Who We Are:
Rooted in a rich history of social services, Onward Neighborhood House opens doors to improve lives and uplift communities through educational, economic and support services. Read through our programs section to find more information on how we work to impact the greater Belmont Cragin area or find ways to get involved and volunteer! To learn more about us, please visit us atwww.onwardhouse.org
Reports To: Site Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary
The Education Coordinator provides leadership, oversight, and support for all educational programming at the Onward Neighborhood House School, including Head Start, Early Childhood, Preschool, and School-Age programs. Working collaboratively with the Site Director, the Education Coordinator ensures high-quality learning environments, effective curriculum implementation, strong child outcomes, regulatory compliance, and the continuous professional growth of teaching staff.
This position serves as an instructional leader, coach, and resource for teachers. The Education Coordinator connects curriculum, classroom observations, lesson planning, child assessment, and outcome data to strengthen instructional practice and school readiness. The role requires the ability to build trusting relationships with educators at varying levels of experience while providing clear feedback, supporting professional growth, and holding staff accountable to program standards and expectations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Educational Leadership and Curriculum Implementation
· Provide instructional leadership and support to teaching staff across Head Start, Early Childhood, Preschool, and School-Age programs.
· Ensure consistent and effective implementation of approved curriculum models and developmentally appropriate practices.
· Support teachers in understanding the connection between curriculum objectives, observations, assessments, lesson planning, individualized instruction, and child outcomes.
· Monitor classroom quality and curriculum fidelity and support continuous improvement efforts.
· Review and support the development of engaging lesson plans aligned with curriculum objectives, program goals, assessment data, and child outcomes.
· Support teachers in creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that meet the developmental and individualized needs of all children.
Teaching Strategies GOLD, Child Assessment, and Outcomes
· Provide leadership and day-to-day support for the effective use of Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) and other required child assessment systems.
· Monitor teacher documentation, observation quality, checkpoint completion, data accuracy, and adherence to established assessment timelines.
· Run, review, and analyze TSG reports and child outcome data to identify trends, instructional needs, areas of concern, and opportunities for program improvement.
· Coach teachers on the appropriate use of TSG, including documentation, preliminary levels, checkpoints, reports, and the use of assessment information to individualize instruction.
· Respond to teacher questions regarding TSG and identify and address instances in which the system or assessment process is not being used correctly or consistently.
· Assist teachers in using child assessment data to guide lesson planning, instructional strategies, classroom practices, and individualized learning experiences.
· Prepare reports, summaries, and recommendations regarding educational performance, child outcomes, and school readiness.
· Support transition planning for children moving between classrooms and programs.
Coaching, Staff Development, and Accountability
· Build collaborative and supportive relationships with teachers and educational staff with varying levels of education, experience, confidence, and professional development needs.
· Conduct regular classroom observations and provide timely, specific, constructive coaching, feedback, mentoring, and follow-up support.
· Use a strengths-based coaching approach while clearly communicating expectations and holding staff accountable for curriculum implementation, assessment requirements, documentation, classroom quality, and program standards.
· Develop individualized coaching strategies that support teacher growth and improved instructional practice.
· Assist in identifying individual and program-wide professional development needs and coordinate relevant training opportunities.
· Support onboarding, orientation, and ongoing development of newly hired educational staff.
· Collaborate with the Site Director on performance improvement plans, professional growth plans, and follow-up support.
Compliance and Quality Assurance
· Conduct regular monitoring of classrooms to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, DCFS Licensing Requirements, NAEYC Accreditation Standards, curriculum expectations, assessment requirements, and agency policies.
· Assist in preparing for licensing visits, audits, accreditation reviews, monitoring events, and other quality assurance activities.
· Ensure educational documentation, lesson plans, child observations, assessments, and required reports are accurate, complete, and submitted timely.
· Support corrective action plans and continuous quality improvement initiatives when needed.
Inclusion and Family Support
· Support implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
· Collaborate with families, school districts, specialists, and community partners to support children with identified needs.
· Partner with Family Support Workers and Site Leadership to strengthen family engagement efforts.
· Promote culturally responsive, inclusive, and equitable educational practices.
Program Operations
· Monitor classroom supply inventories, curriculum resources, and educational materials.
· Assist with educational components of grant implementation, data collection, and reporting.
· Participate in agency self-assessments, strategic planning activities, and program improvement efforts.
· Attend required meetings, trainings, and community partnership meetings.
Leadership Support
· Serve as a member of the school leadership team.
· Partner closely with the Site Director to address staffing, classroom quality, curriculum implementation, assessment practices, enrollment needs, and program goals.
· Communicate educational trends, concerns, data findings, and recommended actions to the Site Director.
· Act on behalf of the Site Director regarding educational matters when delegated.
Qualifications
Required
· Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field.
· Illinois Gateways ECE Credential Level 5 or ability to obtain.
· Minimum three years of classroom teaching experience in an early childhood setting.
· Minimum two years of supervisory, instructional coaching, mentoring, or educational leadership experience.
· Working knowledge of Teaching Strategies GOLD, including documentation, checkpoints, reporting, data review, and the use of assessment data to support instruction.
· Demonstrated experience supporting curriculum implementation and monitoring curriculum fidelity.
· Experience analyzing child assessment and outcome data and using findings to guide instruction, coaching, and program improvement.
· Demonstrated ability to coach, support, and provide constructive feedback to teachers with varying levels of education and experience while maintaining accountability to program expectations.
· Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, DCFS Licensing Requirements, child development, developmentally appropriate practice, and early childhood best practices.
· Strong organizational, analytical, communication, relationship-building, and technology skills.
Preferred
· Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
· Bilingual English/Spanish.
· Experience with NAEYC Accreditation.
· Advanced experience administering or providing program-level oversight of Teaching Strategies GOLD.
· Experience working in both Head Start and School-Age programming.
Salary Range
To be determined based on qualifications, experience, organizational budget, and current market considerations.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Are you familiar with Head Start, Early Head Start and NAEYC?
Education:
Experience:
- Early Childhood Education: 1 year (Required)
Language:
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60639 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
