Forest Preschool Teacher

Did you know that Baltimore City is home to the largest urban green space east of the Mississippi River? And within that green space, there is a magical forest preschool? It is the perfect place to work if you like being outside, working with young children, and striving towards best practice in an early education setting. We are looking for someone creative, kind, and open-minded to join our dynamic team.

Position Overview
The Preschool Teacher is responsible for the implementation of Forest Preschool at CMNC, a nature-based, preschool and childcare for children ages 2 – 5 years old at Gwynns Falls Trails. Implementation includes administration, curriculum development, communication with families, and maintaining a safe, developmentally appropriate classroom and outdoor environment. Position includes professional development and on-going evaluation.

The position includes embodying Forest Preschool’s commitment to nature education and requires thoughtful planning for learning experiences (primarily outdoors) to help children feel more confident engaging in the natural world while preparing them with the skills they need to be successful in their future school experiences. The Forest Preschool Teacher collaborates with the Forest Preschool team to deliver intentional and responsive care to preschoolers (2-5 years old). 

Overview of responsibilities

• Collaborates to implement site-specific nature-based, emergent early childhood curriculum for children ages 2 – 5 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 Forest Preschool 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
• Writes 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 caregiving routines and daily explorations

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION 

• AA degree preferred (or the equivalent of 48 college credits), including at least 15 semester hours of coursework in the field early education or childhood development 
• Minimum of one year experience working with young children in a childcare setting
• Possess the following credentials, certifications, or licenses: Current first aid and CPR credentials; 90 hour Child Care Certificate (Applicant may pursue certification upon hire)
• Must complete the annual clock hours required by the Office of Child Care to advance or maintain childcare credentials
• Must be at least 19 years of age

For salary and to apply, please see link and email mneill@baltimorecity.gov.

How to apply:

For salary and to apply, please see link and email mneill@baltimorecity.gov.