Lower School Coordinator

• Type: Full-Time 11-month
• Supervisor: Head of Lower School
• Location: Chicago IL On-site
• Starting Date: August 2026
• This position includes 10 workdays during the summer following post-planning and prior to preplanning

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

Catherine Cook School seeks a vibrant and innovative Lower School Coordinator who will collaborate with the Head of Lower School and Lower School faculty. This position is a key member of the community in helping build warm respectful and supportive relationships with students. The ideal candidate will help cultivate a collaborative environment create a positive community and support staff and students alike ensuring everyone can perform at their best for the benefit of our students.

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

• Serving as a secondary point of contact for student behavioral or emotional concerns collaborating with other staff to respond and develop support plans

• 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

• Utilize Google Outlook and other collaborative technologies to communicate effectively and enhance learning opportunities across the Catherine Cook community

• Participating actively in discussions about cultural racial and other differences with students colleagues and families

• Apply independent discretion to significant matters including evaluating the lower school climate advising faculty on classroom management strategies and leading crisis-response protocols

What will the ideal candidate for this role embody

• Administrative Proficiency: Strong organizational skills to manage scheduling ordering space assignments and other administrative tasks efficiently.

• Event and Activity Coordination: Ability to plan organize and oversee school events weekly assemblies and other activities.

• Effective Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to facilitate interactions between administrators faculty students parents and caregivers. Strong eye for editing written communications.

• Student Support: Capability to provide emotional and behavioral support to students.

• Team Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with teams and contribute to leadership and support initiatives.

• Adaptability: Flexibility to handle various tasks and responsibilities as needed.

• Attention to Detail/Global View: Proactively considers potential conflicts and impacts when scheduling or planning large-scale events.

• Faculty Support: Skills in supporting faculty with classroom management and professional development with special attention to our Lower School Teacher Assistants.

• Positive School Culture: Ability to promote and develop a positive school culture.

• Innovation: Apply creativity to assigned tasks contributing thoughtful ideas and a joyful spirit. Video editing or visual creation skills a plus.

Qualifications

• B.A. in Education required

• Prefer candidates pursuing M.A. in Education and have an interest in educational leadership

• Willingness to learn and grow professionally

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

What is the salary range for this position

In compliance with ILs Equal Pay Act this positions salary range is $56000-$64000 annually. When extending an offer Catherine Cook considers factors such as (but not limited to) the positions scope and responsibilities the candidates 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.