Position Type:
Early Childhood/Teacher
Date Posted:
6/24/2024
Location:
Outer Range
Date Available:
08/08/2024
Closing Date:
07/01/2024
Location: Outer Range
Exempt
Title: Alpine Start Preschool Educator
Direct Supervisor: Prinicpal
Contract length of term: Teacher - 178 Days
Salary: Teacher (range $48,000 - $75,163 based on 24-25 salary schedules, education and related experience)
Start Date: August 8, 2024

Montrose County School District RE-1J and Outer Range is looking for a motivated, collaborative and innovative Lead Teacher for the Alpine Start Forest Preschool. Outer Range is seeking a Lead Teacher who can effectively design and facilitate outdoor education programs for preschool-aged children that emphasize joyful, shared experiences, skill acquisition, and social/emotional support of students. This inspiring and energetic educator should be able to communicate with students, parents, and other stakeholders the mission and vision of Outer Range. The Lead Teacher will be able to implement the core values of Outer Range in order to engage students and families through early childhood experiences.

Definition:
Under general direction, to be a preschool teacher in the outdoor education program; to plan, develop, organize, and deliver experiential learning; to assist in the planning, development, and implementation of site, instructional goals and objectives, and in the evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programs and to do other related functions as directed. Lead teacher works closely with a co-teacher and children to facilitate outdoor classes with children. Tasks include thoughtful curriculum design based on children's emergent interests, on-going reflection about and assessment of children and the forest school program, and collaboration with other teachers and/or volunteers. Lead teacher will manage support staff and/or volunteers as needed. Lead teachers set the tone for learning as engaged, enthusiastic role models of nature-based education while maintaining a safe, positive atmosphere.

Classes are almost entirely outdoors, so you must be experienced and eager to facilitate outdoor learning in all seasons!

Essential duties and responsibilities:
Responsible for planning and facilitating immersive outdoor experiences for young children. This includes maintaining a safe, loving environment with safety routines that protect yet empower children.

• Develop and implement preschool programming that aligns with the Outer Range mission, vision and values.
• ??To honor young children as independent, capable thinkers through child-directed, experiential, place-based approaches to learning.
• Ability to develop strategies and supports to address challenging behaviors and promote social and emotional competence and well-being.
• To engage in a rhythm of reflection, inquiry, observation, trial-and-error, risk-taking, perseverance, discussion, problem-solving, expression, and teamwork through a balance of emergent curriculum, intentional activities, and unstructured nature play.
• To offer opportunities for children to explore identity in the context of nature and the larger community, while cultivating kindness, empathy, compassion, and gratitude.
• To model best practices and approaches to nature-based early childhood education.
• Collaborate with program manager to create outdoor education experiences aligned with mission and vision.
• Amplify the voices and ideas of young people through connection, accountability, and shared power.
• Design and guide experiences through imagination, immersion, and instinct while encouraging curiosity, questioning, and seeking of adventure.
• Strengthen relationships through joyful, shared experiences that foster courage and risk assessment.
• Desire to contribute individual skill/passion to designing non-prescriptive, student driven experiences.
• Nurture individualized needs of children while managing whole group experiences and unstructured play in the forest.
• Modify and adapt programming to meet the varied needs of students.
• Plan for the learning environment and experience through selective program activities to bring about desired results.
• Communicate and plan with students, program partners, co-facilitators, and families.
• Instruct/Lead the program that is developed.
• Daily set-up/break-down of forest classroom (hands-washing station, fire ring, etc.).
• Utilize an emergent curriculum plan, daily ‘sketch of the day' based on children's and seasonal interests, and refer to assessment domains.
• Participate in various community-building initiatives with staff and local partners.
• Manage materials and equipment; request/order new materials as needed.
• Participate in authentic child assessment, self-evaluation, and program evaluation.
• Other duties that support families, children, and staff will also be assigned as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood or similar
• Certified through Colorado Dept of Education
• Possession of a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License
• Wilderness First Aid/Adult & Child CPR/First Aid or higher or ability to complete

Experience:

• Three years of successful early childhood education experience
• Outdoor education experience strongly preferred
• Passion and experience in outdoor expeditions or learning
  · Experience with diverse student populations
  · Experience with engaging parents and community stakeholders
• Excellent written and oral skills language skills

Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.

• This position requires moderate to vigorous outdoor activities in extreme conditions.
• Persons performing service in this position classification will exert 5 to 75 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• This type of work involves operating a vehicle, sitting, walking, and/or standing.
• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy conditions caused by weather may occasionally be experienced.
• Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate business-related equipment, and handle and working with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.

Condition of Employment:

• Criminal Background Check required for hire
• Clean driving record
• Insurability by the District's liability insurance carrier

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.