Staff Qualifications
Our staff is highly qualified and committed to their work with young children and their families. Their educational qualifications consist of AA, BA, or MA in the field of Early Childhood Education. In our preschool room, our teacher is state certified holding a type 04 certificate.

The Role of Our Teachers
From teachers and administrators to our support staff, at IPELC you will find a building filled with educators dedicated to the growth of your child.

Children are cared for and educated by highly trained, dedicated teachers and staff who encourage children's natural curiosity and wonder within a safe environment. It's the perfect place for children to play, laugh and discover.

Although play is a difficult concept to define, it is very easy to recognize. Children actively involved in play may be engaged in a variety of activities. They may play independently, with a partner, or in a group. Because play is closely tied to the cognitive, socio-emotional, and motor development of young children, it is an important part of developmentally appropriate early childhood programs.

Our teachers are trained to facilitate play by working with children to develop rules for safe indoor and outdoor play. They have discussions about the appropriate use of materials, the safe number of participants on each piece of equipment, taking turns, sharing, and cleaning up. Providing children with information prior to beginning their play activities helps them to prepare for daily transitions. These discussions should be ongoing, because children need frequent reminders.

As facilitators of children's play, teachers closely observe children during play periods not only for assessment purposes, but also to facilitate appropriate social interactions and motor behaviors. It is important that children be the decision makers during play, choosing what and where to play, choosing roles for each player, and choosing how play will proceed. Occasionally, however, some children will need adult assistance in joining a play group, modifying behavior, or negotiating a disagreement. Our teachers' understanding of child development along with careful observation helps them to decide when to intervene and offer assistance.

Our Dedicated Staff:

• Nurtures and stimulates infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through early childhood education programs and creative curriculum.

• Provides regular assessments of each child's developmental progress which focuses on individualized goals.

• Ensures three to five year olds will be school ready through full-day early childhood education.

• Fosters strong parent involvement and communication.

Staff Development
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) provides comprehensive staff development training throughout the school year. These monthly trainings are planned and developed based upon the needs indicated by the center staff. These sessions include workshops conducted to review materials; procedure and program updates; and appraisals of resources including professional courses available through local colleges and universities.