Coach, Early Learning

About Illinois Action For Children
Make a Career Move that Makes a Difference
At Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), we believe in creating brighter futures—not just for the children and families we serve, but for the passionate professionals who join our team. As a recognized leader in early childhood education and family support services, IAFC is committed to equity, advocacy, and systemic change. Our work drives meaningful impact across communities—and when you become part of our team, you become part of that mission.

Our Benefits Package Is One Of The Very Best
We support our employees with a comprehensive, thoughtful benefits package that promotes financial security, personal well-being, work/life balance, and long-term professional growth.

For Your Financial Security

• Competitive Salaries
• Rewards and Recognition Program
• 401(k) Plan with Employer Match (100% of the first 3%, plus 50% of the next 2%)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (up to $3,200 medical / $5,000 dependent care)

For Your Health And Well-Being

• BCBS Medical Insurance: IAFC covers 95% of single coverage; multiple plan options
• Dental Insurance: IAFC covers 75% of single coverage
• Voluntary Vision Insurance & Vision Discount Program
• Group Life Insurance (fully covered, $50,000 benefit)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance (IAFC-paid, with generous income replacement)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Six free counseling sessions per issue
• Supplemental Life and Additional Voluntary Benefits

For True Work/Life Balance

• Generous PTO Accrual:

• Year 1: 23 days

• Year 2: 28 days

• Year 3 and beyond: 35 days

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Ventra Transit Card
• Credit Union Membership
• Discounted AMC Movie Tickets

For Your Future Success

• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $3,000/year), including tuition, books, lab fees, workshops, and certifications
• Ongoing Training & Professional Development Opportunities
• Career Advancement Pathways Within the Organization

When you join IAFC, you're not just starting a job—you're joining a mission-driven organization that invests in your growth while empowering you to help others thrive.
About The Role
The Early Learning Coach serves as the instructional leader in IAFC's Early Learning programs. They are responsible for building teacher capacity and understanding current instructional practices, behavioral and social-emotional practices, language and literacy, curriculum, assessment and environmental components in working with all children. The early learning coach must have knowledge of the Pyramid Model and exhibit the ability to guide the staff to assess the arrangement of space both indoors and outdoors, including all materials and activities offered to the children. They should also have the ability to supervise teacher to child interactions (including language) that occur in the classroom, child's daily schedule, including routines. Additionally, the EL coach is responsible for modeling and coaching of best practices for the protection of health and safety, building positive relationships, providing opportunities for stimulation and learning from experience. Overall, the early learning coach will be responsible for providing general coaching in all areas of development for their assigned classroom(s) and will serve as the agency's subject matter expert in early childhood education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• At least two years of Early Childhood classroom experience.
• At least one year of supervisory and/or adult learning experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
• Experience in coaching or mentoring educators in early childhood settings.

Responsibilities

• Develops, in consultation with teaching staff and supervisors, an annual coaching plan with each classroom team, including goals, support needs and next steps that lead to positive child outcomes.
• Observes and provides feedback to teachers on instruction related to literacy development and content area knowledge.
• Conducts CLASS, ITERS observations as assigned and provides detailed feedback.
• Monitors School Readiness activities, TS GOLD and acquisition of instructional materials.

Skills
The required skills for this role include strong communication and interpersonal abilities, which are essential for building relationships with educators and caregivers. Analytical skills are utilized to assess early childhood programs and identify areas for improvement effectively. Leadership skills are crucial for guiding and inspiring educators to adopt best practices in their teaching. Additionally, organizational skills are necessary for planning and executing training workshops and professional development sessions. Preferred skills, such as knowledge of early childhood education policies and practices, will enhance the effectiveness of the coaching provided and contribute to the overall success of early learning initiatives.

How This Aligns With Our Mission
At our core, we're all about catalyzing change by developing strong families and powerful communities. As a Family Engagement Specialist with us, you'll play a pivotal role in this mission by shaping the minds of the next generation while also being a positive force in the lives of their families. You're not just pushing paper—you're helping to create a ripple effect that strengthens entire communities where children truly matter most.
While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.
IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D em
ployer.