Concordia Place·Chicago, Illinois
The teacher is responsible for managing a School-Age 365 classroom, including preparing lesson plans and maintaining a safe, engaging environment for children. They also act as a liaison between the organization and the school while fostering positive relationships with families.
Description About Concordia Place Since 1981, Concordia Place has provided early learning, after-school, and teen leadership programs across Chicago's North Side — with centers in Avondale, Ravenswood, North Center, and Old Irving Park.
We believe opportunity should be broadly inclusive, and we build communities where all our neighbors gather, learn, and grow together.
At Concordia Place we say yes to families, removing barriers so a parent's income or zip code never limits a child's access to quality education.
Every child is known as an individual, supported by low teacher-to-child ratios and NAEYC-accredited excellence.
We celebrate the diversity our families bring, knowing our strength comes from the languages, backgrounds, and experiences of our communities.
We are a Place of Yes, a Place for All, a Place of Excellence, and a Place of One — all rooted in Faith in Action.
Join a team that lives these values everyday.
We invest in our staff with competitive salaries and benefits, professional development, and a genuinely connected, vibrant workplace culture.
This position is responsible for their School-Age 365 classroom. The School-Age 365 Teacher prepares lesson plans, prepares a warm and safe environment for the children, establishes strong communications with parents, and supports team development. Reports to the Assistant Director of Preschool & School-Age 365. This position is employed by Concordia Place but will be working on-site at a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) location, following the CPS calendar. Work hours at other Concordia Place locations are available on days when CPS is closed.
Schedule: 2:30pm-6pm
Supervise and maintain safety of the children at all times Ensure program and curriculum are whole-child focused and developmentally appropriate Plan and implement classroom activities (including daily/weekly plans and field trips), being mindful of children’s need for both relaxation and stimulation during the afterschool program Maintain current knowledge in field Cultivate positive relationships with each child and child’s family and share information (through in-person communication, phone, email, and ProCare) to ensure each child’s success in the program Support planning of events and collaborating with Concordia teachers Set up and maintain a well-organized, safe, and attractive classroom environment conducive to the optimal growth and development of children Ensure facility program spaces are outward reflections of a Place of Excellence Support recruitment of prospective families, including but not limited to communicating and answering questions, giving tours, program marketing, and open houses or other events for prospective families Lead classroom operations within budget, full enrollment, and appropriate staffing Maintain accurate and timely recordkeeping, including classroom documentation (attendance and meal counts) and children’s records Respect the confidentiality of records and information regarding students, parents, and staff Act as the liaison between Concordia and the elementary school by collaborating with school staff and maintaining supportive relationships Attend professional meetings, including staff meetings and in-service days provided by Concordia Place, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence Other duties as assigned by Assistant Director or Director
30 total college credit hours with 6 credit hours in elementary education, child development, physical education, or other related fields 3–5 years of experience in a school-age program Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, and Publisher) While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift up to a 30-pound child This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. This position requires the person to talk and hear, long periods of sitting, and computer and phone use; other activities while performing this job may require lifting up to 30-pounds A commitment to the mission and guiding principles of Concordia Place Be comfortable working for a faith-inspired organization; Concordia Place is a social service mission of Concordia Lutheran Church that serves everyone regardless of any religious beliefs or affiliation. Concordia Place offers a generous compensation and benefits package to employees. Here is an overview of the many perks of working at Concordia Place: 403b Retirement Savings Plan (with an Employer Match) Vacation Days Sick Days 1 week paid winter holiday 12 paid holidays per year Floating Holidays Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program Employee Referral program Childcare tuition discount for employees Quarterly in-service days and professional development resources for teaching staff
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.