Nature School Director

The Llamitas School

A Spanish Immersion Nature School

Oak Cliff, Texas

Position

Director 

Start Date

Summer 2024

About
The Llamitas School is a home based Spanish immersion Nature School in Oak Cliff, Texas. We opened our doors (backyard!) in 2023 with 8 students, ages 4-6. We have a unique opportunity for a passionate outdoor early educator to lead our Nature School program into our second year. 

Job Description

The Llamitas School is seeking a full time Director who is fluent in Spanish. The Director will play an integral role teaching students, collaborating with co-teachers and planning for future program growth. The person hired for this position would help establish and conceptualize this exciting new program in its second year and ideally have plans to stay in this role for 5-10 years at a minimum. The ideal candidate will have experience with teaching and caring for the 4-7 age group, developing outdoor child-led curriculum and have an entrepreneurial spirit.  

The Llamitas School is a progressive school, seeking to question and improve the means and goals of education. We are inspired by forest school and Reggio Emilia philosophies, believing children are inherently curious and are driven to educate themselves with the right support. 

Working at the Llamitas School is a journey of discovery and experimentation. We are the only bilingual nature based program in Dallas and the need for child led programs is great in our area. Llamitas is inspiring, beautiful, and hard work. We get sweaty, muddy, excited, frustrated, at times cold and other times full of mosquitos. We build relationships, laugh, connect, cry, encountering the human experiences necessary for raising a whole child. You will learn about yourself, about each child, and are guaranteed to learn a lot about rapidly growing alternative educational pedagogies. At Llamitas, you join a collaborative movement to support families in raising calm, confident and curious kids.

Responsibilities

• Co-teach a group of 12 mixed age children (ages 4-7)
• Develop emergent curriculum based on children’s interest and integrate the activities and projects with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) 
• Bring an immersive approach to Spanish while working with children
• Build positive relationships with each child, the co-teacher and the families
• Document activities and share with families
• Foster joy and wonder in nature in all kinds of weather
• Maintain school supplies through organization and cleaning
• Promote and respect diversity of ethnic, cultural, linguistic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities 
• Determine the work schedule of the school and arrange substitute educators when necessary 
• Communicate with families about their child’s development including working with teaching staff to plan and conduct parent/teacher conferences
• Manage school budget and aid in planning for economic and school growth
• Train and provide professional development for staff teachers

Qualifications

• Experience working with children 4-7 years old and/or an Associate, Bachelors, or Masters degree in early childhood education or similar relevant degree
• Experience working in an outdoor setting with children preferred
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work as part of a team with patience and flexibility
• Dedication to self-reflection and a desire to continually improve your craft
• Physical ability to be outside each day, moving and walking in all weather and the ability to lift objects up to 50 lbs. 
• Ability to follow and create rituals that help nurture transitional and calming moments
• Certification in adult/child/infant first aid and CPR (or willing to get the training)
• FBI background and criminal check, health report (when you receive our offer)

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

The position will typically work 40 hours per week year-round. The position is primarily Monday—Friday. However, some weekends or evenings may occasionally be required for family events, staff meetings, or training opportunities. Due to the outdoor format of the school, the Director must have the ability to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions. They must also have the ability safely navigate a variety of surfaces, walk long distances, stand for extended periods of time, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, climb stairs or ramps, lift, carry up to 50 lbs.

TO APPLY

Send your resume and cover letter to caroline@ocllamitas.com