Brightpoint·Chicago, Illinois
The Lead Teacher implements individualized learning plans that meet the social, emotional, and developmental needs of children aged 0-3 while adhering to Head Start and NAEYC standards. They also mentor classroom staff, conduct developmental assessments, and facilitate parent engagement activities to support home-classroom learning.
El Hogar del Niño, now part of Brightpoint, has been a leader in providing high-quality early childhood care and education services, with an expert focus on the needs of Latinx and newly arriving families in the Pilsen community for 50 years. Brightpoint and El Hogar Del Niño believe that family is the most important asset for child and youth wellbeing, which is rooted in each organization’s commitment to early childhood care and education. Our greatest strength is our shared commitment to support strong families which create thriving children and communities.
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 El Hogar del Niño 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 (English/Spanish) preferred.
(Candidates without the required degree/credentials may be considered with an approved educational plan).
Compensation: Salary range is between $45k-$50k; offers are commensurate on 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 at El Hogar del Niño [https://www.google.com/maps/place/1710+S+Loomis+St,+Chicago,+IL+60608/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x880e2d00e643a6ad:0xea2e3aab986be4f4?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihyfKb7f2BAxXvmYkEHWP9ALQQ8gF6BAgSEAA&ved=2ahUKEwihyfKb7f2BAxXvmYkEHWP9ALQQ8gF6BAgYEAI].
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. Additionally, Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 credentials for both Early Childhood Education and Infant Toddler care are required, along with at least two years of experience working with children or families.
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.