Brightpoint·Palatine, Illinois
The Lead Teacher will develop and implement individualized learning plans for children aged 0-3, ensuring they meet social, emotional, developmental, and intellectual needs while adhering to Head Start standards and center philosophy. Responsibilities also include conducting developmental screenings, entering data, mentoring classroom staff, and leading parent engagement activities.
Brightpoint invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.
As Lead Teacher, you will implement Head Start standards for children, age 0-3, and their families, ensuring that services are individualized and meet the social, emotional, developmental, and intellectual needs of your students. As an Early Childhood Education Center with both COA and NAEYC accreditation and ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality designation, you’ll be proud to be part of the Community Child Care Center of Palatine Township team, and with our cohesive team style and supportive, high-quality supervision, you’ll look forward to coming back each day.
Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with a minimum of 24 hours of Early Childhood Education classes required.
Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Early Childhood Education Level 5 Credential required and Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Infant Toddler Level 5 Credential required.
A minimum of two years working with children and/or families required.
Ability to communicate in both English and Spanish preferred.
(Candidates without the required degree/credentials may be considered with an approved educational plan).
Compensation: Salary range is between $57k-$59k; offers are commensurate with experience and bilingual candidates may receive additional compensation. The salary range provided represents our current estimate for this role at the time of posting and is subject to change. The final salary will be determined based on a range of factors, including but not limited to, a candidate's relevant experience, education, qualifications, skills, certifications, and alignment with organizational needs. We are dedicated to fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to fostering a diverse workforce while providing equal opportunities for all candidates.
Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance, three scheduled weeks of paid time off each year (Spring, Summer, Winter), and additional flexible paid leave that accrues based on tenure; 11 paid holidays, supplemental insurance options, 401(k) with match, (more benefit details here [https://brightpointbenefits.com/]).
Location: Classroom setting (Community Child Care Center of Palatine Township [https://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&f=d&daddr=721+South+Quentin+Road+Palatine,+IL+60067,+United+States]).
Schedule: Full-time, salaried; center is open
Mon-Fri, 7:30am-5:30pm; assigned shifts will vary.
We don’t just hire talent—we grow it: Emerging Leaders will have access to leadership development opportunities and one-on-one mentorship.
Student
Loan
Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service].
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, including a minimum of 24 Early Childhood Education hours, along with Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 credentials for both ECE and Infant/Toddler. A minimum of two years of experience working with children and/or families is required.
Market context
Illinois classroom teacher roles are typically in steady demand, especially in districts seeking candidates who can support diverse student needs and communicate clearly with families and staff. This type of role is competitive because employers often look for classroom experience plus related backgrounds such as sociology, psychology, counseling, or education, and bilingual skills in English, Spanish, or Portuguese can strengthen an application. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, then tailor your resume to highlight public speaking experience and weekend availability if you have it.