Preschool Teacher (Bilingual)

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 163,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are now hiring for a Full-time Bilingual Preschool Teacher to join our North Children's Center Team! 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Participates in a team approach to planning and implementing program activities. Collaborates with Family Support Workers, Lead Teacher, Program Aide, site partners, and site supervisor for the betterment of the classroom and families
• Assumes responsibility for classroom in lead teacher’s absence
• Participates in child care and classroom-related activities during parent meetings/workshops
• Participates in ongoing CLASS implementation and monitoring
• Responsible for the implementation of the program’s Planned Language Approach, which is specifically designed to support dual language learners
• Guides and facilitate activities of the children. Ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline and proper ratios are maintained at all times
• Attends all mandated trainings. Set and achieve professional development goals.  Share resources with other staff members as appropriate.  All professional development to be tracked in Gateways
• Aids in the maintenance of ongoing, high quality documentation of school readiness skills. Maintain Interrater Reliability through Teaching Strategies Gold
• Participates in the planning and implementation of education home visits and parent teacher conferences as needed.
• Helps ensure accurate teacher and child files as required by licensing agents, Early Childhood requirements and Metropolitan Family Services
• Ensures all transportation safety procedures are followed including utilization of the bus attendance log if applicable.
• Ensures accurate completion CACFP documents in conjunction with the teaching staff
• Develops and maintains effective supportive relationships with parents, children an staff
• Participates in promoting the development of children by contributing to weekly lesson planning using Creative Curriculum including individualization for all children, including: monitoring and facilitating accommodations listed in IEPs and IFSPs
• Provides a supportive, caring and safe environment for children
• Uses the playground as an extension of the classroom; assures that the playground is safe
• Provides active supervision to ensure the safety of children while in the classroom, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground. Ensures that no child shall be left alone or unsupervised
• Ensures the usage of agency technology equipment and time are utilized for agency business
• Ensures compliance with the agency’s code of conduct
• Ensures agency’s fiscal integrity by adhering to purchase approval requirements and procedures
• Assists in the development of the agency’s annual program self-assessment
• Ensures all content area data is accurately reflected in the agency’s Program Information Report within set time frames
• Participates in program recruitment efforts to maintain full enrollment
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college or university, required. 
• OR Bachelor or Associate’s Degree in field outside of ECE, with minimum of 60 college credit hours or more, out of which 15 must be in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Gateways to Opportunity Level 4 ECE Credential (registered and completed by 2023)
• Bilingual English/Spanish required
• Employment with MFS requires proof of vaccination or an approved Medical exemption, required. 
• Candidates in Preschool for all funded classrooms must obtain their state Paraprofessional Certificate within 3 months of hire.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends if needed.
• Satisfactorily pass a health examination, fingerprint and criminal background check.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved Medical exemption prior to starting employment. If an approved Medical is obtained, weekly testing may be required.

SALARY:

• Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $33,000.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals: 

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12 paid Holidays  
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network

Qualifications

Skills

Required

Bilingual Spanish

Advanced

Preferred

Analytical Skills

Intermediate

Interpersonal Skills

Intermediate

Organizational Skills

Intermediate

Verbal and Written Communication

Intermediate

Education

Required

Associates or better in Early Childhood Education or related field.

Preferred

Bachelors or better in Early Childhood Education or related field.

Experience

Preferred

1 year: Experience in working in Early Childhood Education

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)