Lead Teacher WIU Infant and Preschool Center

Category

Administrative, Professional & Staff Positions

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Macomb, IL

August 2026

The Infant and Preschool Early Childhood Lead Teacher will create a safe, engaging, and nurturing learning environment to deliver high-quality, play‑based instruction to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school‑aged children at the WIU Infant and Preschool Center in Macomb. The position involves leading and teaching daily activities, fostering language development, and helping children develop essential physical, cognitive, social‑emotional, and self‑care skills. Lead teachers collaborate with families and staff, meet state and national standards, participate in professional development, assist with community outreach, model effective teaching strategies, plan lessons, manage the classroom, assess students, and provide technical support to college students.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) with six semester (or nine quarter) hours in 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 plus 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in child care or development.
• One year (1560 clock hours) of working child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day‑care center.
• Registration on the Gateways to Opportunity, Illinois Professional Development System and current status (Ex Cele Rate , DCFS).
• Hold an ECE Credential Level 3 or above (Ex Cele Rate ) for preschool rooms.
• Hold an Infant/Toddler Credential Level 3 or above (Ex Cele Rate ) for infant rooms.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, renewed every two years (Ex Cele Rate , DCFS).
• Completed online Food Handler training with certificate on file (Health Department).
• Medical exam obtained every two years, results kept in personnel file (DCFS).
• TB skin test (Mantoux Method) completed once upon hire (DCFS).
• Proof of current TDAP and two MMRs (DCFS).
• Compliance with Illinois DCFS licensing requirements and NAEYC/NAC accreditation standards.
• Strong understanding of child development and early childhood education.
• Oral and written bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (preferred).
• Written skills to document project activities and assessments.
• Verbal communication and interpersonal skills to interact and collaborate with students, families, and staff.
• Technology skills necessary to assist in the completion of assessments and reports.

9.5‑month appointment; $29,950 – $33,280 per year, commensurate with experience.