Infant​/Toddler Lead Teacher

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is hiring a full-time Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher for our Early Head Start program. The Early Head Start Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher provides effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning, assessment, evaluation, and related research for children ages 6 weeks-3 years old.

Pay range is $43,888.00-$60,361.60 annually depending on qualifications and credentials. This is a Union position.

To be considered for a position in our early learning program, applicants must submit the following with their application:

• Official transcripts from accredited institutions verifying educational qualifications relevant to early childhood education.
• Valid credentials or certifications
  , such as Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or state-specific teaching licenses.

• Provide a positive climate, responsive caregiving, and continuity to help children develop secure relationships while focusing on the children’s social and emotional well‑being.
• Work with an assigned group of infants, toddlers and two’s, applying best practices for care and physical safety.
• Facilitate and nurture the development of each child’s self‑esteem, trust, and growing autonomy.
• Integrate and assist children with special needs.
• Partner with families and encourage parent involvement through a variety of methods (e.g. classroom parent meetings & events and parent/child home activities).
• Obtain families’ social‑cultural background information and design meaningful learning experiences for children based on their findings.
• Incorporate rigorous academic instruction for English Language Learners (ELLs) that will support children’s academic, intellectual, and linguistic development.
• Utilize fidelity measures to support the implementation of English Language Learner programs, and to inform linguistic and culturally responsive practices.
• Schedule and conduct at least two Home Visits and two Parent/Teacher Conferences annually for each child, each program year.
• Maintain awareness and supervision of the needs of the entire classroom; and ensure routines such as diapering, toileting/training, hand washing, meals are handled promptly and consistently with state and local regulations.
• Follow a consistent schedule that meets the individual needs of each child, including skill development, meals, napping, and effective transition between activities.
• Respond quickly and appropriately to children’s different and personal needs (verbal and non‑verbal cues) and temperament styles.
• Engage and guide children at play, meeting them at their physical level (kneeling, bending, or sitting on the floor).
• Complete at least thirty clock hours of professional development annually, through participation in offered training, workshops, in‑service days, all staff conferences; and maintain a log of professional development achievements, including documents supporting completion.
• Participate and support agency/center efforts toward recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and retention of eligible families.
• Support the YMCA’s mission and center operations as needed.

• Create and maintain an engaging learning environment that encourages exploration, interactions with adult caregivers, and independence.
• Provide designated areas in the classroom to exhibit displays of families, children, and their work.
• Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, and outcomes that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities, and parent activities.
• Provide age‑appropriate and individual learning experiences that incorporate social‑emotional and cognitive development, early language and literacy, physical development, and integration of the arts.
• Establish a professional rapport and work cooperatively with adults assigned to the classroom (e.g. Teachers, Assistants, Aides, Paraprofessionals, Parents, and Volunteers), establishing clear expectations for roles and responsibilities.
• Communicate regularly and convene meetings with the classroom team to review classroom and child data, seek input, discuss strategies,…