Early Childhood Assistant Teacher - Northbrook / Bernard Weinger

JCC Chicago seeks dynamic, dedicated Assistant Teachers to join our amazing team!

JCC Chicago is the largest JCC system in North America, with more than 800 staff in over 15 diverse locations across the metropolitan area. Our core program offerings include Early Childhood Education, Children and Family Engagement Programs, Aquatics, Arts & Ideas, Day Camps and Overnight Camp.

Classrooms are the first community. When we speak about community, we speak about places of sharing, learning, growing and connection. For some 800 young children in the Chicago area, the first community begins in JCC Chicago’s Early Childhood program.

We are committed to excellence, providing strong professional development opportunities and nature-inspired classrooms that allow our staff to be their most creative selves! With our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest DCFS standards, we are looking for those who are enthusiastic about guiding each child to reach their full potential.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Teacher is a critical member of a team of educators, social workers and specialists who support the whole child through a developmentally appropriate curriculum that embraces Jewish life and complements what happens at home.

As a Reggio Emilia inspired Early Childhood program, we support the individual needs and abilities of each of our students through an emergent, play-based curriculum. We are looking for professional educators who are interested in growing with us!

Key areas of responsibility:

• Establish and maintain good communication and strong sense of community with director, staff, and parents.
• Be responsible for the safety and welfare of the children, supervising all children by sight and sound.
• Provide and maintain an atmosphere which is conducive to emotional and cognitive growth.
• Work with your teaching team to implement a program that includes elements of the JCC’s integrated secular and Jewish curriculum.
• Work with your teaching team to maintain DCFS and Illinois state standards.
• Actively participate a minimum of 15 hours in staff meetings, trainings, and on-going development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, team-focused atmosphere, both in the classroom, teaching site, and the agency as a whole.
• Make families feel welcome by greeting them personally by name and be able to share specific information regarding their child.

Additional responsibilities:

• Assists in classroom set up and preparation of lesson plans created by lead teacher.
• Assists in and has a global awareness of all aspects of the teaching position including classroom management, daily tasks, social-emotional needs of children, moving effectively through daily schedule, adjusting to the needs in the classroom.
• Participates in regular, and meaningful, communication with families, including, but not limited to, in-person conversations/meetings, virtual meetings, emails, Kaymbu communication, bi-yearly parent-teacher conversations, and portfolios.
• Always maintains respect for children and team.
• Follows and assists in successfully implementing guidelines set forth by the Social Services department when raising any concerns about a child’s development or behavior in a classroom setting.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for contributing to written and photo content of all newsletters, portfolios, and mass communications to classroom families.
• Demonstrates awareness of classroom environment, and physically moving through the spaces.

Key Essential Job Duties/Physical Duties:

• Demonstrated ability to move from sitting (on chair or floor) to standing position easily and quickly;
• Must be able to supervise children by sight and sound.
• Must be able to lift and move with children (up to 40lbs.)
• Must demonstrate physical stamina and agility including the ability to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.
• Ability and willingness to be in the pool with children participating in swim programs.
• Must be able to respond to emergency situations, moving from sitting to standing, carrying children up to 40lbs and running quickly and effectively.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time and be able to run and be actively engaged physically with children.

Days/Hours:_
_Various morning, afternoon, full-time and part -time shifts available

Education Qualifications:

• At least 19 years of age with a high school degree or GED.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Child development experience in a preschool, kindergarten or licensed day care program, from birth to age six preferred.
• Demonstrated passion for working with young children.

Employee Benefits and Discounts: (Benefits will differ for FT and PT employees, based on hours worked)

FT benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, sick, vacation & holiday pay. PT benefits may include sick, vacation & holiday pay.

Other Perks:

• Ongoing JCC professional development and access to JUF Scholarship funding available!
• Free Community Engagement Programs
• Free Fitness Membership (individual and family)
• Free Apachi Day Camp Sessions

JCC Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, marital status, apparent or non-apparent disability, veteran’s status, or unfavorable discharge from military service in accordance with state and federal laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Flexible spending account
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Health savings account
• Health insurance
• Parental leave
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Life insurance
• Referral program
• Employee discount
• Vision insurance
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• No weekends
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
JCC Chicago is following current county and state guidelines to protect against COVID-19.

Application Question(s):

• What are your salary requirements?
• What is your experience working with children?
• How many Early Childhood college credits do you have?
• Please list 2-3 dates and time ranges when you are available for an interview.
• What is the highest level of education you have completed?

Work Location: In person