Laboratory Schools: N-2 Homeroom Teacher
The University of Chicago

Department

Lab School Early Childhood

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab's mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab's student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members' identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.
Job Information


Job Summary:

The Laboratory Schools seek an experienced and reflective Nursery/Kindergarten teacher to join a vibrant professional community of early childhood educators. Candidates should bring a fascination with and strong developmental understanding of the early childhood years, experience and commitment to developing emergent curriculum in collaboration with children and colleagues, and a desire to learn and evolve.

The Laboratory School's Early Childhood program is committed to child-centered learning based on careful observation and documentation of children's work and play, and grounded in caring and respectful relationships among children, teachers, and families. We are seeking an early childhood teacher with a minimum of 3 years of classroom teaching experience in early childhood.

The candidate should have experience building effective communication and trusting relationships with families, and the ability to work in a collaborative environment that values multiple perspectives. This individual should also demonstrate an understanding of the critical role of the environment and materials in the formation and expression of children's thinking and understanding of their world. Commitment to cultivating an inclusive environment that respects and honors the stories, experiences, and identities of all community members is essential.

Nursery/Kindergarten homeroom teachers receive direction and support from the division Principal and administrative team. Full-time teachers are expected to work a 40-hour week and the required number of days as stipulated in the Faculty Association contract. All teachers are expected to perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Responsibilities:

• Establish a caring classroom community and a nurturing and stimulating environment where children develop a deep sense of purpose and ownership.
• Support children's social and emotional learning through respectful and developmentally appropriate practices that foster an attitude of problem-solving and empathy.
• Through photography, video and written notes, observe and document children's learning, play and interactions in the classroom to guide planning for future learning experiences.
• Facilitate short and long-term curriculum experiences that build on children's strengths, questions, and curiosity and which support their intellectual, emotional and social development.
• Collaborate with teaching partners and other colleagues to develop learning experiences and support children's growth and well-being.
• Communicate regularly with families through meetings, phone calls, email, classroom newsletters, annual narrative reports, family conferences, curriculum evenings presentations and at other times as needed before and after school.
• Participate in regular reflective meetings with the division Principal and the administrative team, engage in professional development and learning in and out of school, faculty meetings and learning and counseling team meetings.
• Engage in a pedagogical reflective process that includes reviewing observation notes, footage, actively participating in weekly reflective meetings, and producing documentation and displays of children's thinking and work.
• Mentor the professional growth of assistant teachers through ongoing communication, collaboration, and reflective feedback.
• Reflect on the growth and needs of individual children through conversations with Counselors.
• Maintain a classroom environment that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and well-organized.
• Commit to practices that build towards a more socially-just school community and the world, and actively participate in school-wide DEI efforts.

Competencies:

• Quickly adapt to changing circumstances and flexible in work with students.
• Interact with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and parents required.
• Analytical skills required.
• Problem-solving skills required.
• Decision-making skills required.
• Attention to detail required.
• Organizational skills required.
• Computational skills required.
• Creativity required.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills required.
• Work independently and as part of a team required.
• Manage stressful situations required.
• Maintain confidentiality required.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet the deadlines required.

Additional Requirements


Education, Experience or Certifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

• Prior early childhood teaching experience required.
• A minimum of three years of teaching experience preferred.
• Experience developing curriculum preferred.
• Experience working with a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, learning abilities, class, language, and nationality.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion issues, and dynamics in the classroom and in developing healthy, supportive relationships with all students.
• Strong knowledge of course subject matter required.
• Knowledge of instructional methodologies required.
• Strong knowledge of child development is required.
• Develop curricula, lesson plans, and assessment tools required.
• Use standard productivity software (Microsoft Office, calendar/schedule software, etc.) required.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Move in and around the classroom/building to interact with students, faculty, staff, parents, and other members of the community.
• Move class-related equipment/tools, as appropriate, around school property.
• When appropriate, escort children from one classroom to another, in and out of the building during arrival and dismissal, and in an emergency situation.
• Demonstrate lessons, when appropriate.

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Professional References Contact Information (3)

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Benefit Eligibility

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

No
Pay Frequency

Monthly
Pay Range

Depends on Qualifications
Scheduled Weekly Hours

40
Union

000- American Federation of Teachers , Local 2063
Job is Exempt

Yes
Drug Test Required

No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No
Health Screen Required
No
Posting Date

2023-06-07
Remove from Posting On or Before

2023-12-07
Posting Statement:


The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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