The Nature Preschool-Nature Teacher 3 is responsible for teaching an inquiry and nature based, developmental program for preschool children with an emphasis on the outdoor environment as an outdoor classroom learning opportunity and setting for children. The Nature Preschool Teacher goals are to encourage students’ awareness, understanding, appreciation and protection of the environment, foster empathy and kindness towards others, and build a strong foundation of learning through hands on sensory experiences, constructing their knowledge, and skill building in all areas of child development.Supervision

The Nature Teacher 3 is the classroom teacher assistant level and works under the direct supervision of the Nature Teacher 1 (lead), Preschool Director, and Assistant Director.

Essential Responsibility

• Assists with supervision of 24 children daily (8 in small group) overseeing children’s social-emotional and physical needs of the classroom learning community.
• Ensure the supervision, safety and well-being of children at all times; observing and moving around with adult/child ratios as they change locations throughout the day.
• Welcome and greet each child and family at arrival and departure time daily.
• Begin each preschool day in nature and spend 70-80% of time outside in nature.
• Provide collaboration and support with classroom teaching staff to develop and write innovative curriculum and projects based on children’s interests, inquiries investigations and experiences in nature and the Nature Preschool environments.
• Utilize teachings tools of observation, documentation, provocation, discussion and planning daily for individual children’s goals and small group learning communities.
• Develop learning provocations with classroom teaching staff based on implementing a creative, emergent, nature-based curriculum that meets children’s individual interests and needs as well as the classroom community of learners.
• Assess a group of children’s developmental learning and progress through observation, documentation, writing, letters, work samples, photographs, and videos through an individual portfolio collection.
• Support collecting information for children’s assessment and questionnaire tools and collaborate with the classroom learning community to meet developmental needs, skills and foundations of learning measurements.
• Effectively communicate, plan, and evaluate children’s progress with co-teachers and families about children’s development, skills, goals for building strengths, and developmental tracking through portfolio collection work and assessment tools.
• Set professional goals each year and evaluate goals, professional growth, lead teaching responsibilities and performance with Nature Teacher 1 and administrators.
• Participate in a minimum of 21 hours of profession development each year with onsite training and community workshops, seminars and conferences.
• Participate in weekly staff planning meetings for classroom and preschool.
• Guide and support classroom staff with bi-yearly evaluation feedback.
• Maintain positive communication with all program participants, volunteers and visitors.
• Follow Environmental Nature Center and Nature Preschool philosophy and policies.
• Assist with organizing and maintaining of classroom environment, equipment and supplies.
• Assist in the care of classroom and Nature Preschool animals and report any issues or concerns with Nature Teacher 1.
• Notify Nature Teacher 1 of needed supplies.
• Ability to set up, take-down and maintain all activities and learning areas of the Nature Preschool campus environment.
• Arrive when scheduled to prepare and set-up for indoor and outdoor classrooms.
• Follow health and safety standards and practices of required state regulatory agencies.
• Responsible for notifying the Director of any safety hazards in all learning environments.
• Accommodate schedule changes or covering staff in classrooms or office when needed.
• Participation in Nature Preschool and ENC special events occasionally in the evenings and for mandatory special events (i.e. Family Literacy Night, Family Campouts, Fall Faire, Spring Faire, Taste of Twilight, Summer Soiree).
• Additional duties as assigned.

 Qualifications & Skills

• Commitment to the mission, vision, and core values of the ENC.
• Create and maintain strong cooperative relationships and work cohesively with classroom team, other preschool staff, ENC staff, and volunteers.
• Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling, curriculum planning and thinking.
• Knowledge of California Department of Social Services-Community Care Licensing Division, Title 22 regulations.
•  Ability or willingness to handle a variety of animals including amphibians, mammals, arthropods, and reptiles.
• Ability to gather, memorize and recall facts, figures, and information.
• Ability to move up to fifty pounds and set up equipment.
• Ability to hike on trails, and traverse stairs and uneven terrain while carrying equipment.
• Ability to make independent decisions and respond to immediate needs of children, emergency situations, and program needs.
• Ability to work outside in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures.
• Regular, reliable and punctual attendance is essential because of quality continuity.
• Ability to interact positively and successfully with supervisors, staff, teachers, families, and children.
• Fingerprinting will be required.
• Computer (Macintosh and Microsoft Office) experience required or willingness to learn.
• Communicate effectively in the English language, in both oral and written forms.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions in an independent manner.
• Understand and apply pertinent personnel policies, laws, rules, and regulations.

Education, Training, and Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 12 core units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development courses.
• Possession of Child Development Permit-Associate Teacher level or higher. (Maintain active Child Development permit status while employed).
• One year of experience working with children in a preschool setting.
• Outdoor Classroom Workshop Seminar or Level 1 Specialist training desired.
• Good interpersonal skills: the ability to interact and work effectively and cooperatively with children, families and co-workers.
• Demonstrate an understanding, patient, receptive, and positive attitude toward children, their families and co-workers.
• Current CPR and First Aid Certificates.