Northeast LA Forest School is seeking a qualified candidate to join us in our morning class beginning with June 2024. Training will begin as soon as May 28. See full job description and requirements below.

*We are seeking one 30.5 hr/week employee.

*We at NELA Forest School seek to create a safe, accepting, and inclusive environment for our students. We believe a big part of that is seeing themselves represented in the people and teachers around them. BIPOC, Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ welcome and highly encouraged to apply.

About our program:
At Northeast LA Forest School we seek to reverse the "indoorification of childhood" by providing real life, inquiry based explorations in nature. Children will be able to indulge their curiosity, let it guide their explorations, and build their scientific thinking through trial-and-error style play. Early literacy and math skills can be seen throughout our meaningful play. Our group play requires empathy, listening skills, and learning different forms of conflict resolution thus building social-emotional skills. Through play our children begin to discover their sense of self and others. Our group circle times are a time for reflection and conversation about our daily adventures. In addition to explorations, our daily structure allows for snacks and lunch, songs, and diving into a few good books.

Description of Position:
The associate and lead teachers are responsible for facilitating the application of an age-appropriate, nature-based, emergent curriculum for 2-5.5 year olds enrolled in a 100% outdoor, urban forest school.
Teachers must model a healthy relationship with and curiosity for the natural world.

This position reports to Director Becca Hackett-Levy.

Key Responsibilities (All Associate Teachers)

• Frequent communication with the lead teacher and the director including, but not limited to, daily check-ins, weekly meetings, and ability to respond to phone calls emails and texts within the same day.
• Adhere to curriculum and structure created by and with Executive Director
• Assist the lead teacher in writing daily classroom reports, tracking incidents, and recording medical care for small injuries.
• Contribute to tracking developmental and play growth twice yearly using school checklists and anecdotal observations.
• Partner with lead teacher to create age-differentiated provocations and experiences that actively engage children’s social, cognitive, and emotional growth. Small group and large group times are both necessary.
• Facilitate a nap or rest time for Nest students.
• Follow Northeast LA Forest School pedagogy, language, child conflict resolution methods, and educational methodology as provided in staff handbook.
• Be ready to learn, prepare, and perform as part of a team, our program’s Disaster Resilience plan. (training provided)
• Ensure classroom, bathroom, and teacher supplies are kept stocked daily.
• Model appropriate Northeast LA Forest School teacher language in the classroom.
• Engage in daily song with students from the Northeast LA Forest School play list.
• Maintain an engaging library collection of school books. All new books coming into school must be approved by the Director.
• Partner with lead teacher and morning class teachers to maintain frequent communications with parents through informal check in at pick-up. Director must be CC’d on all emails with the full class and individual parents.
• Maintain appropriate hygiene and cleanliness standards, safety, and security of children.
• Work with fellow teachers to maintain emergent curriculum based on the curiosities of the students.
• Promptly attend to children’s diapering and bath-rooming needs.
• Facilitate daily activities such as arrival, welcome circle and songs, snacks, lunch, storytelling, and dismissal etc.
• Follow the daily classroom “schedule” provided by Northeast LA Forest School
• Maintain personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement. Meet with director in Fall and Spring to discuss plan and complete teacher self-evaluations.
• Ensure classroom has daily supply of both potable and play water. Containers provided by school.
• Adhere to any and all current and future CoVid-19 Health and Safety Policies.

-Staff meeting 1x per month 12-2:30

-Weekly Friday meeting 8am-8:30am

Physical Requirements

• Must be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Must be comfortable getting dirty, able to sit on the ground.
• Must be comfortable with occasional handling of bugs and other small living things.
• Must be able to crouch, dance, dig, carry a backpack, climb, hike, and carry up to 40lbs.

Weekly Work Requirements Part-Time
30.5 hr per week educators are required to be onsite 8:30am-2:30p, M-Th and 8am-2:30pm Friday which includes set up, class time, break down, a daily work/prep/meeting time at the end of the day, and supporting our afternoon class, the Nest from 1:30-2:30.

Each school year runs roughly the day after Labor Day through the first full week of June. Summer camp sessions begin no more than one week after the last day of school and run through the second week of August.

Job Types: Part-time, Contract

Pay: $20.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Early childhood education: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: Multiple locations