Position
Early Childhood Lead Teacher

JCC Early Childhood Services' philosophy and curriculum, the Learning with Love Experience, is based on the true integration of a combination of several components that include: secular and Jewish learning, the most current brain research, the application and implementation of developmentally appropriate practice using The Creative Curriculum as our blueprint, multiple intelligences theory, emergent curriculum, the education standards of the state of Illinois, the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)  and educational inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Italy. The JCC Learning with Love Experience prepares children for their next formal educational step and helps children achieve their full potential by focusing on the necessary development of social, perceptual, motor, language, pre-math and pre-writing skills.
 
Region/Location
Positions available throughout the Chicagoland area
 
Duties
• Be responsible for the safety and welfare of the children;
• Implement a program that includes elements of the JCC’s integrated secular and Jewish curriculum and that helps children achieve their full potential, recognizing that each child has a unique style of growth and learning;
• Provide and maintain an atmosphere which is conducive to emotional and cognitive growth;
• Build partnerships with parents and establish and maintain good communications with staff and families through parent conferencing, newsletters and on a daily informal basis;
• Supervise and guide teacher assistants, students and volunteers in the classroom and engage them in the creation of weekly plans;
• Take leading role in fostering a collaborative, team-focused atmosphere, both in the classroom and within Early Childhood Services as a whole;
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and training and development opportunities;
• Provide observation, documentation and assessment of children;
• Participate in Regional/Agency-wide programs as appropriate.
 
Minimum Requirements
• At least 19 years of age
• High School diploma or equivalent certificate
• 4 year college degree from an accredited college/university including twelve (12) semester hours in Early Childhood or Early Childhood Development, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Special Education.  This coursework must encompass child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten, family and community relationships; observing, documenting and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development.
                                            OR
• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
 
Other Requirements
• Ability to listen and interact joyfully and sensitively to children;
• Evidence of enough maturity and judgment to handle a crisis situation;
• Understanding and ability to work with children’s individual needs;
• Knowledge or the willingness to learn the Jewish values, concepts and traditions in order to provide the foundation for a strong Jewish identity;
• Proven ability to implement a classroom curriculum;
• Warm and nurturing nature with the ability to use appropriate and positive discipline;
• Dependable, flexible and adaptable;
• Ability and willingness to learn and grow through supervision;
• Ability to foster a team environment and to be open to new ideas;
• Ability to communicate with children, parents, staff and other JCC personnel;
• Ability to establish and follow boundaries with both children and parents;
• Physical stamina (to be able to lift, play with and diaper children);
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for life-long learning.
 
Salary
Union Scale
  
To apply, please complete our online questionnaire