Nature-Based Preschool Teacher

Acquire4Hire; Montpelier (VT); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Leave

Retirement Plan

Child Care Discount

Professional Development

Sick/Paid Personal Leave

Paid holidays

Direct Primary Care Plan

Bonus potential

403(b) Retirement account

Team of dedicated professionals

Childcare discount for your own child

Job summary

Turtle Island Children's Center in Montpelier, Vermont, is seeking an early childhood educator to provide a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for infants through pre-kindergarteners. You will collaborate with a learning community to observe and document children's growth and communicate effectively with families and team members.

The role emphasizes outdoor learning, emergent curricula, and strong relationships with children, families, and colleagues.

Qualifications

• Core Qualifications*: Associate's degree in early childhood education or related field, three years of experience or equivalent
• Flexibility to work as a team member within a learning community
• Willingness to continue professional development in early childhood education or related field
• Demonstrate understanding of developmental needs of children birth to six years old and responsiveness to their intellectual, emotional and social needs
• Complete First Aid/CPR and other training upon hire

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement engaging learning experiences for birth to five-year-olds
• Collaborate with colleagues to design curriculum supporting social-emotional learning, problem-solving and citizenship
• Maintain accurate records of children's progress and observations
• Establish positive relationships with children, families and colleagues through effective communication and empathy
• Supervise and engage with children at all times to ensure safety and well-being

Skills

Teamwork

Love for children

Safety awareness

Communication with families

Education

Associate's degree in ECE

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.

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

• Paid Leave
• Retirement Plan
• Child Care Discount
• Professional Development
• 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