school emphasizes a coaching approach to professional development, providing resources and support to help teachers succeed while maintaining high standards for safety, professionalism, reliability, and accountability.

Requirements

Experience working with toddlers and/or preschool-age children
Ability to meet Illinois DCFS Lead Teacher requirements for the assigned classroom
Strong communication and teamwork skills
Ability to meet the physical requirements of an early childhood classroom
Commitment to maintaining all licensing, health and safety requirements

Nice To Haves

Genuinely enjoy spending their day with young children
Are warm, patient and nurturing
Understand that active supervision and children's safety come first
Take ownership of their classroom rather than waiting to be told what needs to be done
Are dependable and understand how much their attendance matters to children and their teammates
Communicate professionally with families, coworkers and leadership
Are comfortable receiving feedback and interested in continuing to grow
Work well as part of a team
Bring positive energy and solutions when challenges arise
Understand that teaching young children involves much more than completing a lesson plan—it is about relationships, engagement, observation and purposeful interactions throughout the entire day
Early Childhood Education coursework, degree, CDA or equivalent qualifications preferred
Experienced Assistant Teachers who meet Lead Teacher qualifications and are ready to take the next step in their career are also encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Build warm, trusting relationships with children and families
Provide attentive, active supervision throughout the day
Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences
Create a classroom environment where children can explore, learn and develop independence
Observe children's development and individual needs
Maintain regular classroom documentation and family communication
Establish consistent classroom routines and positive guidance practices
Keep your classroom organized, welcoming and prepared for learning
Work collaboratively with supporting teachers and provide classroom leadership and direction
Participate in school events, professional development and team initiatives
Partner with our leadership team when challenges arise rather than feeling like you have to solve everything alone