Brightpoint·Carpentersville, Illinois
The Lead Teacher implements individualized learning plans to meet the social, emotional, and developmental needs of children while maintaining Head Start and NAEYC standards. They also mentor classroom staff, conduct developmental assessments, and facilitate parent-teacher communication.
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 or 3-5, 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 Brightpoint Child & Family Center in Carpentersville 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.
Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with a minimum of 24 hours of Early Childhood Education classes required.
Illinois Professional Educators License (PEL) required or must be obtained within 24 months of employment and Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Early Childhood Education Level 5 Credential required.
A minimum of two years working with children and/or families required.
Bilingual in 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 (Brightpoint Child & Family Center [https://www.google.com/maps/place/229%20Lake%20Marian%20Road+Carpentersville+IL+60110]).
Schedule: Full-time, salaried; center is open
Mon-Fri, 7:30am-5:30pm; assigned shifts will vary.
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 hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field with at least 24 hours of relevant coursework. An Illinois Professional Educators License (PEL) and Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 Credential are required, along with two years of experience working with children.
Market context
Illinois early childhood programs often need lead teachers who can meet licensing and credentialing requirements while supporting infant-toddler or preschool classrooms. This role is competitive because it requires a bachelor’s degree, an Illinois PEL, a Gateways Level 5 Credential, and classroom experience; the listed benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid holidays, and paid time off. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your license, credential, and coursework details before applying.