Summer Nature Preschool Lead Teacher

Posted: March 9, 2022 by MAEE Administration

Summer Nature Preschool Lead Teacher
Job Type	Full Time Part Time & Seasonal
Organization	Dodge Nature Center & Preschool
Job Description	Fulltime (36 hours) Non-Exempt Summer Opening Seasonal Position-June 20^th, 2022 - August 12^th, 2022 (paid holiday on July 4^th) Monday - Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm & Fridays 8:00AM-Noon Dodge Nature Preschool seeks a Lead Teacher to be part of the teaching team in fulfilling the school’s mission of meeting children’s developmental needs while initiating them into a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world. Diversity Statement Dodge Nature Preschool welcomes all families and values diversity in the broadest sense including ethnicity, ability, gender identity, gender expression, family structure, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstances and religion. Our school seeks to promote equitable access to nature-based early childhood education for all communities, especially those for whom access has been denied historically. We acknowledge our responsibility to work to challenge bias and prejudice and listen to the voices of our community. Program Description Dodge Nature Preschool follows an emergent curriculum with a social-constructivist approach. Dodge Nature Preschool operates as part of the Dodge Nature Center; grounds include woodlands, prairie, ponds, wetlands, and a model farm with animals, gardening program, a greenhouse, apple orchard, maple syrup making facility, and apiary. A state-of-the-art preschool building with three outdoor/indoor classrooms provide early childhood nature education throughout the seasons. Class size is 18 three, four and five year olds with 3 teachers. Compensation Starting at $18.00/hour. Varies with education and experience. Responsibilities Implement emergent curriculum using a constructivist, inquiry-based & Reggio Emilia approach. Maintain an attractive, functional, appropriate learning environment. Develop and deliver programming including long-range planning and well-prepared daily activities with special attention to nature education. Track the development of individual children, assess needs, and plan based on those needs. Including collaborating with outside professionals like school districts personnel. Interact with children to encourage positive self-concept and enthusiasm for the discovery process and ask open-ended questions; Develop and maintain appropriate working relationship with other staff members and parents. Supervise educational assistants, interns, and other members of the classroom teaching team. Work with Dodge Nature Center Naturalists to provide activities for the preschool children on Dodge Nature Center grounds. Play an active role in the operation of the preschool through weekly planning and training meetings, events and in-service training. Take part in professional development opportunities as appropriate. Adhere to the code of Ethics of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Other duties as assigned. Requirements Education/certification: Qualifies as teacher as per MN Rule 3; BA or higher in ECE or related. Required Knowledge: Extensive knowledge and experience in early childhood education, including a college degree in ECE, Child Development or a related field. Experience teaching preschool in a child-centered, developmentally appropriate program. Experience in a NAEYC accredited program or commitment to working towards achieving accreditation. Experience or education in environmental education or commitment to learning about appropriate early childhood nature education. Experience working with the Reggio Emilia approach or familiarity of this approach desirable. Skills/Abilities: Sensitivity to children’s learning styles and ability to communicate clearly with parents. Ability to develop collaborative team relationships and problem solve. Ability to appropriately supervise assistant teachers, and interns. Ability to use technology to support documentation of children’s work. Physical activities and requirements of this position: This position requires active participation with children up to 6 hours per day in the classroom, playground, and throughout the Nature Center. Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds to waist level. Please send cover letter and resume on or before March 21^st, 2022, to: Amy Warzybok, Preschool Director awarzybok@dodgenaturecenter.org Pronouns: She, Her, Hers 651-789-5275 651-554-8444 (fax)
Location	West St. Paul, MN
Expires	2022-03-21
Link	https://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/careers
MAEE Partner	Dodge Nature Center

Dodge Nature Center & Preschool

Location: West St. Paul, MN

Expires: 2022-03-21

Link: https://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/careers

MAEE Partner: Dodge Nature Center

Job Description:

Fulltime (36 hours) Non-Exempt Summer Opening

Seasonal Position-June 20^th, 2022 - August 12^th, 2022 (paid holiday on July 4^th)

Monday - Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm & Fridays 8:00AM-Noon

Dodge Nature Preschool seeks a Lead Teacher to be part of the teaching team in fulfilling the school’s mission of meeting children’s developmental needs while initiating them into a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world.

Diversity Statement

Dodge Nature Preschool welcomes all families and values diversity in the broadest sense including ethnicity, ability, gender identity, gender expression, family structure, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstances and religion. Our school seeks to promote equitable access to nature-based early childhood education for all communities, especially those for whom access has been denied historically. We acknowledge our responsibility to work to challenge bias and prejudice and listen to the voices of our community.

Program Description

Dodge Nature Preschool follows an emergent curriculum with a social-constructivist approach. Dodge Nature Preschool operates as part of the Dodge Nature Center; grounds include woodlands, prairie, ponds, wetlands, and a model farm with animals, gardening program, a greenhouse, apple orchard, maple syrup making facility, and apiary. A state-of-the-art preschool building with three outdoor/indoor classrooms provide early childhood nature education throughout the seasons. Class size is 18 three, four and five year olds with 3 teachers.

Compensation

Starting at $18.00/hour. Varies with education and experience.

Responsibilities

Implement emergent curriculum using a constructivist, inquiry-based & Reggio Emilia approach.
Maintain an attractive, functional, appropriate learning environment.
Develop and deliver programming including long-range planning and well-prepared daily activities with special attention to nature education.
Track the development of individual children, assess needs, and plan based on those needs. Including collaborating with outside professionals like school districts personnel.
Interact with children to encourage positive self-concept and enthusiasm for the discovery process and ask open-ended questions;
Develop and maintain appropriate working relationship with other staff members and parents.
Supervise educational assistants, interns, and other members of the classroom teaching team.
Work with Dodge Nature Center Naturalists to provide activities for the preschool children on Dodge Nature Center grounds.
Play an active role in the operation of the preschool through weekly planning and training meetings, events and in-service training.
Take part in professional development opportunities as appropriate.
Adhere to the code of Ethics of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education/certification:

Qualifies as teacher as per MN Rule 3; BA or higher in ECE or related.

Required Knowledge:

Extensive knowledge and experience in early childhood education, including a college degree in ECE, Child Development or a related field.
Experience teaching preschool in a child-centered, developmentally appropriate program.
Experience in a NAEYC accredited program or commitment to working towards achieving accreditation.
Experience or education in environmental education or commitment to learning about appropriate early childhood nature education.
Experience working with the Reggio Emilia approach or familiarity of this approach desirable.

Skills/Abilities:

Sensitivity to children’s learning styles and ability to communicate clearly with parents.
Ability to develop collaborative team relationships and problem solve.
Ability to appropriately supervise assistant teachers, and interns.
Ability to use technology to support documentation of children’s work.

Physical activities and requirements of this position:

This position requires active participation with children up to 6 hours per day in the classroom, playground, and throughout the Nature Center.
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds to waist level.

Please send cover letter and resume on or before March 21^st, 2022, to:

Amy Warzybok, Preschool Director

awarzybok@dodgenaturecenter.org

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

651-789-5275

651-554-8444 (fax)