At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting - pillars of work……early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.

Under the direction of the Center Director/Assistant Director the Early Head Start Lead Teacher supports Early Learning Services by providing early care and education to children in the classroom ages three to five years; serves as the lead teacher and facilitator of the classroom teaching team; creates an environment that is engaging and stimulating; recognizes that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society. Ensures that services are following the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, and the Illinois State Board of Education. The Lead Head Start Teacher ensures that all education staff are implementing evidence-based instructional practices and designs and delivers a plan for intensive and individualized professional development that results in exemplary teacher-child interactions and instructional quality.

This role is ideal for someone who has respect for children and families with diverse values and cultures and is passionate about supporting learning environments and opportunities that are designed to help children develop physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally and ensuring that parents are supported in their role as the child's primary teachers.

This position is located at the Easterseals Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center at 1312 S. Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60608. 

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• 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 time for daily classroom reflections and schedule weekly classroom meetings.
• Provide coaching and modeling to teachers on effective parent/teacher conferences and parent-child activities.
• Implement classroom systems to align with requirements in the Early Head Start/ Prevention Initiative programs.
• 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 and maintain up-to-date documentation in Teaching Strategies GOLD, child education files, and child portfolios.
• Provide a safe environment for children at all times by implementing active supervision practices.
• 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 benefiting 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.
• Work closely with consultants and other Easterseals personnel.
• 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.
• Participate in all required and recommended meetings.
• Support agency’s School Readiness goals and track progress towards goals.
• Train and participate in evaluations for the classroom team.
• Complete an ongoing professional development plan.
• Prepare reports on classroom activities, including attendance records.
• Participate in the ongoing self-assessment of the program.
• Support in opening and closing the center.
• Starting as early as 7 am to open the center, or closing the job until 5 pm based on schedule & need.
• Opener- Open the facility and prepare it for the day's activities.
• Closer-Ensure all children have been picked up by the designated parent/guardian, and complete a sweep of the building to ensure the center is locked down and prepared for the next day
• All other duties as assigned.

Education/Certification:

• AA degree with Infant/Toddler Credential Level 4.
• Preferred Qualifications: BA degree with Infant/Toddler Credential Level 5.
• Minimum Infant/Toddler CDA credential.

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

Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license
• Auto insurance
• Reliable vehicle

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task 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.

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

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