Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher

Job Summary: The Infant/Toddler Teacher is responsible for the care, supervision and management of a class of Infants and Toddlers in accord with the goals and curriculum plan of Chicago Child Care Society - Family Focus. The principal duties of the Infant Teacher include: conduct focused observations of children, develop action plans, carry out activities on a daily basis and evaluate the effectiveness of child development activities, ensure the safety and well-being of the children, maintain regular communication with parents, and contribute to the effective operation of the overall early care and education center. Lead teachers serve as ambassadors for the school and the agency. We have vacancies in our Hyde Park and South Shore location.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Supervise classroom team members, demonstrate leadership in creating a positive and collaborative team and organize and facilitate classroom team meeting.
• Serve as leaders in the school and represent themselves as ambassadors for the whole school in relationship to all parents, and volunteers.
• Supervise and lead classroom team in preparation and implementation of lesson plans for classroom activities covering all developmental areas: language, cognitive, physical, personal, social/emotional and creative. Explore new curriculum ideas and implement the Project Approach along with the Creative Curriculum.
• Provide a learning environment for infants and toddlers that is warm, supporting and comforting.
• Provide leadership to classroom team with assessment of needs of individual children. Collaborate with Infant Toddler Specialist in initiating referrals for special needs services.
• Ensure that child care routines are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with the good child development principles. This includes routines related to diapering, hand washing, eating, napping and transitioning between activities.
• Create an open, friendly, and cooperative atmosphere in which children and families feel comfortable and secure.
• Provide experiences that promote individual expression through conversation, play and creativity.
• Provide a variety of language stimulation activities.
• Promote and nurture parent-child bonding and relationships. Work with parents to increase their understanding of child development, including but not limited to developmental stages, developmental appropriateness, early literacy, and parent’s involvement.
• Participate in child staffing. Organize and facilitate three formal parent-teacher conferences, and/or informal conversation throughout the year as appropriate. Establish and maintains effective working relationships with parents.
• Observe, document and report appropriate aspects of and changes in child's health, including but not limited to injuries, changes in physical appearance and/or social behaviors.
• Discuss and maintain records of child observation and child evaluations through Teaching Strategies Gold and ASQ-SE.
• Share classroom and program information with parents. Attend and participate in parent meetings, trainings, and other special events as needed.
• Organize and/or delegate administrative record keeping, including daily attendance and food forms, and evaluates quality of child care services provided, reporting regularly to Infant Toddler Specialist.
• Collaborate with other program staff around the ordering and purchasing of supplies.
• With classroom team, responsible for room arrangements and proper care of classroom equipment. Maintain safe, neat and orderly, and sanitary environment.
• Maintain knowledge current in the field, including attendance at seminars, workshops and in service training programs.
• Participate in program, agency and staff committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Must have a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Family Studies, Psychology, or related.
• Must have Gateways to Opportunity lnfant Toddler Level 5
• Minimum of one-year supervisory experience and one year of teaching experience.
• Relates well with children and adults.
• Excellent computer knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Function well in group and team settings.
• Possess interpersonal skills that excel in cultural sensitivity and respect for differences.
• Covid-19 Vaccine is required (reasonable accommodations will be considered).

This is a full-time exempt position.Salary: $45,000.00/year

$2,500 Sign-on Bonus Available!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Gateways to Opportunity level 5 or I/T level 4 (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Hyde Park, IL (Preferred)

Work Location: In person