The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) Laboratory School is a Nursery – Grade 6 school in downtown Toronto, committed to exemplary teaching, teacher education, and research in an intentionally diverse environment. The Laboratory School is dedicated to the exploration and dissemination of best practices.
Current Opportunities
Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) Lab School
Hiring Opportunity:
Social Worker or School Psychologist
Start Date: week of September 2, 2025
Established in 1925, the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) Lab School at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), the University of Toronto, is the oldest Lab School in Canada. The JICS Lab School serves children from Nursery to Grade 6. It has a threefold mandate: exemplary education for the 200 children who attend the school, graduate teacher education, and research, all these in an intentionally diverse environment. The JICS Lab School makes a noted contribution to the understanding of strong educational practices in elementary schools in Canada and around the world.
JICS Lab School teachers create a secure learning environment for their students, one that inspires exploration, creativity, curiosity, and confidence to flourish. The school honours diversity and values a deeply interconnected community, in which all members feel known, respected, and supported as active participants. Teachers work part of a collaborative team of educators.
About the Opportunity and Description of Role
The Lab School aims to support the needs of the whole child. Central to our philosophy to provide a secure environment, is an awareness that mental health and wellness is essential to learning. The successful candidate at the Lab School will join a team of educators who are dedicated to providing a developmentally responsive and culturally sensitive approach to supporting children as they progress in all areas of development.
We are seeking a qualified social worker or psychologist to work with children in the Lab School during school hours, starting in September 2025. This could be a one or two day a week position.
The School Social Worker or School Psychologist will work with Lab School staff in ensuring the overall mental health and wellness of all children, and will be expected to reflect the philosophy of the school in their interactions and relationships with children and families.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting the mental health and wellness, social-emotional learning, and interpersonal relationships of the children attending the Lab School through individual child consultations, including short term therapy, small group work with the children, and delivering innovative psychoeducational interventions in the classroom in collaboration with classroom teachers and staff
- To help build strength, skill development, and resilience of Lab School children and parent community. Including proactive planning to address specific cohort needs as well as ongoing social and emotional needs of the children, providing individual parent consultations, connecting parents with community and private resources, as well as developing and delivering parent education events.
- To work collaboratively with students, parents, and faculty to build capacity and ensure that our students’ unique psychosocial needs are addressed
- To be a resource for teachers to consult with in supporting children at school and in communicating with families, regarding social and emotional needs, understanding how these needs may be addressed and supported in the school setting.
- To provide professional learning for Lab School staff and parents about supporting children’s mental health and wellness
- To work with Lab school staff and teachers to refine and articulate the scope and sequence of SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) within the lab school
We seek applicants with the following skills, professional qualifications, and experience:
- MSW or higher and licensed practitioner in good standing with the OASW and OCSWSSW, OR PhD or PsyD and licensed practitioner in good standing with the CPO
- Experience working with young children, in both school and clinical settings
- Experience in delivering psycho-educational information with parent groups and with children
- Experience in developing, leading and facilitating groups
- Strong background and experience in children’s mental health and wellness
- Experience consulting with educators
- Mental health First Aid an asset
- An understanding of the development of children ages 3-12 is required
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE ASKED TO SUBMIT A CV, COVER LETTER, AND TWO LETTERS OF REFERENCE BY EMAIL TO:
Chriss Bogert, Vice Principal
Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education | University of Toronto
Email: labschooloffice@utoronto.ca
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY JUNE 9, 2025
We thank all interested applicants; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. All candidates are encouraged to apply, however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Join our list of teachers to be called in for occasional supply work
Starting date: September 2023
Established in 1925, the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School (JICS) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), the University of Toronto, is the oldest Laboratory School in Canada. The JICS Laboratory School serves children from Nursery to Grade 6. It has a threefold mandate: exemplary education for the 200 children who attend the school, graduate teacher education, and research, all these in an intentionally diverse environment. The JICS Laboratory School makes a noted contribution to the understanding of strong educational practices in elementary schools in Canada and around the world.
JICS teachers create a secure learning environment for their students, one that inspires exploration, creativity, curiosity, and confidence to flourish. The JICS Laboratory School honours diversity and values a deeply interconnected community, in which all members feel known, respected, and supported as active participants. Teachers work as part of a collaborative team of educators.
Key responsibilities include:
- Implementing indoor and outdoor daily classroom activities and lessons
- Promoting an engaging and secure environment to foster student learning
- Mentoring student teachers on placement in the classroom
We seek applicants with the following professional qualifications and experience:
- Ontario College of Teachers Certification (OCT Primary/Junior) preferred for elementary classrooms
- College of Early Childhood Educators (RECE) certification preferred for early years classrooms
- Minimum of two years teaching experience preferred
- Completed Additional Qualifications will be an asset
- First Aid skills an asset
Qualified applicants are asked to submit a CV, cover letter, and two letters of reference by email to:
Chriss Bogert, Vice Principal
Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education | University of Toronto
Email: chriss.bogert@utoronto.ca
We thank all interested applicants; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. All candidates are encouraged to apply, however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
