Pre-School Teacher

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

6d • $40,000 - $45,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a full-time Pre-School Teacher for its Learning & Wellness Center in Chicago. The teacher plans and implements individualized curricula and teaching activities that address children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs, while ensuring staff adherence to Illinois State Board of Education and/or Head Start standards. The role works with diverse staff and service populations under the general supervision of the Site Supervisor.

The position supports collaborative classroom planning, child guidance and development, ongoing assessment and documentation of school-readiness skills, and communication with families. It also includes required training and professional development, and may involve travel and a flexible schedule that includes some evenings or weekends if needed. The average starting salary is $40,000–$45,000 annually, based on skills, credentials, and experience.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education with Gateways ECE Credential Level 4, or a bachelor’s or associate degree in another field with 24 ECE credit hours.
• Ability to plan and implement learning experiences that promote children’s development and preschool readiness.
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for infants and toddlers.
• Ability to support children’s social and emotional development and encourage family involvement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams and independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a complex environment and effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Mobility for travel and regular access to reliable transportation or a reliable insured vehicle.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and/or weekends if needed.
• Must satisfactorily pass a health examination, fingerprinting, and criminal background check.

Responsibilities

• Support a team approach to planning and implementing program activities.
• Collaborate with Family Support Workers, teachers, the Program Aide, site partners, and the Site Supervisor to support the classroom and families.
• Participate in ongoing CLASS implementation and monitoring.
• Guide and facilitate children’s activities, provide appropriate guidance and discipline, and maintain proper child-to-staff ratios.
• Attend mandated trainings and set and achieve professional development goals; track professional development in Gateways.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to document school-readiness skills and maintain Interrater Reliability.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to communicate with families through monthly newsletters and family conference forms.
• Plan and implement learning experiences that support children’s intellectual and physical development, literacy awareness, and approaches to learning.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Support children’s social and emotional development and encourage family involvement and relationships between children and families.

Benefits

• $3,000 sign-on bonus for first-time Metropolitan Family Services employees, paid in installments.
• Generous paid time off, up to six weeks annually.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Medical coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Employer HSA contributions of $2,000 for individual coverage and $4,000 for family coverage, prorated to benefits start date.
• Free Teladoc general medicine and behavioral health services for team members.
• 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on the first day of eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree