4th Grade Teacher

Title: 4th Grade Teacher

Location: 1309 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643

Reports To: Principal

Salary Range: Starting at $62,000 for licensed educators, commensurate with experience / $58,682 for license pending teachers.

Employee Type: Regular Full Time

Start Date: January 2026

Position Overview: Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem‑solvers, and collaborative leaders. Teachers cultivate a love for learning through strong relationships, high expectations, and the belief that all students can achieve great things.

Focused instruction, multiple opportunities for application, deep intellectual preparation, lesson planning aligned to grade‑level standards, real‑time adjustments, and effective classroom community building are central to the role. Teachers maintain ongoing communication on progress with students and families.

Culture:

• Maintain a student‑centered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things
• Contribute to equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and strong relationships with students, families, and staff
• Cultivate a strengths‑based, equity focused mindset
• Foster positive climate and culture
• Serve as a positive role model

Preparation, Instruction and Assessment (90 %):

• Implement the DS Model
• Provide consistent opportunities for all students to work on grade‑appropriate assignments using the core curriculum, resources, and strategies with frequent checks for understanding
• Deliver strong instruction that requires students to hold the cognitive lift and be deeply engaged in learning
• Use core instructional tools to design, prepare, and deliver dynamic lessons aligned to grade‑level standards that engage students in rigorous learning experiences
• Commit to student‑centered, personalized learning that puts the student in the driver’s seat and integrates their needs, strengths, and interests into the learning
• Maintain inventory of all instructional materials
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students’ progress and development
• Analyze and use assessments that monitor progress to inform and design appropriate responses/strategies, making adjustments as needed to support students in mastering grade‑level standards
• Assess students daily, weekly, and at the ends of units and analyze assessment data through campus and network‑wide systems
• Engage in coaching and mentoring opportunities to improve instructional effectiveness
• Participate in all required professional development and meetings
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Principal

Classroom Culture (10 %):

• Maintain an organized and welcoming environment that provides students with a sense of belonging, joy, hope, and safety
• Manage strong classroom procedures, routines, and rituals that maximize learning
• Build strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Communicate effectively and frequently with students and families
• Have a mindset of using restorative justice approach with discipline and behavior management in alignment with campus and network practices
• Collaborate with colleagues to support student growth and achievement

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Qualifications:

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in the state of employment or proof of enrollment in a Teacher Certification program within 30 days of employment
• Content Area Endorsement (Academic expertise in related fields of study)
• Technology demands:
• Ability to review and analyze student and campus data from multiple sources
• Proficient with cloud‑based software solutions (Google Suite)
• Ability to learn digital tools and programs as needed for the position
• Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or…