Fast Facts

Teaching Lab is seeking experienced K-8 ELA Professional Learning Facilitators/Coaches in Chicago, IL to engage educators in impactful professional development sessions, focusing on the Skyline ELA curriculum and equitable instructional practices.

Responsibilities: Facilitate professional learning sessions, provide tailored 1:1 coaching, build relationships with educators, guide implementation cycles, and collect data to measure impact.

Skills: Deep expertise in curriculum development, instructional coaching, and effective communication with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications: Minimum two years of experience as an instructional coach or facilitator, ideally with familiarity in Skyline ELA curriculum, and a strong commitment to educational equity.

Location: This position is based in Chicago, IL with potential for limited virtual work; in-person coaching is required.

Compensation: $110 - $150 / Hourly

Type of Vacancy: Contract (1099 Position)

Start date: September 2025

Location: Chicago, IL

Compensation: Compensation includes paid training and onboarding. Lead group facilitation is compensated at $150/hour, and lead 1:1 coaching is compensated at $110/hour, inclusive of preparation and follow-up time. Teaching Lab values continuous growth; hence, consultants can increase their earning potential through our Facilitation Certification Program. Please note that work hours are not guaranteed.

Areas of interest: Deep expertise in curriculum-based professional development, equitable instructional practice, and have a robust record of delivering impactful 1:1 coaching and facilitating engaging group learning sessions. Experience supporting effective implementation of the Skyline ELA curriculum is required.

Teaching Lab is an equal-opportunity employer committed to reflecting the diversity of the students we serve. We pursue equity as both a means and an end and enthusiastically welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this role.

Teaching Lab seeks multiple experienced, skilled, and passionate educational consultants with a demonstrated commitment to racial and educational equity to facilitate high-quality, professional learning and instructional coaching experiences to teachers, teacher leaders/coaches, as well as school and district administrators/school leaders through June 2026, with high probability for contract renewal. Ideal candidates are adept in high-quality curricula, research-based equitable instructional practices, and a demonstrated record of successfully providing both 1-1 coaching and group professional learning sessions. These roles require a unique blend of interpersonal skills, pedagogical knowledge, and a commitment to educational excellence.

Candidates must have the ability to drive to and coach in-person in Chicago, IL with two weeks or more advance notice. There are also opportunities for providing virtual facilitation and/or coaching.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate in-person professional learning and coaching sessions for educators and school leaders throughout Chicago, focusing on the Skyline ELA curriculum and research-based equitable instructional practices.
• Provide tailored 1:1 instructional coaching as well as group learning experiences, both in-person and virtually as required.
• Build collaborative, trusting relationships with teachers and school leaders to enhance instructional capacity and student outcomes in ELA classrooms.
• Guide participants through structured cycles of implementation, reflection, and growth, using data and evidence to inform support.
• Share, adapt, and recommend ELA-specific tools and resources to support diverse student populations and align with school initiatives.
• Assist educators in setting goals and planning actions related to curriculum implementation and instructional practices.
• Partner with Learning Cycle leaders to implement teacher professional learning communities (PLCs), utilizing Skyline Learning Cycle protocols for lesson and data study.
• Participate in ongoing data collection and reporting to measure the effectiveness and impact of coaching and professional learning initiatives.
• Engage in regular meetings, professional development activities, and collaborative planning with the Teaching Lab and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teams.
• Ongoing, engage in administrative and Teaching Lab programmatic responsibilities, including but not limited to: collecting and reporting data to measure the impact and progress toward project goals, conducting classroom and teacher coaching observations, collecting student work samples, administering educator surveys, supporting teacher leaders in administering student surveys, etc. 
• Attending (paid) internal planning and work meetings as requested
• Completing other tasks assigned by the Project Lead to be responsive to the needs of educators 
• Continuously update knowledge on educational trends and research to improve coaching and facilitation techniques.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Education, Work Experience, and Knowledge
• At least two (2) years experience as an instructional coach to teachers or school leaders with evidence of impact in student learning outcomes
• Experience facilitating impactful professional learning and coaching for educators in virtual and in-person settings
• Experience building and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders in an education context 
• Experience empowering teachers through trusting relationships and shifting mindsets/beliefs about students' potential
• Deep familiarity with the Skyline ELA curriculum or similar high-quality, standards-aligned materials, along with knowledge of the science of reading
• Values, Skills, and Competencies
• Strong commitment to growth mindset for both adults and students, and a desire to work collaboratively to grow team skills and capabilities 
• Compelling communication and influence skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to build rapport quickly
• Strong organizational skills
• Reliable and consistently completes work in a timely manner with high quality

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Direct working experience of Skyline ELA Curriculum

ABOUT COACHING/FACILITATION ROLES

• At Teaching Lab, our coaches and facilitators embark on a dynamic and fulfilling journey with each project. Here's what you can expect:
• Advance Project Notification: You'll be alerted about upcoming projects 3-6 weeks in advance, giving you ample time to align these opportunities with your schedule. A simple email response is all it takes to accept or decline.
• Regular Communication: Staying updated is key. You're expected to check and respond to emails at least every two days, ensuring you're always in the loop.
• Thorough Preparation: Once on board for a project, you’ll dive into a collaborative preparation phase. You will work closely with the Project Team to grasp the nuances of partner contexts, expectations, and content. This phase is not just about preparation; it's about transformation through deliberate practice sessions, ensuring you're primed for delivery.
• Travel and Logistics: When your session calls for travel, you'll manage your arrangements, staying within the guidelines of Teaching Labs’ travel policies. This process ensures you are well-prepared and comfortable for your destination, enhancing your ability to deliver effective sessions."High Quality Session Delivery: As you conduct your sessions, you're not just facilitating,; you're bringing to life the essence of Teaching Lab's Facilitation Competencies. Every session is a chance to provide partners with an enriching and high-quality experience.
• Reflective Debriefing: After each session, you will participate in a data-informed debrief with your project team. These are moments of growth, reflection, and continuous improvement.
• Flexible and Project-Based Workflow: Embrace the flexibility that comes with a project-based role. Your work hours will vary depending on the project's scope, but the enriching process remains a consistent thread across all your engagements.
• Common Questions: For those curious about the specifics, such as the number and names of schools, project schedules, and the nature of in-person versus virtual facilitation, rest assured these details are provided when staffed to an individual project. We ensure you have access to all relevant information, including any potential conflicts of interest, before committing to a project, allowing you to make informed decisions based on your availability and interest.
• In this role, your impact extends beyond coaching or facilitating. You become an integral part of driving educational progress, guiding learning experiences, and upholding standards of excellence.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS

• A 1099 Contractor is not eligible for Teaching Lab’s benefits and perks
• There is no guarantee of hours. Facilitators are scheduled on a “by project” basis and are generally notified 2-6 weeks before the learning begins to provide adequate time to prepare. The number of work hours and the specific hours are dependent on projects we have and when you are available.
• Must be available during normal public school hours and each contracted day 
• We strive to ensure that quality talent is selected and performs work for Teaching Lab. Due to the nature of the services provided by Teaching Lab, we engage in environments that potentially put our 1099 Contractors in close proximity to children and youth under the age of eighteen (18). Therefore, in an effort to protect the children and youth, our partners, and employees, Teaching Lab conducts background checks as part of the selection and hiring process. This includes reference checks, and verifications/checks for a social security number, education, employment, criminal records search (national and county), global watch list, and sex offender status. Additionally, depending on a specific partnership/contract requirement, the criminal background check process could include fingerprinting. Reference checks are completed by Teaching Lab’s People & Culture team. Other background checks are conducted by our third party vendor Checkr and/or the State specific criminal background check provider.

TEACHING LAB’S VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

• Teaching Lab seeks to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning by reaching more educators every year with the highest impact programming.

Teaching Lab’s ultimate goals are:

• Educators learn more than they would without us
• Students learn more than they would without us, in a way that cannot be predicted by race, gender, or family income
• Educators we serve say they love our approach, and they want to keep doing it to advance educational equity

All employees are expected to embrace Teaching Lab Values, which are necessary to develop Teaching Lab Competencies, which help us to achieve our Ultimate Goals.

• Collaboration & Responsive Service
• Resilient Solution-Finding
• Research & Learning With Humility
• Accountable Excellence
• Equity & Justice

REVIEW DATE

• This position opened on July 25, 2025 and will remain open until filled. All applications received between July 25, 2025 and August 8, 2025 will be reviewed by the hiring team. Any applications received after August 8, 2025 will be reviewed as needed.