We invite you to apply to this co-teaching outdoor early childhood educator position in our Preschool (ages 3-5) as we work to change the landscape of early childhood careers. If you want an exciting challenge we are interested to meet you!

Become a part of a program that values you as a professional, welcomes you to become a long term member of our community and appreciates work/life balance!

The Preschool Co-Teacher is responsible for the care, supervision and management of a class of children ages 3-5 years old in accord with the nature based educational philosophy of Annette's Preschool. We are housed on 3 acres of green space with 11 outdoor play spaces, plus over 50 acres of trails across the street at CVU high school campus. The Co-teacher is responsible for creating a warm and nurturing relationship with each child and family and fostering inquiry and problem solving skills in synchrony with outdoor experiences.  Using observation and assessment tools, the Co-Teacher documents each child’s growth and learning in relation to his or her developmental level and Vermont Early Learning Standards to design an age-appropriate curriculum that supports communication, social skills, and autonomy through exploration and play in the natural world.  The Co-Teacher reports to the Center Director. 

Our Mission: We are a 5 STAR, nature based early care and education program that views each child as an individual with a unique developmental profile. Through developmentally responsive outdoor programming, we serve children ages 6 weeks to 8 years. Our mission is to Achieve the highest level of professional development, Build a community where families feel connected and respected, and to Cultivate sustainable environmental choices and business practices to support the health and well being of all who work and play here! 

Our Purpose:  These are our fundamental reasons for doing what we do. If these resonate with you, come and talk to us!
Collaboration: We believe that our best work is done together with reflection and intention at the core.
Empathy: We believe in putting people first. 
Quality: We believe in setting the standard for excellence in early childhood education. 
Positive Impact: We believe in building a better world through our work with children as competent meaning-makers with deep associations and experiences in nature.
Sustainability: We believe in creating and developing practices that will sustain our planet, our local environment and our future.
Key Responsibilities: When you join our team, we’ll definitely fill your bucket with a detailed program orientation, a more formal job description, and a chance to dig in to play and get dirty! But, for now, here is the primary focus of what you’ll .

Achieving Professional Fulfillment

Plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities to support an emergent nature based curriculum focus that is consistent with the Vermont Early Learning Standards to develop the “whole child”.

Design indoor and outdoor classrooms that supports children’s interests, curiosity, hands-on exploration, problem solving, creativity, and is a model for positive social relationships.

Provide experiences that promote individual expression through conversation, play and creativity, through emergent and play based curriculum.

Contribute to the operation of the center by participating in staff meetings, committee meetings and sharing information gained through attendance at workshops and professional training.

Building a Community

Create an open, friendly, and cooperative atmosphere in which children, families, and co-workers feel comfortable and secure.

Promote and nurture parent-child bonding and relationships. 

Be a positive ambassador for the program by participating in community events and sharing community resources with parents.

Promote independence and responsibility for all by guiding behavior with positive behavior management techniques.

Work collaboratively with peers to maintain a positive and open work climate for all.

Cultivating healthy environmental choices and sustainable business practices

Observe children daily to detect signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs to document and report signs immediately to the Director.

Use all our natural play spaces safely and conscientiously

Join a fun committee to promote the well being and sustainability of our staff and enhance our culture.

Maintain Eco-Healthy Childcare Certification Standards.

Some of the things we are looking for in you!

Education. B.A.or Associates in Early Childhood or Elementary Education, Outdoor Education, Environmental Humanities, or Environmental Education. You may have a VT State Teaching License with Early Education Endorsement, but we look beyond formal studies for the best candidates who can thrive and get excited teaching within a nature based curriculum. 

Teaching Experience. Minimum 2 years (+) experience developing and implementing developmentally appropriate and meaningful curriculum for children (age 3-5 years) 

Love the outdoors.  We have 3+ acres of green space, ledges, meadows and woods as well as access to 50+ acres across the street at CVU. We are actively engaged in building a new adventure playscape.  We hope this will be your passion too!

Communication Skills. Be skilled in thoughtful and reflective communications with colleagues and seek dialogue that values all perspectives. 

Interpersonal Skills. Build trust and effectively collaborate with everyone.

Sense of Humor:  Our kids laugh a lot, and you should too!

More about the folks you’ll be working with:

All our teachers put their heart into teaching and value nature-based play as the core of this work. This shows when our teachers support children by responding to and extending their play interests using natural materials, the out of doors, storytelling and songs to encourage language, numeracy, science, and social interaction to develop a strong appreciation of the wider world. And our team understands and appreciates the value of a really good question! They do this because our teachers share a common passion for professional development, community building and care for our environment -- and for having a sense of humor and a sense of FUN!

Our commitment to a healthy work environment: We constantly strive to create an environment that allows our employees to do the best work of their lives. We are also committed to keeping our employees healthy, motivated, focused and creative. We've designed our benefits program with these goals in mind. We are committed to a 4 day work model wherever possible. In a nutshell, we've built a place where teachers truly love to work, and we think you will too.

Our commitment to diversity: We believe that a workplace, classroom or community thrives when all voices are at the table and can be heard! We encourage applicants of all gender identities or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, or pregnancy status. Supporting diversity is an essential way for children to be able to understand the spectrum of our world and to be affirmed by and learn from the adults around them. It is also one of our nine
fundamental behavioral competencies for every employee as a life-long learner at our school.

* We offer free rent for interim accommodation (up to 3 mos) for those relocating from out of state/area (2 BR in Hinesburg), as well as a $1,000 moving expense paid, and free early childhood coursework and $500 tuition reimbursement.

www.annettespreschool.com

www.Facebook.com/AnnettesPreschool