Bennett Day School

Bennett Day School is a PreK-12 independent day school in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, serving about 400 students with no religious affiliation. The school sits in the Fulton Market district, near galleries, museums, and cultural institutions that shape curriculum and field work. Unlike boarding schools, teaching here means full engagement during school hours and weekends free—a rhythm that appeals to educators building lives in the city.

The school's approach flows from Reggio Emilia philosophy: teachers observe what students naturally wonder about, then build lessons around those interests. This is not content delivery. It requires deep knowledge of child development—what captivates a five-year-old differs entirely from what drives a fifteen-year-old. Faculty spend time watching and listening before planning. Every grade level from PreK through high school uses this same framework, which means teachers across divisions speak a shared language about how learning actually happens.

Bennett Day School offers Spanish language instruction woven throughout the curriculum, creating a bilingual environment that enriches teaching in every subject. The PreK-12 structure is rare in independent schools. Teachers stay at one school and watch cohorts grow from early childhood through graduation—a continuity that builds institutional knowledge and genuine relationships across years.

The school hires year-round for teaching positions across early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school. Administrative, advancement, and admissions roles open periodically. For educators seeking observation-based, student-led instruction over textbook-driven teaching, Bennett provides a concrete alternative. Day school employment preserves meaningful student contact while keeping evenings and weekends yours.