Title: Creative Arts Teacher K-6 Location: CICS Lloyd Bond- 13300 S Langley Ave, Chicago, IL 60827 Reports To: Principal Salary: Starting salary for certified teachers starts at $70,000 Employee Type: Regular Full Time Start Date: August 2026 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. Position Overview Distinctive teachers cultivate a love for learning in every student through strong relationships, high expectations, and a belief that all students can achieve great things in school and beyond. Teachers have a laser focus on instruction that engages learners and provides multiple opportunities for application of learned content. All teachers engage in individual and team deep intellectual preparation and lesson plans aligned to grade-level standards that use the core curriculum. Checks for understanding, student work, and assessments are used to make real-time and planned adjustments and deep review of student work to address gaps in instruction. Teachers have strong content knowledge in the subject-matter they teach in order to recognize, understand and respond to the content problems. At Distinctive, teachers grow through cycles of practice, feedback, practice, and feedback. Teachers build classroom communities with strong routines, rituals, and management practices that maximize time for instruction. Teachers maintain effective and ongoing communication on progress with students and families. Responsibilities Culture Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things Contribute to the 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 Create curriculum that is backwards planned from college enrollment timeline and school goals Design and implement assessments and benchmarks that measure progress towards goal Use data to refine curriculum and inform instructional practices Support students in creating ambitious college lists, writing personal essays, and submitting thorough applications before early action due dates Complete FAFSA, Alternate Financial Aid Application, CSS Profile, and other financial verification forms with students and parents by due dates Review financial aid letters with students and caretakers Manage a caseload of students in addition to being a teacher of record for college seminar class Participates in quarterly family nights to communicate critical info regarding the college process to families Support coordination of college visits for all grade-levels Host college representatives for informational sessions Implement the DS Model Provide consistent opportunities for all students to to work on grade-appropriate assignments using the core curriculum, resources, and strategies with frequent checks for understanding Deliver strong Instruction that requires that students hold the cognitive lift and are deeply engaged in the learning Use core instructional tools to design, prepare and deliver dynamic lesson 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 response/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 Requirements (minimum) Education: Bachelor s Degree Qualifications Valid Professional Educator License in Illinois with an Arts Endorsement Technology demands: Ability to review and analyze student and campus data from multiple sources Proficient with cloud based software solutions (such as Google. Suite) Ability to learn digital tools and and programs as needed for the position Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration Commitment to supporting students social, emotional and academic development Physical demands: Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing Benefits 25 paid holidays, upfront sick leave, and an accrual-based personal time bank 12 weeks family paid leave Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision) 403 b match Fully match up to 3% 50% match up to 5% Professional development including tuition reimbursement Gym and wellness discounts And more Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility. EEO: