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Job Title: Lead Teacher

Reporting to: Director

Pilgrim Community Preschool is a private, non-profit, NAEYC accredited preschool serving Oak Park, Illinois and surrounding communities. Mission Statement: We foster every child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth in a play-based early childhood education environment. We welcome children of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and economic situations and seek a school population that represents the rich diversity of the greater Oak Park area.

EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Must meet must DCFS qualifications:

• Teachers shall be at least 19 years of age. 

• Teachers shall have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED) and

• Sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or

• One year (1560 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or

• Completion of credentialing programs approved by DCFS

Must have or be willing to continue education to meet NAEYC Qualifications:

• Associates degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Special Education or at least 60 college/university credits with at least 30 college credits in ECE; or

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Special Education or Bachelor in another discipline plus at least 36 hours in ECE; or 

• Masters or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Special Education.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Employee shall actively support the mission of Pilgrim Community Preschool

• Employee shall have ability to communicate effectively through daily interactions, email, administrative communication aps and over the phone

• Employee shall have basic computer knowledge and skill 

• Employee shall have the skill and ability to positively contribute to each child’s physical, intellectual, personal, emotional and social development

• Employee shall have the physical ability to interact with children in various ways including floor, seated, walking, running and lifting capacities

• Employee will be fingerprinted and must pass required state background check, complete DCFS required trainings within 90 days of employment 

• Employee shall be able to complete and submit developmentally appropriate lesson plans to Director on a weekly basis

• Employee shall be familiar with play-based, project approach curriculum practice

RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following: 

Encourage the Development of Students through Positive Guidance

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate hands-on activities that develop positive self-esteem, social skills, and culturally diverse experiences

• Provide a wide variety of creative and expressive activities that promote all domains of child development following the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines and Standardswhile continuing established routines with smooth transition periods

• Communicate with children at their developmental level

• Encourage and support children to be independent, cooperate and problem solve

• Provide a balance between child-initiated and adult-initiated activities, including both quiet and active learning activities

• Involve children in planning and implementing learning activities while providing an integrated curriculum that meets the needs of individual children

• Use equipment and materials for indoor and outdoor play that promote children’s physical development

Establish a Positive and Productive Relationship with Families

• Communicate with families through a variety of methods, including home visits, email, weekly lesson plans, weekly blog/newsletter, brightwheel app, fall and spring conferences and daily contact

• Encourage and provide parents and families a variety of opportunities to participate in the program

• Communicate developmental screening information with parents and provide guidance for individualized development supports as needed

• Assist in ensuring a well-run, purposeful program responsive to families and children

Maintain a Positive and Productive Relationship with Teachers and Director

• Open to sharing and implementing new ideas in collaboration with the teaching partner and Pilgrim Community Preschool team

• Engages in respectful, clear, responsive communication with teaching partner, peers and Director including reading and responding to email

• Completes fair share of teaching duties

• Commits to using technology as deemed necessary by Director

• Participates in staff meetings and reviews

Maintain a Commitment to Professionalism

• Be committed to the principles of diversity, inclusion and anti-bias philosophy

• Participate in ongoing staff development requirements to improve professional skills, including mandatory 20 hours of professional development per school year

• Attend and participate in regular staff meetings presentations, staff meetings, workshops, college courses 

• Maintain membership in the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Registry and apply for/maintain Gateways Credentials; ECE or Infant Toddler and/or Director 

• Participate in work-related activities within the community

• Know about new advances in the EC field, including curricula, assessment systems and best practices

HOURS: This is a flexible part-time, school year position

The Director and the Board of Directors of Pilgrim Community Preschool reserve the right to add, delete, change or modify responsibilities.

Updated 2024.