Lead Pre Kindergarten Teacher

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Retirement plan
• Referral Program
• Professional Development Assistance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Signing bonus
• Vision insurance

Do you love helping young children grow into confident, curious and independent learners?

The Goddard School of South Loop is looking for an experienced and passionate Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher to guide children through one of the most important transitions in early childhood: getting ready for Kindergarten. We are looking for an educator who understands that Kindergarten readiness is about much more than letters, numbers and worksheets. It includes building confidence, independence, communication skills, emotional regulation, problem-solving, curiosity, classroom habits and a genuine love of learning.

Our Pre-K teachers play an important role in helping children leave Goddard feeling prepared not only academically, but socially and emotionally for their next school experience.

As a Lead Pre-K Teacher, you will take ownership of your classroom and create an engaging, purposeful learning environment that prepares children for Kindergarten while preserving the joy, creativity and exploration that should define early childhood.

• Build warm, trusting relationships with children and families
• Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate Pre-K learning experiences
• Support Kindergarten readiness across literacy, early math, science, writing, communication, social-emotional development and executive functioning skills
• Help children develop independence with routines, belongings, self-help skills and classroom responsibilities
• Encourage children to ask questions, solve problems, collaborate and think independently
• Help children strengthen listening skills, attention, persistence and the ability to participate successfully in a group setting
• Observe and document children's developmental and academic progress
• Identify individual areas of strength and areas where additional support may be helpful
• Communicate regularly and professionally with families about children's growth and readiness
• Create meaningful small-group and individualized learning opportunities when appropriate
• Maintain an organized, welcoming and stimulating classroom environment
• Provide active supervision and ensure children's safety throughout the day
• Lead and guide supporting teachers in maintaining consistent classroom expectations and routines
• Collaborate with school leadership and other educators to support each child's transition to Kindergarten
• Participate in school events, professional development and team initiatives

We believe a Kindergarten-ready child is not simply a child who can read early or complete advanced worksheets.

Our goal is to help children enter Kindergarten able to:

• Communicate their ideas, questions and needs confidently
• Follow classroom routines and multi-step directions
• Work independently for increasingly longer periods
• Participate appropriately in group learning
• Build positive relationships with teachers and peers
• Manage age-appropriate frustration and emotions
• Solve problems and ask for help when needed
• Take responsibility for personal belongings and classroom materials
• Demonstrate curiosity and enthusiasm for learning
• Build foundational literacy, writing and mathematical thinking skills
• Approach new experiences with confidence and resilience

Our Pre-K teachers intentionally develop these skills throughout the year while recognizing that every child develops at their own pace.

We're especially interested in educators who:

• Genuinely enjoy working with four- and five-year-old children
• Are warm, patient and nurturing while maintaining clear classroom expectations
• Understand child development and developmentally appropriate Kindergarten readiness
• Can balance purposeful teaching with play, exploration and child-led learning
• Take ownership of their classroom and children's progress
• Are observant and able to recognize when a child may need additional support or challenge
• Are comfortable communicating children's progress thoughtfully with families
• Understand that active supervision and children's safety always come first
• Are dependable and understand how important consistency is for children
• Communicate professionally with families, coworkers and leadership
• Are receptive to coaching and interested in continuing to grow
• Can provide leadership and direction to supporting teachers
• Bring positive energy, creativity and solutions when challenges arise

You do not need to know everything on Day One. We value educators who are reflective, willing to learn, receptive to feedback and committed to becoming stronger teachers.

We believe that taking care of children begins with taking care of the educators who teach them.

At The Goddard School of South Loop, we strive to create an…