Position Information
Posting Detail Information
Working Position Title Lead Teacher (4875) Extended
Classification Child Development Supervisor
Position Number 00004875
Open Date 10/23/2026
Close Date 11/13/2026
Priority Review Date
Employee Class Staff
Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time
FTE 1.0
Position Status Regular
FLSA Non-Exempt
Job code 3474
Union Representation Union
Union Code AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890
Unit/Department Child Development & Family Ct
College/Unit College-Hlth & Human Sci Dean
Division Academic Division
Location
CC 084
Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.chhs.niu.edu/child-center/index.shtml
Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications
Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications
Overview
Welcome to the Child Development and Family Center (CDFC), Operated by the School of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The center is a lab school providing high-quality care to the children of NIU students, NIU faculty and staff, and community members. The CDFC is also home to the NIU Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program (CCAMPIS) and the NIU Preschool for All Expansion Program (PFAE).
The center’s excellence is reflected in its accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and its inclusion in the Gold Circle of Quality by ExceleRate Illinois. We are looking for energetic teachers to join us in training the next generation of strong early childhood educators.
Position Summary The Child Development and Family Center (CDFC) Child Development Supervisor (lead teacher) will be present at the Child Development and Family Center for the majority of each day to ensure that licensing and NAEYC Accreditation requirements are met and oversee daily operations in the classroom. Job responsibilities will be performed in consultation and collaboration with the CDFC Director, CD Faculty, and the Advisory Board. The Child Development Supervisor is responsible for initiating and facilitating duties and tasks described below.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Child Development & Family Center Responsibilities
- Attends committee meetings
- Attends board meetings as designated
- Contributes to dialogue and discussion and presents insight into solutions to problems
- Exhibits discretion in dealing with parents, children, staff, and the academic progress of practicum students
- Cooperates with students doing observations and faculty conducting research
- Helps recruit and promote faculty research related to the CDFC, networks with staff and faculty in various departments as appropriate or feasible
- Documents own performance and classroom supervision abilities to CDFC Co-Director, per CDFC guidelines
- Participates constructively in the evaluation process
- Participates in occasional evening workshops and CDFC events with practicum students and/or families, as designated
- Continues own professional development through classes and conferences, and/or workshop presentations
- Maintains or initiates activities and critical practices necessary for maintenance of DCFS license and accreditation status
- Supports collegial relationships by engaging in reflection with colleagues and works to resolve conflicts with colleagues in a direct and respectful way
- Follows and uses NAEYC Code of Ethics as a guide to making decisions involving ethical dilemmas
- Maintains Illinois Gateways Registry status, and other personal documentation as necessary or required, annually
Supervision of Students
- Mentors current and pre-practicum students, undergraduate student employees and graduate assistants who are serving as childcare professionals; Examples of mentoring activities include direct instruction, general and specific guidance, constructive verbal feedback, modeling, positive feedback, and out-of-classroom discussions
- Models appropriate guidance techniques
- Provides specific feedback to current and pre-practicum students in difficult child guidance situations; Provides positive feedback to students as indicated
- Assists Master Teachers in the evaluation of practicum students’ interactions with children, families, staff, and peers
- Provides assessment for 490 assignments as delegated by Instructor
- As needed, plans and facilitates 490 orientation activities related to the operations of the classroom in consultation with Master Teacher each semester
- Engages in ongoing reflective practice, noting situations of concern and/or change
- Keeps Master Teacher, CDFC Administration, and HDFS Faculty apprised of situations in need of address
- Provides feedback to course instructors regarding rubrics and assignments, as assigned or as appropriate
- Assumes leadership role in communicating with families in one’s own room, in consultation with Lead 490 Teacher, Master Teacher, and CDFC administration
- Assumes responsibility for communication, as necessary, in absence of Master Teacher
- Includes current 490 students in this process, as feasible, and models discretion, confidentiality, and positive feedback/active listening techniques
Lead Teaching
- Upholds the mission of the CDFC by supporting the research, service, and teaching functions of the laboratory, as designated or as assigned
- Assures and maintains at all times the health, safety, and supervision of all children in the classroom by maintaining a safe environment, implementing healthy practices, and maintaining records per DCFS and accreditation guidelines
- Uses observation of children’s play to model and implement an emergent curriculum and serves as a model for this practice for current and pre-practicum students
- Facilitates children’s play and uses scaffolding to promote children’s growth and development
- Implements activities that reflect, and maintains a classroom environment that supports and values, diversity in the program
- Uses a variety of documentation methods to show children’s progress and maintains documentation as part of child’s record
- Arranges safe and effective classroom floor, transition, and outdoor play plans in consultation with Master Teacher
- Communicates with other staff regularly about these plans
- Ensures materials and activities provided to children are safe, developmentally and culturally appropriate, and promote independence and hands on exploration
Nutrition and Wellness
- Maintain Safe Food Handler certification
- Maintains safety of classroom environment by working with the safety plans for allergy and nutrition needs of each child in accordance with the Child and Adult Care Food program (CACFP)
- Ensures cooking, nutrition, and wellness activities are integrated into curriculum on a regular basis
- Oversees and helps prepare current and pre-practicum students for these activities.
- Assists in kitchen duties as needed
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service) Pre-graduation applicants may be considered for this position. If selected a candidate may not begin employment until the degree is conferred.
- Possession of credentials required by Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for employment as a Child Care Worker in a licensed child care facility. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services required credentials can be reviewed at: https://ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/023/023020080D01400R.html
- Bachelor’s degree in child development, education, or related fields, including 18 semester hours of credit for course work directly related to child development and/or child care**, of which 6 semester hours must be for the period from birth to age six
- OR
- two years of experience comparable to that gained at the lower level of this series and 18 additional semester hours of credit for college course work directly related to child development and/or child care**
- **Note: Courses that cover the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of young children and/or courses relating specifically to the group care and education of young children; e.g., curriculum, programming, pre-school teaching methods, discipline and child management, observation of children, working with parents, health, nutrition and safety, and supervised teaching experience for which credit is earned (such as student teaching, clinical experience, or practicum).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
- physical examination as required by Illinois Child Care Act for employees in child care facilities
- personal attributes required by Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for all child care personnel
- Supervisory ability
Specialty Factors (Civil Service) None
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
- Bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education or related field.
- Knowledge of and prior experiences with the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation process.
- One year of teaching experience in a mixed age classroom setting.
- Experience with the Environmental Rating Scales.
- Gateways ECE or Infant-Toddler Credential Level 2 and up.
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS) n/a
Additional Requirements (SPS) n/a
Preferred Qualifications (SPS) n/a
Physical demands/requirements Must be physically and emotionally able to work with young children and supervise their activities.
Appointment and Compensation Details
Appointment and Compensation Details
Anticipated Appointment Start Date TBD
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Percent of Staff Year 1.00
Standard Hours Per Week 37.5
Working Hours Working hours need to be flexible to support center operations. Typical work can be between 7:30 am-4:00 pm, or 9:00 am-5:30 pm
Salary $37,537.68 - $40,950.00/Annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package.
Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $1,564.07 - $1,706.25/Semi-monthly
Earn Type Hourly
Application Procedure
Application Procedure
Application Procedure
Application Procedures:
• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
- If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
- After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
- Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
- Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.
Credentials Assessment Examination:
• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant’s/employee’s education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
- Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver’s license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
- After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.
Additional Details:
- Click on Child Development Supervisor for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
- Please click on Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.
- Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Special Instructions
Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/98129
Is Background Check Required? Yes
EEO Statement Summary In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator Health Services Building Room 230 TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu 815-753-5560
Visa Policy In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
ADA Accommodation
NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.
Safety Information
NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety. Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.
