Federal Work-Study Position: Early Childhood Educator Intern (DHH Focus)

Organization: Bes & Beset – Leland Jackson Foundation (BBLJF)

Location: Chicago, IL (In-person)

Academic Year: 2026–2027 | Positions Available: 2 (One male, one female)

Who We Are

The Bes & Beset – Leland Jackson Foundation (BBLJF) is a Chicago-based, youth‑serving nonprofit that integrates child welfare and education to support African American children experiencing orphan‑realities, instability, and early learning difficulties. Our specialized DHH Early Childhood Initiative provides culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and language-rich learning environments for children ages 3.5–5 who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We believe inclusive pedagogy that honors the diverse communication and cultural needs of our learners.

Why Work With Us

At BBLJF, you won’t be doing busywork — you’ll be part of a mission. We serve Black Deaf and Hard‑of‑Hearing children through culturally grounded early learning, visual language access, literacy support, and movement‑based enrichment. Interns gain hands‑on experience in trauma‑informed practice, ASL‑inclusive communication, and culturally responsive teaching for DHH learners.

This role is ideal for students who want a meaningful experience. You’ll learn how to support young children with care, structure, and you’ll be guided by experienced educators and clinicians committed to your growth. Students who excel in this internship may be invited into our employment pathway as we expand our program, or referred to one of our partnered organizations.

If you’re passionate about early childhood education, special education, Deaf Studies, or culturally grounded youth programming, this is a place to grow, contribute, and make a real impact.

Position Overview

We are seeking two Federal Work-Study (FWS) students to serve as Early Childhood Educator Interns for the 2026–2027 academic year. You will work directly under the guidance of our curriculum developers and licensed clinicians to facilitate daily, language-rich routines for DHH preschoolers in a Chicago-based educational setting. This role is ideal for students pursuing careers in Deaf Education, Early Childhood, Special Education, or Child Development who are eager to make a tangible impact in our community.

Who Should Apply

We are seeking candidates who are:

Academic Champions: Dedicated undergraduate seniors or graduate students. Undergraduate juniors with the capacity for consistent participation and steady engagement throughout the full academic year.

Mission-Aligned: Committed to culturally-centered, trauma-informed, and inclusive educational practices.

Professional: Reliable, capable of maintaining a consistent daily schedule (9:30 AM – 1:30 PM), and eager to work within a collaborative team.

Communicatively Competent: Proficient in American Sign Language (ASL) and dedicated to using visual-first and multimodal communication strategies to ensure accessibility for all students.

Growth-Oriented: Eager to refine their pedagogical skills in a specialized, high-stakes early childhood environment by participating in monthly workshops throughout the academic year.

Note: We are hiring one male and one female intern to ensure balanced relational modeling for our young learners.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Support: Support daily classroom routines, literacy, and language-enrichment activities for 3.5–5-year-olds.

ASL Implementation: Use ASL and visual learning tools as a primary medium for instruction and student engagement.

Environment Stewardship: Help create a safe, language-accessible, and developmentally appropriate learning environment within our Chicago program site.

Clinical Collaboration: Partner with program staff and clinical consultants to support individualized learning goals and student progress monitoring.

Professional Development: Participate in required training sessions during onboarding and throughout the academic year.

Qualifications

Required: Federal Work-Study (FWS) eligibility.

Required: Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL).

Desired: Background in Deaf Education, Special Education, or Early Childhood Development.

Commitment: Ability to commit to the core program hours: Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM.

Integrity: Successful completion of a comprehensive background check and onboarding curriculum.

**Participation in all onboarding workshop sessions is required before placement. Dates: 7/14, 7/16, 7/21, 7/23, 8/4, 8/6, 8/11, 8/13 (6:30 PM–8 PM CST).

Required Documentation

Resume or CV

Proof of FWS eligibility

Two professional or academic references

*Please include a separate document with your responses to the following supplemental questions:

1) What draws you to the BBLJF mission of providing academic stabilization and early intervention for DHH African American youth in Chicago?

2) How would you help us incorporate African American and African diaspora culture into daily activities so our students feel seen and represented?

How to Apply

Submit your materials to: info@bbljpanafrica.org Please include “FWS Early Childhood Educator Intern – DHH Focus” in the subject line.

Best,
BBLJF Team