Description

Type: Full-Time, 10-month,
Supervisor: Director of Curriculum Design & Innovation
Location: Chicago, IL, on-site
Starting Date: August 2026
 

Why consider Catherine Cook School?

Cook is a vibrant and inclusive learning community where curiosity, connection, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to developing creative, collaborative problem solvers who tackle global challenges from multiple perspectives. Our dedicated faculty and staff help students from preschool through 8th grade become empowered learners and leaders.

All Cook employees are trained and supported in incorporating wellness and belonging into their work with students and adults. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) are the cornerstones upon which we build a curriculum and community.  At Cook, we commit to all community members being active learners, from our preschool students to us as adults. 

We invite you to consider how Cook will benefit from having you, along with your experiences in educating and learning, as a part of our community.  

How will this role contribute to the growth of the Cook community?

The Middle School Computer Science Teacher & Audio Visual Tech Integrationist will strengthen the Cook community by expanding students’ access to creative, hands-on technology learning. By teaching text-based programming lessons in grades 7 and 8" , supporting IDEA Lab design challenges, and supporting schoolwide tech integration, this educator will help students build confidence, digital literacy, and problemsolving skills.

By collaborating with teachers across Preschool–8th Grade and maintaining inclusive, wellorganized tech spaces, the educator will ensure all learners can explore, experiment, and take creative risks. Their leadership in planning cross-continuum projects and supporting the Tech Assembly Crew will further enrich community life and deepen student engagement.

How will I contribute and grow personally and professionally in this role?

• Connecting with and caring for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks
• Growing as a life-long learner through active participation in meetings and professional development opportunities
• Applying skills as supported by training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building.  
• Proactively and reflectively communicating through various platforms the vision, goals, and progress of your work with both internal and external collaborators
• Growing our culture of belonging and wellness through active participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) efforts
• Serving as an Ambassador for our Enrollment Management and Development efforts
• Employing Google and Outlook Applications for individual and team collaboration and communication 
   

What will the ideal candidate for this role embody?

The ideal candidate is a creative, flexible, and intellectually curious educator who believes students learn best when they feel supported, challenged, and free to explore. They view technology as a tool for expression, inquiry, and problemsolving, and they design environments where all learners can access complex ideas, take risks, and build confidence in their abilities.

They approach their work as both a computer science teacher and a facilitator of hands-on design, guiding students through the habits of computational thinking as they analyze problems, break down challenges, and iterate on solutions. In the Tech Lab and IDEA Lab, they cultivate spaces where students question, investigate, debug, prototype, and discover joy in the creative process. 

As a Middle School Computer Science Teacher (25% of the role)

• Teach yearlong courses to 7th and 8th grade students in text-based programming. Using Python, HTML/CSS, and/or JavaScript, create learning experiences that will teach students:  
  • Variables, data types, and control flow
  • Functions, loops, and conditionals
  • Basic algorithms and problemsolving strategies
  • Introductory modules on data structures and simple game or simulation design
• Develop engaging, inquiry-based, developmentally appropriate lessons that build computational thinking and digital literacy.
• Guide students through coding projects that emphasize creativity, debugging, and iterative improvement.
• Differentiate lessons so they engage all students, accommodating for learning differences and styles
• Integrate ethical technology use, digital citizenship, and responsible AI awareness into instruction.
• Collaborate with Prek-6th grade CS teacher and Makerspace IDEA Lab Manager
  

As an Audio Visual Tech Integrationist (40% of the role)

• Collaborate with teachers Preschool-8th to support interdisciplinary projects and crosscurricular innovation.
• Support community in responsible use of A/V equipment, like cameras, lights, and microphones. Maintain safety standards for inventory and organization of equipment.
• Design projects that blend engineering, art, and design thinking, encouraging students to prototype, test, and refine their ideas.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and inclusive environment in the Tech Lab where students feel empowered to take creative risks.
• In coordination of the student Tech Assembly Crew, manage the setup, takedown, and livestream of weekly whole-school assemblies, while coaching students to effectively participate.
• The ideal candidate will have many flexible capacities with A/V equipment, and can support other school events, as necessary. 
  

As a Middle School IDEA Lab Support Teacher (35% of the role)

• Support the IDEA Lab Manager and Educator by assisting in handson IDEA classes for Grades 5-8, that introduce students to a wide range of tools and materials, including:
  • Sewing machines
  • 3D printers
  • Laser cutter
  • Basic woodworking tools
  • Knitting and textile materials
  • Embroidery machines
  • Basic electronics (circuits, microcontrollers, LEDs, sensors)
  • Adobe Suite design tools
  • Audio/Video Creation
• Maintain a safe, organized, and inclusive IDEA environment where students feel empowered to take creative risks.

Ideal candidates will possess:

• Experience teaching middle school learners with a strong understanding of adolescent development and studentcentered instructional practices.
• Proficiency in at least one text-based coding language, such as Python or JavaScript, and the ability to teach basic concepts to middle school students
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Education — or a related field such as Engineering or Instructional Technology.
• Experience designing hands-on, projectbased learning that encourages creativity, problemsolving, debugging, and iterative improvement.
• Familiarity with audio/visual technologies and comfort assisting with schoolwide A/V needs, including livestreaming and event setup/takedown.
• Experience supporting interdisciplinary tech integration across grade levels, collaborating with teachers to design crosscurricular projects that blend engineering, art, design thinking, and digital media.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty, and staff.
• Commitment to digital citizenship and ethical technology use including responsible AI awareness.
• Comfort using Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace, and both Mac/Windows systems in instructional and creative contexts.
• Enthusiasm for continuous professional growth and a passion for innovation, creativity, and emerging technologies.

What is the salary range for this position?

In compliance with IL’s Equal Pay Act, Catherine Cook utilizes a salary scale from $58,000 to $111,950 based on years of relevant teaching experience and relevant degrees. An example for this position is a teacher with 0-10 years of relevant teaching experience and a bachelor's degree would earn between $58,000 and $76,800. When extending an offer, Catherine Cook considers factors such as (but not limited to) the position's scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations.

Catherine Cook School is an equal-opportunity employer. We recognize that skills and insights are developed through a variety of professional and lived experiences. We seek to be more representative of the communities in which we live and who we teach.  We are intentionally seeking candidates who can demonstrate the core qualifications of this role through a combination of both non-traditional and traditional personal and professional experiences.

What else is there to know about employment at Cook?

Catherine Cook offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and financial security of our employees. Our benefits for full-time eligible employees include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) plan
• 100% of the premium covered for Basic Life insurance, STD, LTD, AD&D
• HSA, FSA, Dependent Care available
• Professional Development opportunities
• Generous paid time off
• Pet Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection