The Gardner School·Lombard, Illinois
Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing age-appropriate curriculum and activities while providing nurturing guidance to support children's development. Maintain a clean, safe, and organized classroom environment while fostering positive relationships with families and team members.
It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
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We're Hiring!
Join our team as an Assistant Teacher at The Gardner School of Yorktown!
We have an exciting opportunity for Assistant Two's Teachers working in our State-of-the-Art facility.
At The Gardner School of Yorktown, we believe learning begins with love — for children, for teaching, and for making a difference.
Join our passionate, professional team in our state-of-the-art preschool, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your impact is celebrated every day.
What You’ll Do: Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing age-appropriate curriculum and activities that align with each child’s developmental needs.
Offer nurturing guidance that supports each child’s emotional and behavioral development.
Model The Gardner School’s core values: Children First, Trust, Innovation, and Make a Difference Maintain respectful, supportive relationships with parents and families.
Ensure a clean, organized, and safe classroom by supporting daily routines, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
Collaborate with teaching team members and school leaders to ensure consistency and support across classrooms.
Uphold a professional, team-oriented mindset at all times.
Competitive Pay: The starting pay range is $16.55-$20.50 per hour, based on education and experience Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off; 401(k) with company match; childcare tuition discount; paid holidays; and professional development opportunities Career Growth: Opportunities for advancement within our growing organization
Education/Certification: High School Diploma (required); AA in ECE or related (preferred); or CDA (preferred). Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire) Experience: 1+ years of experience working with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Knowledge, Skills and Physical Requirements: Eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. (Required) Regular and reliable attendance. Passion for early childhood education and a nurturing, joyful approach to care. Intermediate PC skills and proficiency with general administrative tasks. (Required) Active engagement throughout the day including standing, sitting on the floor, bending, and lifting up to ~60 lbs. Ability to fulfill cognitive and interpersonal aspects of a classroom leadership including speaking, hearing, reading, writing, focusing attention, and building relationships. Interest in growing within a supportive, mission-driven preschool environment. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. The Gardner School extends equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other reason prohibited by law
Requires a High School Diploma, with an Associate degree in ECE or a CDA preferred. Candidates must have at least one year of experience working with children and possess or be willing to obtain CPR/First Aid certification.
Market context
In Illinois, assistant teacher roles in early childhood settings are typically driven by ongoing staffing needs in classrooms serving infants through preschoolers. These positions are competitive because employers often look for a high school diploma, prior experience with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, CPR/First Aid certification, and the ability to handle physical tasks like lifting up to 60 lbs. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certification status and experience match before applying.