ParaEducator

The Kickapoo Valley Forest School’s Leadership Team is seeking a qualified paraprofessional who is enthusiastic about young children and spending large parts of the day outside all year and in all weather. We seek an individual willing to work as part of an educational team. The KVFS educational team is made up of forest school educators who work to ensure children have abundant outdoor time in all seasons and in all weather conditions, and support children in exploration, risk taking, growth and learning. The Paraprofessional will work directly alongside the Lead Teachers of two 4-year-old Kindergarten and Kindergarten and/or First/Second grade
mixed aged groups of students.

This is a full-time position for the 2023-2024 school year, of up to 40 hours per week. Applicants must be willing to work flexibly to support the four homeroom teachers. The assistant will be responsible for the supervision of children as they engage in play in the natural environment at KVR, and will be responsible for helping children dress for the outdoors. With direction from the Lead Teacher, the assistant will also help students practice their academic skills on an individual basis.

KVFS is a La Farge School District public charter school located on-site at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR) in La Farge, WI. The Kickapoo Valley Forest School’s mission is to enrich children’s learning with opportunities to connect, explore, and engage through immersion in the natural world, through child-centered practices, and environmental stewardship.

What makes the Kickapoo Valley Forest School special? Our school is rooted in attunement to the natural world. With 8,600 acres for a school campus, a curriculum guided by nature awareness, and all weather hands-on nature immersion, our students and teachers can’t help but feel connected to their place. It isn’t that we take our curriculum outside, it is that outside is our curriculum. What does this look like in practice? It looks like learning math through observing patterns in nature. It looks like learning to write so that we can keep a nature journal. It looks like children climbing trees, sleeping in hammocks, counting acorns, scratching letters in mud, splashing through streams and learning the names and properties of the plants around them. It looks like children experiencing the world fully, through all their senses.

Essential Responsibilities:

- Under the direction of the Lead Teacher, help individual students with specific academic skills

- Help children maintain and put on outdoor clothing and gear - Maintain student/school communication folders

- Oversee and facilitate rest time for the students

- Maintain and organize supplies

- Clean, organize and disinfect indoor spaces

- Haul containers of water

- Supervise and manage students

- Tend to minor first aid needs of students

- Provide thoughtful, conscious supervision for students while outdoors in a variety of settings

- Facilite student work time where students choose from a variety of activities on an individual basis

- Remain outdoors for extended periods of time, in all weather conditions, and traverse rugged terrain

- Show enthusiasm for being outside in all weather conditions and for the natural world

- Model appropriate outdoor clothing choices

- Prepare and serve food with children

- Follow other assigned duties under the direction of the Teachers or Leadership Team

- Cover the KVFS front office space when required

- Assist with light maintenance of grounds including, shoveling snow and mowing

- Attend family events outside of school hours

- Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: Required qualifications: By Federal law, this position requires the candidate to have a high school diploma in addition to meeting "highly qualified" standards of one of the following:

➔ Two years or more of study at an institute of higher education (completion of 48 semester hours or equivalent of trimester hours), or
➔ Associate or higher degree, or
➔ Passing a test to demonstrate the knowledge of and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Ability to correctly lift and reposition students (who may weigh up to 100 pounds or more) and must be willing and able to use physical restraint when necessary. Applicants should have experience working with children. Enthusiasm for the natural world is a must.

Candidates seeking this position must understand that the responsibilities will include being outside for up to 7 hours a day in all types of weather.

Qualified applicants must be willing to take CPR/First Aid training. Qualified applicants should have experience or competencies in some of the following:

- Ability to model the core values of KVFS

- Successful work experience with early childhood/early elementary students

- Working with children with differing developmental needs

- Familiarity with and passion for place-based or nature-immersion education

- Family or community engagement initiatives

- Excellent problem-solving and time management skills

- Naturalist skills and knowledge of Wisconsin natural history

- Participate in a work environment of mutual respect and collaboration

- Ability to work as part of a team

- Must be flexible and have the ability to multitask

- Basic cooking and baking skills

- Willingness to engage deeply with critical self and group reflection

- Values diversity and contributing to an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment

- Must be able to physically traverse the KVR landscape with ease and be comfortable teaching outdoors for full days, year round in all types of weather, and carry up to 50 pounds for short periods

Compensation is regionally competitive and based on education and experience. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and 3-5 letters of recommendation to: gustafsonm@lafarge.k12.wi.us With questions please feel free to contact: Meaghan Gustafson Jonel  District Administrator La Farge Schools Kickapoo Valley Forest School gustafsonm@lafarge.k12.wi.us 608-625-2400 608-639-0565