The Verdi EcoSchool is seeking a dynamic, energetic and forward-thinking early elementary educator with proven experience in inquiry and student-directed learning to facilitate a nature- and place-based education. The collaborative educator will be responsible for all aspects of the students’ experience and for developing strong partnerships with parents.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate has a love and knowledge of nature and the outdoors and enjoys educating children from 4 to 7 years of age in a mixed group learning community. The candidate will embrace the mission of the school, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, function very effectively as a member of a collaborative teaching team, engage enthusiastically with families and other members of the school community, and embrace the opportunities and challenges of teaching in an innovative start-up school. Specializations in structured literacy and Conscious Discipline are highly preferred. Organization, reliability, flexibility, composure, strong work ethic, and a love of being in nature are key to the role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PLANNING:

• Develop place-based lessons that reflect the needs of the children, the standards of project-based learning, and the mission of the Verdi EcoSchool.
• Implement policies and procedures.
• Design and set up the classroom space.
• Responsible for cleanliness of indoor and outdoor classroom spaces each day.
• Obtain necessary supplies and materials.
• Manage and adjust the annual program budget
• Work with Marketing & Development staff to promote the school’s programs.
• Work toward growing and expanding the scope of Verdi EcoSchool’s offerings.
• Oversee and improve the programs currently offered by the school.

TEACHING AND EVALUATING:

• Serve as a collaborative/team educator for the Journeys (early childhood) program.
• Generate and archive weekly lesson plans that focus on students’ interests and submit to administration per accreditation requirements.
• Assess and evaluate the effectiveness and success of educational programs.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant governmental rules and regulations.
• Train and apply positive skills in managing behaviors in line with Conscious Discipline.
• Lead workshops for parents in best practices in student-led learning.
• Design and teach engaging summer experiences.

REPORTING

• This position reports to the administration of the Verdi EcoSchool.
• This position meets weekly with their program team, weekly 1:1 with a member of the administration, monthly with the collaborative educators of the school’s other programs, monthly with all school staff, and monthly with all parents.

SUPERVISING

• Interview, train, direct, schedule, supervise, and evaluate Interns, or Volunteers as needed to infuse programs with art, music, dance, etc.
• Help to draft and oversee the school budget.

CREATING COMMUNITY

• Plan and facilitate parent and volunteer involvement in programs.
• Participate in Verdi EcoSchool staff meetings and special events to ensure connection with the rest of the staff and members.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Education, Reading Education, or Nature-Based Education (Master’s preferred).
• Working knowledge of basic natural history/ecology concepts.
• Experience teaching children ages four to eight for 3 or more years in a school setting, preferably using structured literacy (Orton-Gilligham approaches), project-based learning, and/or place-based learning.
• Experienced and comfortable immersing children in nature.

Strong planning, organizing, and management skills.

Experience supervising staff and volunteers.

Demonstrated verbal and written skills.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for students in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Able to identify local natural hazards such as poison ivy, wasps, fire ants, dangerous snakes, etc.
• Demonstrate positive and proactive communication and interpersonal skills.
• Spend three or more hours outdoors with students each day during all seasons, except in extreme/dangerous weather- such as high winds, extreme cold, etc.
• Successful candidates will need to pass a background check and remain current on First Aid/CPR certifications.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $35,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• COVID-19 considerations:
• Appropriate COVID-19 protocols/policies are guided by CDC and FDOH recommendations.

Education:

• Associate (Required)
• Experience: Early Childhood Education: 3 years (Preferred)
• Childcare: 3 years (Preferred)
• License/Certification: CPR Certification (Preferred)

Work Location: One location

Work Remotely: No