Chicago Lights Summer Day
Academic Teacher
Please send cover letters and resumes to jobs@fourthchurch.org.
No phone calls, please.

Position Description

Summer Day provides dynamic summer learning and enrichment to 100 students through creative academic, arts, and enrichment programming to combat summer learning loss. For six weeks each summer, Summer Day is a safe place for students to learn and grow by sharpening their academic skills in language arts and math and engaging in music, dance, acting, art, and meditation.

Schedule

This is a seasonal, limited part-time position. Summer Day is in session from June 20 – July 28 (no programming on July 4). The schedule for this position is:
• 8:00 am – 12:15 pm on Monday – Thursday
• 8:00 am-3:00 pm on the following days: every Friday for Field Trips, July 27 for the Final Rehearsal, and July 28 for the Final Performance.
• Additionally, a mandatory Staff Meeting is on June 5 from 4:30 p.m. -7:00 pm.

Summary Description

The Academic Teacher for Summer Day is responsible for teaching grade-level appropriate instruction to students, aligned with the Common Core State Standards in the area of language arts, writing, and mathematics. We are currently recruiting a 3rd, 4th, and 6th-grade teacher. Each Teacher will collaborate with the Associate Director - Reading Specialist to create objective-driven, student-focused lessons, including the
use of hands-on, engaging learning techniques in line with the summer’s theme. Teachers and other Summer Day staff will enforce a program-wide classroom and management plan to ensure an organized, safe, and learning-centered environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide appropriate grade-level instruction in language arts, writing, and mathematics to 12-15 students per class, 160 minutes per day, Monday-Thursday.
• Provide written lesson plans to the Associate Director-Reading Specialist one week in advance of classes.
• In partnership with the Associate Director-Reading Specialist, develop student goals and outcomes and administer student assessments and reports.
• Collect and capture student work as requested by the Reading Specialist. Submit in a timely manner.
• Identify students who may need additional educational support and collaborate with the Associate Director-Reading Specialist to coordinate and ensure the delivery of necessary services.
• Responsibly manage and preserve instructional resources and materials during the program and return resources in the same conditions at the end of the program.
• Maintain excellent and timely communication with the Associate Director-Reading Specialist, including responding to emails, texts, and/or phone calls in a timely manner.
• Communicate with parents as needed. Include Associate Director-Reading Specialist in email communications.
• Plan pre-field trip activities, participate in and monitor all field trips.
• Provide a safe environment by escorting students to and from classes and mealtimes and supervise student mealtimes as scheduled
• Communicate with the Associate Director-Reading Specialist regarding all student behavioral concerns and work together with all staff to create a safe, positive, and calm environment.
• Adhere to the Tutoring and Summer Day Programs’ employee policies.
• Provide a welcoming, inclusive, and productive environment for volunteers.
• If absent, support with securing a reliable substitute with similar and/or the same qualifications.
• Provide trauma-informed care to all, ensuring that program environments and interactions are safe, inviting, and demonstrate best practices.
• Use the S.P.I.R.I.T. principles of hospitality when interacting with visitors, guests, members, and staff of Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• It is impossible to convey every single task into one job description. As the role evolves over time, this job description will be adjusted accordingly.
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and state of Illinois teacher certification in elementary education and/or related fields.
  
• Experience teaching language arts and mathematics. Knowledge of current teaching strategies, methodologies and Common Core State Standards.
• Classroom teaching experience and excellent classroom management skills.
• Comfort and talent in working with black and Hispanic students, grades 1 – 6.
• Experience teaching students with learning disabilities preferred but not required.
• Computer skills including Microsoft 360 suite of products
• Comfortable receiving constructive instructional feedback.
• Flexibility to shift priorities based on human and budget needs.
• Understanding of and commitment to providing trauma-informed care.
• Strong work ethic and judgment, apparent collaboration skills, and a commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities, and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 35 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.
  

COVID-19 Considerations
At this time, masks are welcomed but not required. We will adjust this as the pandemic continues. In the spirit of caring for one another and our community, please note that upon accepting an offer of employment from Fourth Presbyterian Church or Chicago Lights, you will be required to share proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.

This requirement is subject to accommodation in compliance with applicable laws.

Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions.

• If the current health conditions dictate, must be able to participate in online virtual communications, including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Smoke- and drug (illegal or recreational)-free environment.
• Fourth aims for accessibility in any off-site location that we have control of, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. The Employee is regularly required to communicate effectively via computer, via phone, and in person.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Light’s office is located in downtown Chicago.

EEO Statement

Fourth Presbyterian Church is committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law. Fourth Church seeks to build and retain a diverse staff and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued member of the team. Fourth Church is committed to elevating the voices of women, young people, people of color, Native people, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBQ+, and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and young parents. We encourage people from these communities to apply.

Application Process

To apply please send resume and cover letter to jobs@fourthchurch.org

No phone calls, please.

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