Forest Kindergarten Support Teacher (Part Time)

Qualifications

Required Experience

The ideal candidate: ● Has experience in and a passion for Place-based teaching and learning in the field and in the classroom; ● Has at least 3 years of teaching experience and is comfortable leading a multi-aged group teaching and learning outdoors throughout the seasons; ● Has strong group dynamics, management and facilitation skills, with experience and understanding of this age group’s social-emotional development and psychology; ● Is well-rounded and comfortable teaching and integrating all foundational subject areas; ● Engages multiple ways of knowing into curriculum implementation and development; ● Possesses clear, confident and engaging communication skills, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ● Skilled and passionate in interpreting the natural history and ecology of MDI; ● Has a sense of adventure and experience teaching and learning on trail; ● Possesses strong outdoor/bushcraft skills; ● Builds positive and meaningful educational relationships with the local and greater community; ● Works to uphold principles of social justice in the interest of students, colleagues, and the school community and believes in education as a tool for powerful social change; ● Embraces and values collaboration with colleagues, families, and our local community.

Certification Requirements

A State of Maine Teaching certificate or equivalent is preferred.
Due to the active nature of our program, current certification in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or higher is required of all teaching staff.

Other Requirements

Sweet Fern Forest Kindergarten is located on the banks of Babson Creek and in the nearby woodland forests, marsh and fields. We have a yurt classroom as an indoor space for rest time, gear storage, and indoor lessons and occupy a 77 acre campus in Somesville, Maine.
While the Forest School model is inherently Place-based and shares many parallels with the TCS model for the grades, we believe that the practices of Forest Kindergarten best meet young students in establishing a strong social-emotional foundation and physical development.