Job description

Bring compassionate care and education to young children at Island County’s first licensed outdoor preschool and school age enrichment program.

Springwood Forest School seeks an enthusiastic and creative teacher who enjoys spending time outdoors and connecting with nature. Experienced teachers are encouraged to apply, and we're also happy to nurture new teachers with supportive mentorship, training opportunities, and forest school workshops!

Highlights:
* Paid training and planning time
* Paid holidays, closures and planned time off
* Full-time, year-round teaching opportunity in "micro school" format
* 100% outdoor program
* Supportive, collaborative, and inclusive teaching culture

The Lead Teacher supports the Forest School program to bring quality outdoor, nature-based programming. In this essential role, the Lead Teacher will contribute to a cohesive teaching team, and develop emergent curriculum plans for a small group of mixed-age students between the ages of 2.5 and 10. The Lead Teacher will nurture positive relationships with students, effectively guide teacher assistants, and communicate directly with families of enrolled students. The Lead Teacher demonstrates professionalism through high expectations for meaningful, safe, and enriching outdoor programming. Within this role, there is creative freedom and growth potential.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 years experience (preferred) with young children (ages 2 – 10 years) in an educational setting
• Experience working outdoors and adapting to seasonal and weather-related changes
• Early Childhood Education Certificate or willingness to obtain initial credits
• DCYF required health and safety trainings, including child/adult CPR and First Aid

...

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Lead Forest School Teacher

SCHEDULE: 35-38 hours per week: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

START DATE: April 2023

ABOUT SPRINGWOOD FOREST SCHOOL

• We operate in a beautiful outdoor classroom nestled in a forested park on Camano Island.
• We embrace the weather and the opportunities it provides, relying on carefully selected gear and policies to stay comfortable and engaged in our year-round program.
• Our small, mixed-age group of children connects with the environment as they build important skills, and create friendships rooted in trust and respect.
• We foster a qualified team of teachers who strengthen our program with a commitment to high standards in early childhood education.
• We empower teachers by providing a balance of autonomy and mentorship in a nature-based and reflective teaching practice.
• Candidates of varying educational backgrounds, cultural identities, abilities, and needs are encouraged to apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead educational, health, and safety aspects of forest school program.
• Plan flexible and hands-on curriculum through activities, art, and storytelling.
• Support play-based learning by improvising and connecting with students.
• Participate in reflective conversations with co-teachers, photography and notes of student work, and curriculum brainstorming sessions built around children’s interests and seasonal rhythms in nature.
• Assist with pack in/pack out process of outdoor classroom, ensuring we leave no trace and maintain a tidy "mobile" classroom.
• Establish clear supervision plans, conduct safety drills, and communicate with teaching team to ensure staff to child ratios, manage benefit-risk scenarios, and remove hazards in outdoor environment.
• Ensure health of children through gear, biological needs, emotional support, and targeted activities.
• Follow all program policies and regulations of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, & Families (DCYF) to ensure health and safety standards are met.
• Represent Springwood Forest School with professionalism in communications and interactions with families, community partners, and the general public.
• Maintain frequent communication with parents through informal discussions, learning stories, photos, progress reports, and parent-teacher conferences, as approved by the Director.
• Provide a nurturing and responsive outdoor learning environment rooted in respectful relationships with children and teaching team.
• Lead by example; encourage teaching team success through modeling and gentle coaching.
• Support children in peaceful problem solving that affirms and empowers them to use non-violent language to express themselves.
• Contribute to an inclusive and accepting learning environment by encouraging students to ask questions, develop empathy, and build self esteem.
• Maintain professional development plan with continuing education and trainings.
• Join co-teachers in ongoing anti-bias education by attending workshops, participating in team discussions, and committing to a reflective process that examines prejudices and embraces a trauma-informed practice.
• DCYF required health and safety trainings, including child/adult CPR and First Aid.
• Participate in occasional retreats and workshops specific to forest school teaching.

DESIRED SKILLS, BACKGROUNDS, AND KNOWLEDGE

• Child development
• Environmental education
• Anti-bias education approach to teaching
• Communication
• Forest school, Cedarsong, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia approach to teaching
• Time management
• Indigenous culture
• Bushcraft skills

DESIRED TRAITS

• Inclusive and respectful toward all
• Outdoor enthusiast
• Thoughtful communicator
• Creative problem solver
• Empathetic nature
• Physical resilience
• Optimistic in all weather
• Calm and patient during transitions
• Compassionate toward all living beings
• Attentive, responsible, and reliable

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to meet physical demands of lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling up to 30 pounds on a frequent basis, and up to 50 pounds occasionally. Prolonged periods of standing and walking will be required. Stooping, kneeling, bending, balancing, reaching, and use of the hands will occur throughout the workday. Must be comfortable using chemical and/or camping toilet. Must be capable and comfortable working outdoors for 6–7-hour blocks of time, rain or shine. If sourcing personal outdoor gear is a financial hardship, we can assist. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

As an early learning program and place of public accommodation as defined by Washington State and United States law, the program fully embraces the protections that uphold civil rights. The program does not and shall not discriminate in any employment practice or program service on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin (ancestry), sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, marital status, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, or ability in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all staff, students, families, volunteers, consultants, and community partners in education.

TO APPLY

Please apply with a resume and a brief statement about why outdoor early education interests you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
As a licensed child care program, we adhere to all Washington State Department of Health requirements, including vaccine mandates for teachers.

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Camano Island, WA 98282: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Early childhood education: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: In person

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