Chicago Jesuit Academy is hiring a Math & Reading Learning Specialist for the 2026/27 school year. This role involves serving as an interventionist and providing academic support to students in grades 3-8 in the classroom setting for both Math & Reading content. The Math & Reading Learning Specialist will work with up to 7 different groups of students across 7 classrooms, supporting a total of 30 students daily. In contrast, a lead Classroom Teacher works with up to 2 groups of students each day.
CJA is a loving and supportive life-long community for our students and alumni. We are a tuition-free, Catholic lower and middle school for students and families impacted by historic disinvestment. We also accompany alumni as they transition to high school, post-high school options and on to the start of their careers, and we engage with the larger community to support creating access to better educational resources. CJA utilizes a Lane and Step for salary ranges beginning at no less than $61,000 for licensed teachers in their first year.
Students who attend Chicago Jesuit Academy will be the next generation of leaders in the city of Chicago. To be a successful faculty member at Chicago Jesuit Academy, one must exemplify these values in their daily work and lives. Our grad-at-grad values include: open to growth, seeking intellectual excellence, religious, loving and committed to doing justice. Most importantly, they recognize that Chicago Jesuit Academy will ask them to approach their work as a vocation and make substantial contributions of their time and talents in the service of the students of the Academy. The success of each Academy student hinges upon the determination and excellence of each teacher.
There is no greater relationship at CJA than the relationship between teacher and student.
All faculty will be expected to serve as classroom teachers as well as proctors for a variety of daily and co-curricular activities. They are expected to:
- Model the best ideals of the Catholic faith as a “person for others” in the Jesuit tradition.
- Demonstrate a profound commitment to excellence in teaching through professional development.
- Participate in the continued curricular and cultural development of the Academy.
- Actively participate in all required orientations, retreats, staff meetings and department meetings.
- Be a highly effective classroom manager who adheres to and promotes all Academy policies set forth in staff and student handbooks, especially those regarding student conduct.
- Provide both push-in and pull-out supports; working with students individually, in small groups and at times providing whole group instruction.
- Deliver interventions to tier 3 students.
- Implement and track progress of IEPs.
- Maintain detailed and accurate records of student performance as well as unit curriculae, weekly learning plans, and daily lesson plans.
- Plan and chaperone supplementary educational experiences, including retreats and field trips.
- Regularly submit to both peer and formal observations and volunteer for demonstration lessons.
- Communicate regularly with parents about student performance and classroom expectations.
- Perform additional duties as assigned, including but not limited to one minor duty, such as proctoring breakfast, and one major duty, such as teaching a daily half-hour formation course or proctoring lunch/recess.
- Support the development of the Academy by sharing the school’s mission with friends and the benefactors who support the scholarship needs of Academy students.
- Strong candidates will have knowledge of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and believe in an education that forms the whole person — cura personalis in the Jesuit tradition. These candidates will also be expected to have outstanding interpersonal skills, excellent organizational skills and relevant teaching experience. Certification and a master’s degree in one’s desired subject area are preferred.
Mission: Chicago Jesuit Academy (CJA) is a full-scholarship lower and middle school for young men from modest economic backgrounds who could not otherwise access a well-resourced, faith-based college prep education in the Catholic tradition. We support and advocate for CJA students and alumni as well as other children of modest means as they progress to and through college prep high schools, post-secondary education and the transition to meaningful careers and citizenship. CJA invites students to become persons for others who aspire to be open to growth, loving, intellectually competent, religious and committed to doing justice.
Means: Located in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, CJA enrolls students without regard for their past levels of academic achievement. We have a 12:1 student to teacher ratio, a rigorous school day operating from 7:30am-4:30pm operating on a 10 month calendar for educators. CJA shares best practices with other schools, and we partner with the broader community to promote access to better educational resources and a deeper understanding of the obstacles to educational equity. The disciplined sacrifices of CJA’s students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, volunteers and benefactors make the success of our mission possible.
Non-discrimination Policy: Chicago Jesuit Academy, in accordance with our Jesuit tradition, is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the CJA community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law, or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected identity.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $58,000.00 - $98,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
