Title: Certified Teacher

Location: Chicago, IL

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Summary:

The Certified Teacher plans and implements activities that promote the social, physical, and intellectual growth of children. This position is responsible for teaching and developing curriculum and activities in a non-traditional educational setting suited to address the multicultural and multilingual needs of children whose educational experience range from uneducated to those having formal high school level education. The teacher will use a hands-on approach to help children understand abstract concepts, solve problems, and develop critical thinking skills. In addition, this position maintains relevant documentation, and classroom cleanliness and orderliness. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

This position is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement for which the employee, as a condition of employment, shall be required to remit dues or fees to the Union for administration of the contract.

Why Join Us?

• Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals seeking education and career pathways.
• Collaborate with a diverse and passionate team dedicated to the mission and vision of our organization.
• Providing flexibility and work-life balance.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and expertise.

Our Benefits:

• Medical insurance. BCBS PPO, EPO, and HSA Plans
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) 3% Employer Contribution.
• Paid maternity leave.
• Paid paternity leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Disability insurance
• FSA Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Special Vendor Discounted Offerings on Travel, Amusement Parks, etc.

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Instructs through lectures, discussions, demonstrations and field trips in various subjects including ESL, mathematics, science and health for grades K through 12.
• Prepares, administers, and grades tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
• Prepares materials and classrooms for class activities and assigns and grades class work and homework.
• Adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Recognizes and responds to individual and cultural differences in students and employs different teaching methods that will result in higher student achievement.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by contractual obligations, YRS, and licensing and certification agencies.
• Observes and evaluates students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Engages in physical education activities and instruction, including but not limited to swimming, basketball and soccer.
• Helps program participants to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal problems, and program participant's part in creating them.
• Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
• Maintains inventory of educational materials and supplies.
• Provides extra help to students outside of classroom, as needed.
• Provides transportation of program participants, as assigned.
• As an intricate and important part of the residential program team the teacher assists and accepts responsibility in other daily program duties such as meals, laundry and hygiene instruction, as necessary.
• Ensures supervision and safety of students at all times, individually and in groups.
• Enforces all YRS policies and procedures.
• Keeps management and other staff informed of any necessary information regarding the care and safety of the children.
• Works cooperatively and communicates effectively with other teachers and other staff.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, program events, and other meetings as requested.
• In addition to conducting classroom activities, teachers oversee milieu time, supervise extracurricular activities, and accompany students on field trips.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Minimum (3) years of teaching experience and/or related teaching experience, including the submission of a professional portfolio containing developed teaching curriculum and other professional items that demonstrate past experience required.
• Expertise in a particular subject area may be required.
• Experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is strongly preferred.
• Experience with children and adolescents is strongly preferred.
• Bilingual is strongly preferred.

Licensure/Certification:

A valid Illinois Standard Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood, Elementary, High School or relevant Specialization, or an Illinois Alternative Teaching Certificate, or a national teaching certification endorsed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or a license or certification required by a state other than Illinois to teach within its school system, is required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Ability to speak and fluency in a second language including but not limited to the following multi-language abilities:
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
  • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. 
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

• Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement:

This role is not eligible for remote work. All hours will be worked in person. This position has an active presence at all assigned programs on a rotating basis.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Each program site operates on a 24/7 basis, 365 days per year. To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees are required to be flexible in regards to scheduling and work location.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Heartland Human Care Services makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.