Early Childhood Lead Teacher, WIU Infant and Preschool Center
Early Childhood Lead Teacher, WIU Infant and Preschool Center
Category: Administrative, Professional & Staff Positions
Department: SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Locations: Macomb, IL
Posted:
Closes:
Type:
APPOINTMENT: August 2025
RESPONSIBILITIES: The Infant and Preschool Early Childhood Lead Teacher will create a safe, engaging, and nurturing learning environment to deliver high-quality, play-based, instruction to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children at the WIU Infant and Preschool Center in Macomb. This position involves leading and teaching daily activities, fostering language development, and helping children develop essential physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and self-care skills. Lead Teachers will collaborate with families and staff.
The Infant and Preschool Early Childhood Lead Teacher must meet the requirements set by Head Start, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (DEC), DEC Recommended Practices, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. They will participate in professional development opportunities aimed at supporting professionals, students, and families in the Macomb area, with the goal of improving educational opportunities for children ages birth to five. This position will also include providing classroom instruction and assessment for children from birth to five as appropriate within the WIU Infant and Preschool Center in Macomb. Additionally, the Lead Teacher will assist with community outreach as needed, under the direction of the WIU Infant and Preschool Center Director. Lead Teachers will model effective teaching strategies, lesson planning, classroom management, student assessment, and provide technical support to college students.
The Lead Teacher will report to the Director of WIU Infant and Preschool Center Director, who reports to the Director of the School of Education. Additionally, the Lead Teacher must comply with all expectations and requirements set forth by the DCFS, as outlined by the Illinois Department of Human Services.
SALARY: 9.5-month, 100% appointment. $3,503 per month / $33,278.50 per year.
Western Illinois University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans, (HMO's, OAP's, QCHP, and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long-Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts (HAS, MCAP, and DCAP), 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans.
Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.
Other benefits available to eligible employees include: paid time-off, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Waiver programs, and discounts to the local YMCA.
For a full list of benefits as a WIU employee, please visit our Benefits Homepage: http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/human_resources/benefits/.
For questions on benefits, or eligibility, contact our benefits team at mailto:[email protected] or by calling 309-298-1971.
Job Requirements:
Job qualifications include the following:
• (1) A Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or one year (1560 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six;
• (2) One year (1560 clock hours) of working child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center;
• (3) Register on the Gateways to Opportunity, Illinois Professional Development System and keep current (ExCeleRate, DCFS);
• (4) Hold a ECE Credential Level 3 or above (ExCeleRate)(preschool room);
• (5) Hold a Infant/Toddler Credential Level 3 or above (ExCeleRate) (Infant room);
• (6) First Aid and CPR certification shall be kept current and renewed every two years (ExCeleRate, DCFS);
• (7) An on-line Food Handler training needs to be completed and a certificate on file (Health Department);
• (8) A medical exam should be obtained every two years, with results kept in personnel file (DCFS);
• (9) A TB skin test (Mantoux Method) should be completed once upon hire (DCFS);
• (10) Proof of current TDAP and proof of two MMR's (DCFS);
• (11) Comply with Illinois DCFS licensing requirements and NAEYC/NAC accreditation standards;
• (12) Strong understanding of child development and early childhood education;
• (13) Oral and written Bilingual Proficiency in English and Spanish (preferred);
• (14) Written skills to document project activities and assessments;
• (15) Verbal communication and interpersonal skills to interact and collaborate with students, family and staff;
• (16) Technology skills necessary to assist in the completion of assessments and reports.
For a degree to be considered, it must be conferred from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution of higher education (or equivalent from an international accrediting body). Unless otherwise stated, the degree must be conferred at the time of appointment.
Additional Information:
THE UNIVERSITY:
http://wiu.edu/about
Since 1899, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU's traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.
WIU-Macomb, IL: Western's traditional, residential main campus offers a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education, and post-baccalaureate certificates. A diverse community in west central Illinois, Macomb features a unique blend of agriculture, industry, service, retail, education, and culture. Macomb serves as the county seat, with connections across the state with Amtrak providing twice-daily service from Macomb to Chicago (and point in between). Macomb is located approximately 75 miles from the Quad Cities International Airport (Moline, IL) and 70 miles from the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (Peoria, IL).
WIU-Quad Cities: Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois, the WIU-Quad Cities campus is the only public four-year regional university that serves the Quad Cities region. Designed as a metropolitan commuter campus, WIU-Quad Cities offers select undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Moline is located just 80 miles north of the Macomb campus and is centered within a diverse, bi-state community of 383,000 that offers a broad range of cultural, social, and entertainment amenities and experiences, as well as varied businesses and industries.
http://wiu.edu/dei
Western Illinois University fosters respect, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. WIU is committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity. We value inclusion as a core value and as an essential element of Western's public service mission. WIU embraces individual uniqueness and a culture of inclusion that supports broad and specific diversity initiatives. Western believes in the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society as integral to the success of all individuals.
At WIU, we will:
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of our University communities. Educate and empower students, staff, and faculty to be social justice advocates.
• Provide curricula, programs, training, resources, and environments that reflect and strengthen the diversity of our communities, and to elevate cultural awareness and understanding.
• Ensure fair, equitable, and inclusive access to University facilities, programs, resources, and services.
• Create inclusive and equitable policies and practices.
• Diversify the University's workforce by assessing hiring practices to attract, retain, and develop talented staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
• Address intergroup disparities through areas as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
• Create a Universitywide diversity plan to ensure a continued commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity.
http://wiu.edu/academics
More than 61 undergraduate degree programs, 41 graduate programs, two doctoral programs and 16 post-baccaulaureate certificate programs prepare students for a successful career after graduation.
Student Resources
More than 200 student organizations at Western provide social, academic, recreation, athletics, service, academic, and many other opportunities for students to grow and learn, develop leadership skills, and much more.
Numerous concerts, lectures, films, dance performances, cultural events and more are presented and performed each year, along with numerous major theatrical and dance productions and studio shows, and a variety of service-oriented projects and activities, all in a diverse and inclusive campus environment.
The Multicultural Center is home to four cultural and resource centers: The Gwendolyn Brooks, Casa Latina, the Women's Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center. These cultural and resource centers promote WIU's goal of enhancing justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through educational programming and advocacy.
http://wiu.edu/athletics
The University's athletics program, based on the Macomb campus, sponsors 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports. All varsity sports compete at the Division I level through The Ohio Valley Conference.
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6473384
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