Posted: 01-Apr-26
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type: Part Time
Salary: 42,000-63,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
Job Title: High School Science Teacher / Adjunct (Part Time or Full Time Opportunity)
Reports To: Science Department Chair
Last Updated: April 2026
Mission Statement
Wolcott College Prep, an independent high school located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, offers an exemplary college preparatory education for students with learning differences, tailored to the strengths and aspirations of each student. Employing best practices, our expert faculty is committed to helping each student achieve academically, communicate effectively, and grow socially as well as develop the self-awareness, confidence, and resilience to thrive in college and beyond.
Job Summary
A member of the science faculty at Wolcott College Prep is responsible for the overall implementation and delivery of exemplary science instruction that targets students' academic growth and social-emotional development. A science teacher designs and facilitates engaging, multisensory learning experiences tailored to students with learning differences, while fostering independence, self-advocacy, and college-readiness skills in science. Working closely with colleagues, administration, and families, a science teacher monitors and evaluates student progress, adjusts instructional approaches, and provides appropriate accommodations to maximize learning opportunities. This essential educator helps students understand their unique learning profiles and strengths, while creating a supportive classroom environment that promotes curiosity, problem-solving confidence, and scientific thinking.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
This is a part-time teaching position covering 2-3 sections, with the opportunity to expand to full-time by serving as a teaching assistant for additional sections. The essential duties and responsibilities are aligned with six focus areas for teacher evaluation and professional growth.
Focus Area 1: Planning and Preparation
- Design science curriculum that meets individual student needs, aligned with established core targets
- Implement varied instructional techniques and materials appropriate to student needs and capabilities in science
- Provide accessible instructional materials, including audio and electronic formats, along with tools and manipulatives
Focus Area 2: Classroom Environment
- Create a learning environment conducive to scientific exploration and appropriate to student interests
- Establish clear classroom expectations and maintain order consistently
- Foster a supportive culture with high expectations for scientific achievement
- Monitor student behavior proactively and respond appropriately
- Consider students' learning profiles when interpreting classroom behaviors
- Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities, including laboratory safety
- Ensure that laboratory working conditions are safe, by following and enforcing safety rules, procedures, and practices, and promote a culture of safety
Focus Area 3: Student Engagement & Instruction
- Establish clear learning objectives and communicate them effectively
- Utilize multisensory instructional methods and promote active engagement
- Teach assistive technology use and various learning strategies
- Adjust task complexity to address individual needs
- Balance direct instruction with opportunities for independence and collaboration
- Encourage development of self-awareness, perseverance, and proactivity
Focus Area 4: Assessment
- Establish clear assessment criteria that measure scientific understanding
- Assess student progress regularly and provide timely, specific feedback
- Provide opportunities for student self-assessment and progress monitoring
- Monitor learning daily and assist with accommodations during problem-solving and assessments
Focus Area 5: Mindsets & Practices
- Adapt effectively to change and implement proactive solutions
- Build collaborative relationships with colleagues to improve student learning
- Value diverse perspectives and approaches while contributing to a positive school culture
- Communicate effectively and professionally with all colleagues, students, parents, and community members about progress and challenges
Focus Area 6: Professional Responsibilities
- Academic Coaching responsibilities proportional to class load
- Maintain accurate records and communicate with families in a timely manner about progress
- Collaborate with school personnel to address student needs
- Attend meetings and events, including staff development, professional development sessions, admissions events, and school-wide community events
- Be available to students during designated times for additional science support
- Maintain confidentiality and adhere to school protocols
- Engage in continuous professional learning and reflection on scientific pedagogy
- Demonstrate employee responsibilities in completing duties accurately and promptly
- Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct
- Contribute to the school community beyond classroom responsibilities
- Performing such other duties as may be assigned by the building administrator, supporting the school and its leadership
Education and Experience
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, preferably in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or a related science field.
- Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with appropriate endorsements preferred.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Possess effective oral and written communication skills.
- Work with students and adults in a positive manner.
- Comprehend and follow written and verbal instructions.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Appropriately deal with day-to-day instruction and supervisory situations.
- Build and maintain relationships with colleagues that supports a cooperative work environment.
- Handle and maintain the confidentiality of employee, student and other sensitive school information.
- Set goals and establish methods for achieving these goals.
- Work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
- Maintain the chemical inventory, including proper waste disposal.
- Establish and maintain a culture of safety in the science classroom.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, bend, write, type, speak, and listen. In addition, the employee may occasionally be required to bend, twist, reach and climb. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, peripheral and distant vision.
The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet/moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.
The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by (an) individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities related to the position. This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and School Board Policy and procedures. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
Compensation
$42,000-63,000, commensurate with experience.
Wolcott College Prep does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or religion in the administration of its hiring policies.
To Apply, please use this link: Employment Application.
Job Title: High School Science Teacher / Adjunct (Full and Part-Time Opportunities Available)
Reports To: Department Chair
Last Updated: April 2026
Mission Statement
Wolcott College Prep, an independent high school located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, offers an exemplary college preparatory education for students with learning differences, tailored to the strengths and aspirations of each student. Employing best practices, our expert faculty is committed to helping each student achieve academically, communicate effectively, and grow socially as well as develop the self-awareness, confidence, and resilience to thrive in college and beyond.
Job Summary
A member of the science faculty at Wolcott College Prep is responsible for the overall implementation and delivery of exemplary science instruction that targets students' academic growth and social-emotional development. A science teacher designs and facilitates engaging, multisensory learning experiences tailored to students with learning differences, while fostering independence, self-advocacy, and college-readiness skills in science. Working closely with colleagues, administration, and families, a science teacher monitors and evaluates student progress, adjusts instructional approaches, and provides appropriate accommodations to maximize learning opportunities. This essential educator helps students understand their unique learning profiles and strengths, while creating a supportive classroom environment that promotes curiosity, problem-solving confidence, and scientific thinking.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
A science faculty member is a teacher who has signed a regular at-will agreement for one academic year of employment. The academic year commences in mid-August and concludes in early June. A full-time science faculty member is responsible for teaching five classes or the equivalent. The essential duties and responsibilities are aligned with six focus areas for teacher evaluation and professional growth.
Focus Area 1: Planning and Preparation
- Design science curriculum that meets individual student needs, aligned with established core targets
- Implement varied instructional techniques and materials appropriate to student needs and capabilities in science
- Provide accessible instructional materials, including audio and electronic formats, along with tools and manipulatives
Focus Area 2: Classroom Environment
- Create a learning environment conducive to scientific exploration and appropriate to student interests
- Establish clear classroom expectations and maintain order consistently
- Foster a supportive culture with high expectations for scientific achievement
- Monitor student behavior proactively and respond appropriately
- Consider students' learning profiles when interpreting classroom behaviors
- Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities, including laboratory safety
- Ensure that laboratory working conditions are safe, by following and enforcing safety rules, procedures, and practices, and promote a culture of safety
Focus Area 3: Student Engagement & Instruction
- Establish clear learning objectives and communicate them effectively
- Utilize multisensory instructional methods and promote active engagement
- Teach assistive technology use and various learning strategies
- Adjust task complexity to address individual needs
- Balance direct instruction with opportunities for independence and collaboration
- Encourage development of self-awareness, perseverance, and proactivity
Focus Area 4: Assessment
- Establish clear assessment criteria that measure scientific understanding
- Assess student progress regularly and provide timely, specific feedback
- Provide opportunities for student self-assessment and progress monitoring
- Monitor learning daily and assist with accommodations during problem-solving and assessments
Focus Area 5: Mindsets & Practices
- Adapt effectively to change and implement proactive solutions
- Build collaborative relationships with colleagues to improve student learning
- Value diverse perspectives and approaches while contributing to a positive school culture
- Communicate effectively and professionally with all colleagues, students, parents, and community members about progress and challenges
Focus Area 6: Professional Responsibilities
- Academic Coaching responsibilities proportional to class load
- Maintain accurate records and communicate with families in a timely manner about progress
- Collaborate with school personnel to address student needs
- Attend meetings and events, including staff development, professional development sessions, admissions events, and school-wide community events
- Be available to students during designated times for additional science support
- Maintain confidentiality and adhere to school protocols
- Engage in continuous professional learning and reflection on scientific pedagogy
- Demonstrate employee responsibilities in completing duties accurately and promptly
- Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct
- Contribute to the school community beyond classroom responsibilities
- Performing such other duties as may be assigned by the building administrator, supporting the school and its leadership
Education and Experience
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, preferably in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or a related science field.
- Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with appropriate endorsements preferred.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Possess effective oral and written communication skills.
- Work with students and adults in a positive manner.
- Comprehend and follow written and verbal instructions.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Appropriately deal with day-to-day instruction and supervisory situations.
- Build and maintain relationships with colleagues that supports a cooperative work environment.
- Handle and maintain the confidentiality of employee, student and other sensitive school information.
- Set goals and establish methods for achieving these goals.
- Work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
- Maintain the chemical inventory, including proper waste disposal.
- Establish and maintain a culture of safety in the science classroom.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, bend, write, type, speak, and listen. In addition, the employee may occasionally be required to bend, twist, reach and climb. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, peripheral and distant vision.
The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet/moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.
The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by (an) individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities related to the position. This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and School Board Policy and procedures. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
Compensation
$48,000-90,000, commensurate with experience and number of courses taught.
Wolcott College Prep does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or religion in the administration of its hiring policies.
To Apply, please use this link: Employment Application.
