Nature-Based Preschool Teacher

Acquire4Hire; Montpelier (VT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accrued leave & paid holidays

Professional development opportunities

Direct Primary Care Plan

Wage commensurate with experience

Job summary

Turtle Island Children’s Center in Montpelier, Vermont, is seeking an early childhood educator to support learning through outdoor play and nature-based experiences. The role emphasizes nurturing, safety, and development of children from birth to five, with collaborative planning alongside a dedicated team.

The position starts June 2026, with hours aligned to 7:30-3:30 or 8-4 shifts, and involves documenting progress, communicating with families, and contributing to a responsive classroom

Qualifications

• Flexibility to work as a team member within a learning community.
• Love and respect for children and early childhood education work.
• Willingness to continue professional development in early childhood education.
• Explain understanding of developmental needs from birth to age 6; support social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for children aged birth to five.
• Collaborate with colleagues to design and implement responsive curricula.
• Maintain accurate records of children’s progress and observations.
• Establish positive relationships with children, families, and staff; communicate effectively.

Skills

Team collaboration

Observation & documentation

Family communication

Safety supervision

Education

Associate’s degree in early childhood education or related field

Job description

About This Role

Turtle Island Children’s Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that offers a year-round play and nature-based early childhood program for infants through pre-Kindergarteners. Our picturesque campus is located on Country Club Road in Montpelier, Vermont, a place where children can explore, learn, and thrive. Early childhood is a time of remarkable growth, both intellectually and emotionally, and our experienced educators provide a nurturing environment to support their discoveries. We spend most of our days outdoors, exploring the trails and surrounding natural beauty, and our operating hours are 8:00am - 3:30pm. Most teachers work from 7:30-3:30 or 8-4.

About This Role

Turtle Island Children’s Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that offers a year-round play and nature-based early childhood program for infants through pre-Kindergarteners. Our picturesque campus is located on Country Club Road in Montpelier, Vermont, a place where children can explore, learn, and thrive. Early childhood is a time of remarkable growth, both intellectually and emotionally, and our experienced educators provide a nurturing environment to support their discoveries. We spend most of our days outdoors, exploring the trails and surrounding natural beauty, and our operating hours are 8:00am - 3:30pm. Most teachers work from 7:30-3:30 or 8-4. This position is available starting June 2026 and offers a unique opportunity to join a dedicated team of educators who share a passion for early childhood education and a love for children.

What You’ll Do

The ideal candidate will be responsible for providing a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment that promotes the social, intellectual, physical, and emotional development of young children. This will involve working collaboratively with colleagues to create a responsive learning environment, observing and documenting children’s learning, and communicating effectively with families and team members.

• Develop and implement engaging and interactive learning experiences that cater to the diverse needs and interests of children aged birth to five.
• Collaborate with colleagues to design and implement curriculum that supports children’s social-emotional learning, problem-solving skills, and active citizenship.
• Maintain accurate records of children’s progress, including observations, notes, and assessment data.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues through effective communication, empathy, and respect.
• Supervise and engage with children at all times, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Requirements

Core Qualifications*:

Associate’s degree in early childhood education or related field, three years of experience or equivalent

• Show flexibility to work as a team member and a part of a learning community.
• Love and respect for children, teachers and the work of early childhood education
• Be able to kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry children up to 50 lbs
• Willingness to continue professional development in early childhood education or related field.
• Demonstrate basic understanding of the developmental needs of children from birth to six years old; responsiveness to the intellectual, emotional and social needs of children; ability to work with groups of children.
• Complete First Aid/CPR and other training upon hire
• Observe, document and encourage children’s long term learning through the practice of emergent curriculum that supports, among other things: relationship-building, self-confidence, problem-solving, social justice and active citizenship skills.
• Actively communicate effectively, professionally and respectfully with team members, administrators and families.
• Provide young children (birth to age 5) with a nurturing, safe, and healthy environment to help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally.
• Work collaboratively in a co-teaching team and with floating teachers, substitutes, administrators and other members of our school community to support the daily work of creating and maintaining a responsive learning environment.

Nice To Haves

We are seeking an individual who is passionate about early childhood education, has a strong understanding of child development, and is committed to creating a nurturing environment that promotes children’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth. A bachelor’s degree in education or a Vermont teaching license is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Accrued combined sick/personal leave time at a rate of 7.85% of hours worked per pay period ( approximately 20 days paid leave annually)
• Paid program holidays, including school break weeks
• Professional development in-house opportunities and support
• A Direct Primary Care Plan: unlimited visits with nurse practitioner
• Wage/salary commensurate with experience & credentials
• Annual bonus
• 403(b) Retirement account
• Work within an incredible team of dedicated professionals
• 50% off childcare tuition at TICC for your child