Job Description
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
In collaboration with partners across the city, the CPS Talent Office has launched Teach Chicago 2026, an initiative that includes the Teacher Residency Program as a key lever to support schools in the district to accomplish the following goals:
Expand new teacher pipelines into CPS classroom
Improve Day One Readiness of new teachers
Ensure equity in students’ access to high-quality teachers
Support teacher recognition, leadership and retention
Build diversity now for long-term change
The CPS Teacher Residency Program is an accelerated program run in partnership with four universities, that prepares new teachers for successful teaching careers. All successful participants will earn a Professional Educators’ License (PEL), a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Teaching, and an endorsement in a high-need content area such as Bilingual Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education or Dance.
The mission of the program is to recruit, prepare and retain a diverse base of culturally competent individuals to successfully teach high-need subjects in underserved communities. Anchoring our approach to this work is a vision of a teacher workforce that reflects the rich diversity of CPS students and communities, and one that is devoid of talent shortages, particularly in the highest-needs schools. We believe that the best talent should go to the highest-needs schools and communities, and we strive for our program to serve as a model for preparing teachers for today and leaders for our next generations of students and teachers.
About the Resident Teacher Role
To support the continued growth and positive trajectory of our students, Resident Teachers are being recruited to fill critical teaching shortage areas including Dance, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, and Bilingual Education.
To help fulfill this objective, Resident Teachers will:
Apply and enroll with one of CPS’ preferred university partners to obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education and Illinois Teacher licensure, dependent upon the specific agreement
Engage in a training program shadowing an experienced, highly-rated mentor teacher
Gain experience in classroom management, supporting student’s academic growth, using data to differentiate instruction, and building long-term support systems for students
Accept a full-time lead teaching role in CPS’ Opportunity School Cohort following their Resident Teacher year
Remain committed to providing all students with access to a high-quality education
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Resident Teacher must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
High school diploma or GED equivalent is required
Candidates enrolled in a college or university program must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher across all university credit-earning courses (subject to transcript review and approval)
Experience Required:
Previous experience working with Chicago Public Schools and/or CPS students, preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate concepts and content to students
Excellent attention to detail, and organizational and time management skills
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, combined with strong initiative and a team player attitude
Growth mindset with a focus on continuous learning and professional development
Ability to accept feedback, receive constructive criticism, and implement changes for improvement
Committed to making an impact through teaching, and achieving equity and equality for all students
Additional Requirements:
Participants must commit to a minimum of 4 years of employment with Chicago Public Schools based on their contractual agreement. (This includes 1 year of Residency and 3 years as a classroom teacher following successful completion of the Residency Program.)
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
In collaboration with partners across the city, the CPS Talent Office has launched Teach Chicago 2026, an initiative that includes the Teacher Residency Program as a key lever to support schools in the district to accomplish the following goals:
Expand new teacher pipelines into CPS classroom
Improve Day One Readiness of new teachers
Ensure equity in students’ access to high-quality teachers
Support teacher recognition, leadership and retention
Build diversity now for long-term change
The CPS Teacher Residency Program is an accelerated program run in partnership with four universities, that prepares new teachers for successful teaching careers. All successful participants will earn a Professional Educators’ License (PEL), a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Teaching, and an endorsement in a high-need content area such as Bilingual Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education or Dance.
The mission of the program is to recruit, prepare and retain a diverse base of culturally competent individuals to successfully teach high-need subjects in underserved communities. Anchoring our approach to this work is a vision of a teacher workforce that reflects the rich diversity of CPS students and communities, and one that is devoid of talent shortages, particularly in the highest-needs schools. We believe that the best talent should go to the highest-needs schools and communities, and we strive for our program to serve as a model for preparing teachers for today and leaders for our next generations of students and teachers.
About the Resident Teacher Role
To support the continued growth and positive trajectory of our students, Resident Teachers are being recruited to fill critical teaching shortage areas including Dance, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, and Bilingual Education.
To help fulfill this objective, Resident Teachers will:
Apply and enroll with one of CPS’ preferred university partners to obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education and Illinois Teacher licensure, dependent upon the specific agreement
Engage in a training program shadowing an experienced, highly-rated mentor teacher
Gain experience in classroom management, supporting student’s academic growth, using data to differentiate instruction, and building long-term support systems for students
Accept a full-time lead teaching role in CPS’ Opportunity School Cohort following their Resident Teacher year
Remain committed to providing all students with access to a high-quality education
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Resident Teacher must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
High school diploma or GED equivalent is required
Candidates enrolled in a college or university program must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher across all university credit-earning courses (subject to transcript review and approval)
Experience Required:
Previous experience working with Chicago Public Schools and/or CPS students, preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate concepts and content to students
Excellent attention to detail, and organizational and time management skills
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, combined with strong initiative and a team player attitude
Growth mindset with a focus on continuous learning and professional development
Ability to accept feedback, receive constructive criticism, and implement changes for improvement
Committed to making an impact through teaching, and achieving equity and equality for all students
Additional Requirements:
Participants must commit to a minimum of 4 years of employment with Chicago Public Schools based on their contractual agreement. (This includes 1 year of Residency and 3 years as a classroom teacher following successful completion of the Residency Program.)
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Resident Teacher (2026 - 2026 Cohort) - INVITATION ONLY position is now open for candidates interested in the Teacher Jobs sector. This role in Chicago offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Teacher Jobs is a plus.