Education Coach

Job Title

We Love What We DO!

For 125 years we have empowered individuals, families, and communities to overcome poverty and systemic barriers, embrace opportunities, and thrive across generations. To fulfill that mission, we provide high-quality early childhood education, family-centered adult education, and senior services to more than 3,000 individuals annually.

Our services ensure that children, families, and seniors GO further.

The person in this role will be responsible for coaching and assisting with onboarding new employees across Chicago Commons Community Partner programs. The person in this role will provide support and follow-up with child development staff to enhance classroom practice that will improve student and family outcomes.

Education & Certification Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field and a minimum of 5 years of direct teaching experience.

Experience & Training Requirements

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Must be a fast learner and good at following very detailed instructions.

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.

• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with others.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

• Must be able to travel to multiple schools in diverse communities.

Essential Job Requirements & Duties

• Visit sites regularly to conduct classroom observations and provide ongoing support to teaching staff.

• Assist classroom teams in creating an atmosphere where children can develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically.

• Conduct reflective practice, offer constructive feedback, and suggest strategies to teaching staff for learning and growth.

• Use a strength-based approach to developing individual coaching plans with specific goals derived from ongoing observations.

• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, children, families and external parties.

• Prepare written reports following each coaching cycle to track outcomes, assess effectiveness, and outline areas for improvements.

• Work collaboratively with the Director of Excellence Quality and Innovation to ensure the implementation of educational plans promote best practices that are consistent with Head Start Performance Standards, Creative Curriculum, NAEYC, Licensing and State Childcare Guidelines, and other required curricula.

• Represent Chicago Commons at applicable meetings and maintains a liaison with the community, neighborhood institutions, and other relevant organizations.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education Requirements:

• Successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening.
• Successfully complete all required DCFS criminal background checks.
• Provide proof of required education or credentials.
• Verify previous employment and work history.

Applicants may review information regarding disqualifying criminal offenses under DCFS Disqualifying Convictions: Section 385 Appx.A

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak English, specifically, to communicate both in person and over the telephone. The employee must regularly be able to read English proficiently. The employee must regularly operate a word-processing system and therefore must be able to read, produce and transmit data on such a system. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close range.

Working Conditions

(The unavoidable, externally imposed conditions under which the work must be performed, and which create hardship for the incumbent including the frequency and duration of occurrence of physical demands, environmental conditions, demands on one's senses and mental demands.) None

Chicago Commons is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation including gender identity, gender expression, military discharge status, physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. In addition, Chicago Commons provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process).