Nature Pre-School Lead Teacher (Recreation Arts Instructor)

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

This is a part-time position with no benefits.

Position Overview
 

The Nature Preschool Lead Teacher is responsible for delivering the Wild Haven nature-based program for children ages 3-5 years at Carrie Murray Nature Center, a Baltimore City Recreation and Parks facility. This includes maintaining a safe, developmentally appropriate classroom and outdoor environment. Position includes professional development and on-going evaluation. On-going communication with families and caregivers is also essential. A Lead Teacher implements nature-based curriculum informed by developmentally appropriate practices as recognized by MSDE licensing and NAEYC standards. This includes observation and documentation of children's skills, interests, and growth as well as close collaboration with Wild Haven team to best meet all children's needs.
 

The position includes embodying a commitment to nature education and requires thoughtful planning for learning experiences (primarily outdoors) to prepare Baltimore’s youngest stewards for kindergarten.  

You can learn more about the Wild Haven program at www.carriemurraynaturecenter.org/wild-haven.  

Knowledge: 

A Lead Teacher should be familiar with child-led approaches and philosophies that support child-led learning environments, focusing especially on the nature pedagogy approach. 

Minimum Qualifications

 Certifications:
 Lead teacher must possess current MSDE-required credential to teach in a licensed childcare setting. This includes the 90 hours for Infants and Toddlers (45-hour Child Growth and Development + 45-hour Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials), First Aid and Pediatric CPR credentials.

Experience:

Must also possess a minimum of 2 years working specifically with children ages 18 months – 3 years and/ or children 3-5 year-old in emergent, nature-based, outdoor preschool and/or play-based childcare setting. Traditional childcare or preschool background cannot always be a substitute for this requirement due to the highly specialized field of nature-based early childhood education.

Responsibilities:
 

• Plans, creates, organizes, and cares for materials and activities directly related to nature-based curriculum. This also includes preparation of individual child portfolios of work and two annual progress letters that describe each child's progress as part of assessment.
• Collaborates to implement site-specific nature-based, emergent early childhood curriculum for children ages 18 months – 3 years old.
• Implements best practices and policies for young children and families; provides intentional and responsive care to children in program through process of child-caregiver attachment theory
• Responsible for maintaining a safe indoor/outdoor environment that supports child-led, developmentally appropriate play and meets MSDE licensing requirements
• Communicates regularly with current families about the children’s progress and individual needs of children in order to ensure success of program
• Produces documents (written, photo and video) and manages materials (child artifacts and work samples) that document child learning
• Responsible for authentic assessment of children in program, to be shared in biannual conference reports and in parent-teacher conferences
• Responsible for collaboration with Wild Haven team and Carrie Murray Nature Center naturalists to ensure delegation of tasks as it relates to efficiency of class
• Implements and evaluates extended events for childcare and preschool families

Other Duties:

• Maintains anecdotal evidence and observations to inform individual child’s assessment
• Assists in weekly email to families, updating them on group’s experiences and learning
• Cleans shared spaces including outdoor classroom, bathrooms, diapering areas, kitchen, outdoor classroom, bathrooms, etc. 
• Writes Daily Notes to be sent home with children, including information about care giving routines and daily explorations

Selection Process: Qualified candidates will be contacted, and an interview process will follow.

Financial Disclosure:

This position is required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law. 

If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Lucas Presta Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Specialist via email at Lucas.Presta@baltimorecity.gov

https://baltimorecity.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Nature-Pre-school-Lead-Teacher---Recreation-Arts-Instructor_R0000146