Early Childhood Lead Teacher 0-3

Date posted: July 23, 2026

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Job description:

Position Description: Lead Teacher 0-3

Reports to: Site Director

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Salary: $60,000 - $70,000

Anticipated Start Date: Summer/Fall 2026

Christopher House closes the opportunity gap through a continuum of schools that closes the opportunity gap through personalized learning and immersive family support starting at birth. We operate accredited early learning, elementary, and out of school time programs grounded in research-based curricula and high-quality instruction.

Christopher House enrolls children and families in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin and Uptown neighborhoods, where the average annual income for a Christopher House family is in the poverty levels. At Christopher House we believe that children and families thrive when:

• Education begins at birth and continues throughout life, with parents as their children's first teachers. Home environments nurture literacy, achievement, and children's success
• Parents have high standards and set high expectations for themselves, their children, and their children's schools
• Evaluations and program improvements are data-driven
• Parents and staff work together to continuously evaluate and improve programming
• Education includes providing space for creativity and perseverance, and is multi-disciplinary in order to foster each child's unique strengths and interests
• Developing independent, creative, life-long researchers, education includes a curriculum designed to help scholars develop socially and emotionally as well as cognitively
• Diversity is celebrated and explored so that learners develop broad perspectives on life and learning

Lead Teacher Birth-3 Years Old

At Christopher House, we understand the critical role early learning experiences drive brain development. We partner with parents to provide a safe, welcoming, rich daily experience in our eight, age 0-3 classrooms. With a classroom maximum of eight students with one lead teacher and one assistant or teacher aide, our program prioritizes the relationships children develop with their teachers. This is realized through our Montessori-inspired three-year loop, with a lead teacher and student cohort working together over the three years of the Birth-3 experience. This continuity of care is a hallmark of our program and paves the way for deep partnerships between home and school.

As a member of the ECE community at Christopher House you will have the support of the Early Childhood program director, the Mentor Teacher, and a robust team of support teachers including the Diverse Learners Coordinator. Your ongoing professional development, health and well-being, and your ongoing education in research and best practices are foundational to your experience as an ECE leader. As a member of Christopher House’s community, your expertise and experience are valued and celebrated. We hold the highest standards for ourselves and for our faculty and staff.

Classroom Community & Child Development Responsibilities

• Maintain a warm, supportive attitude towards children from birth-three years old
• Positively interact with children and all members of the classroom, support team, and facilities staff
• Communicate verbally and in writing with children, parents, and other staff members
• Document and communicate each child’s growth and learning
• Create and implement developmentally appropriate lessons following best practices for early brain development and relationship building
• Understand and attend to the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional needs of children birth-three years old
• Work within a culturally diverse environment with the ability to handle all situations with care, intention, and diplomacy
• Understand and utilize restorative practices
• Bring early childhood development expertise and experience inspired by the best practices of Reggio-Emilia, NAEYC, and
• Use quality tools to assess and enhance program implementation
• Partner and communicate effectively with families
• Embrace the Continuity of Care three-year model

Licensing Requirements Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean, sterile, safe, and age-appropriate classroom.
• Assist children with their health, hygiene, and nutrition, including but not limited to toileting, handwashing, and
• Reporting any accidents, illness, or injuries to the supervisor and parents.
• Create a safe environment for children.
• Implement and maintain all components for children ages 0-3, in accordance with HS, State Pre-K, Child Care, and state and local requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Christopher House is funded through federal, state and private grants. As such, our Birth - 3 Lead Teacher positions require two years of experience working in a birth through three-year-old classroom, preferably in an Early Head Start or governmentally funded child care program;
• Both of our early childhood programs are comprised of culturally diverse communities; bilingual skills in English/Spanish is desirable
• Our core professional values follow CARE:
• Commitment to excellence in the care and education of our earliest learners
• Achievement and perseverance in lifelong learning
• Respect and compassion for children, families, and colleagues
• Equity as the lens through which early childhood best practices are applied
• As an early childhood program that is built on the foundational belief in the continuity of care, a strong work ethic and commitment to the role, as well as a desire for ongoing professional growth is required
• Our lead teachers are part of a comprehensive team, including assistant teachers, aides, and “support squad” members, Diverse Learners Coordinator and the Mentor Teacher; collaboration and team engagement are required for the lead teacher position
• Our early childhood programs require direct engagement with infants and toddlers; sitting, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, walking, going up and down stairs daily, using hands to finger, handle, or feel and reaching with hands and arms, and talking or hearing are required in the daily work.

Education and Professional Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Infant/Toddler Studies, Early Childhood Education or Child Development
• Illinois Gateways Infant/Toddler Level 5 credential.
• Three years lead teacher experience in early childhood, infant/toddler experience preferred

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis with an anticipated start date of Summer/Fall 2026.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Christopher House is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran's status, or, any other protected characteristic.