Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia, New Hampshire is excited to reopen its successful Fledglings Nature-Based Preschool for the 2021/2022 school year and seeks an experienced early childhood educator to join our collaborative and dynamic team of nature enthusiasts in the role of Preschool Programs Director.

Position Summary:

The Preschool Programs Director supports whole child development by leading a small team of educators to develop and implement early childhood programs that support nature-based play and exploration for the youngest learners in our community, ages 2 ½ to 5-years old, while offering developmentally appropriate instruction to prepare young learners for future educational success.

Located in a bucolic setting on 160 acres with farm fields, forests, gardens, a pond, walking trails, and a natural playscape, Prescott Farm is the ideal place to share your love of nature with young learners!  We offer a fun and pleasant workplace culture, a 35 hour work week, and a generous benefits package including health and life insurance; matching retirement contributions; paid time off for vacations, sick time, and holidays; professional development; and more.  Starting salary $45,000 to $51,000 annually.

Program Description:

Prescott Farm currently offers three programs designed to engage young children in hands-on, nature-based learning.

Fledglings Preschool, Prescott Farm’s signature nature-based preschool program, offers an integrated nature-based curriculum for 3-5 year-olds with an option of attending 2, 3, or 5 days a week throughout the school year. Although a warm and inviting preschool classroom is available, Students spend a significant portion of their days outside but also learn and take rest time in our sunny and inviting preschool classroom.

PreK Pioneers is part of our WildQuest summer day-camp program, designed to offer the very first camp experiences for children ages 4 and 5 years-old.  Over the course of nine themed one-week sessions, PreK Pioneers make friends, experience their own opening and closing circles and camp games, explore in the great outdoors, create nature-inspired art, and learn about the world around them at an age appropriate pace.

Additional programming for preschool aged children not enrolled in Fledglings is available through Polliwogs, a weekly program series that invites children ages 2 ½ to 5 years-old and their favorite adult to explore seasonal topics through stories, play and crafts. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm for connecting young learners to the natural world through hands-on learning and experience in early childhood education including teaching, lesson planning, curriculum development, program management.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide Leadership in early childhood education for all early childhood programs
• Manage Staff
• Establish and promote the educational philosophy of Prescott Farm
• Communicate with parents and caregivers on an ongoing and regular basis
• Facilitate parent/caregiver involvement in collaboration with Prescott Farm’s volunteer coordinator
• Provide program administration

Requirements:

Applicants Must:

• Have an active interest and passion for nature, ecology, gardening, farming, and/or other areas related to the natural world and a commitment to integrating a developmentally appropriate learning environment with nature as the main focus. Experience teaching in an outdoor or environmental education program preferred but not required.
• Have a bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood or elementary education, other field of study focused on children, or meet any of the other requirements for state licensing.  Master’s Degree preferred.
• Have a minimum of 1500 hours of experience working with children in a licensed child care program or in a public or private elementary school
• Have (or plan to have by September 1, 2021) documentation of successful completion of at least 3 credits in child development, and 3 credits in management and supervision, awarded by a regionally accredited college or university.
• Be certified in First Aid and CPR or be willing to become certified
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Have the ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Exhibit strong organizational, time-management, and multi-tasking skills.
• Be able to perform tasks requiring physical exertion indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions, and on varied terrain while supervising young children.
• Be able to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, pull, push, sit without back support, and lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally and 10-35 pounds frequently.
• Pass a criminal background check.