Lead Preschool Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org. 

About This Position
Habitat Nature Preschool is seeking a Lead Preschool Teacher! The Lead Preschool Teacher is the primary early childhood educator of the teaching team and holds lead responsibility for one or more preschool classes, collaborating with co-teachers on curriculum development/implementation, student assessments, classroom management, and family communication. They are responsible for co-designing educational experiences for nature preschool students in accordance with Mass Audubon’s Action Agenda strategic goals, Mass Audubon’s education frameworks, guidelines, and policies for Early Education and Nature Preschools, and Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC) and overall best practices in nature-based early childhood education.

Lead Preschool Teacher candidates must possess a strong respect for young children and families, a love of teaching young children and a strong desire to connect children and nature and developing values for stewardship of natural and social communities. The Lead Preschool Teacher must have a keen love of designing nature-based curriculum and teaching outside and the ability to plan multi-sensory, play and nature-based, anti-bias, emergent and developmentally appropriate curriculum, incorporating a variety of hands-on/minds-on experiences. The Lead Preschool Teacher is the primary contact for families in the class, prepares progress reports, parent-teacher team conferences and maintains a warm, professional relationship with children, their parents and caregivers.

The Lead Preschool Teacher may supervise Preschool Teachers (EEC certified Preschool Teachers or Assistant Teachers) or per diem educators such as substitute teachers (i.e. supervision in the classroom only) with support from the Preschool Director.

Responsibilities
General

• Provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for young children both within an indoor and outdoor environment.
• Maintain clear communication with co-teachers and share teaching amongst the co-teaching faculty team.
• Create and maintain a healthy, safe, and positive environment for children using best practices in early childhood nature-based education.
• Work with other faculty colleagues to develop and steward a sense of community, belonging, and connection to nature in the preschool community.
• Responsible for emotional and physical health and safety of students and completing accident reports/injury forms as needed as well as medication logs. Communicate incidents with parent/guardian at the end of class, obtain signature and provide photocopies for parent and child’s preschool file.
• Assess and document student development; complete progress reports twice a year and conduct parent-teacher team conferences, as scheduled by Preschool Director.
• Maintain the physical environment by contributing to classroom housekeeping tasks as needed and storing personal belongings away from preschool program space.
• Enhance the physical space by thoughtfully placing child-initiated art, emergent language poems, emergent math charts and graphs, photographs of nature, students/families in class community, murals and other learning centers that reflect a nature-based curriculum
• Keeps up with relevant and ongoing changes in policies and guidelines within Mass Audubon, specific Mass Audubon sanctuary, and within MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) policies and regulations.
• Attend to all required safety and risk management requirements including, but not limited to conducting fire drills, filling out accident forms and medication logs, and informing Preschool Director of safety concerns as noted in daily activities.
• Must be comfortable exploring the natural world in a variety of weather throughout the year for 2 or more hours a day.  
• Responsible and accountable to all Mass Audubon/MA EEC health and safety policies and guidelines.
• Always maintains communication with co-teachers and other relevant staff throughout the day.
• Meets weekly with teacher team to plan curriculum /troubleshoot challenges as applicable.

Family Liaison

• Communicate with families about their child’s development and daily learning and play experiences including working with teaching staff to plan and conduct parent/teacher conferences.
• Professionally communicate with families about classroom activities, lessons, and school community (i.e. written class message or class newsletter).
• Engage with parents/caregivers in conversations about children’s challenging behaviors under the direction of the Preschool Director. Be a part of preparing and planning meetings with parents/caregivers to explore appropriate strategies, interventions and possible collaboration with outside consultants.
• Serve as a resource for parent-caregivers, families and faculty in supporting healthy child development/growth.

Education

• Lead in the preparation and presentation of a nature-based, multi-sensory, integrated, play-based, anti-bias and emergent curriculum for multi-age groups (3-5 years) of children in collaboration with co-teaching faculty that enhances the physical, social/emotional and cognitive growth of young children (this includes regularly teaching one or more preschool classes).
• Understands early childhood development and manages reasonable outcomes and expectations for young children.
• Observe, document and assess the ongoing development of each child and write progress reports twice per year.
• Communicate and work cooperatively with the Nature Preschool education staff to accomplish program goals.
• Complete annual professional development hours as needed/required.

Marketing/Community Relations

• Attend and participate in Nature Preschool Open Houses (virtual or in-person), and/or tours of the school, to describe the philosophy of the program, provides a general overview of what the preschool offers young children and their families.
• Attend and engage in school-wide community-building social events.
• Act as an ambassador for their specific nature preschool as well as Mass Audubon Nature Preschools, recognizing that preschool classes are frequently seen/observed by the public, visiting professionals, prospective families and Mass Audubon staff members.

Other

• Attend staff meetings and actively participate in statewide education staff meetings, audience professional learning communities, and professional development trainings as needed and required.
• Assist in other sanctuary and regional education activities, as needed.

Administrative Responsibilities (only when applicable)

• Assist Preschool Director or Education Manager in maintaining student files and connects with families to update information when necessary.
• Assist Preschool Director or Education Manager with EEC re-licensing paperwork and visits.
• With the Preschool Director/Early Education Manager, develops and maintains a weekly or bi-weekly schedule for all early educators and arranges substitute educators when necessary.
• Assist in conducting monthly faculty meetings and annual staff orientation/training.
• Meet with the Preschool Director or Education Manager weekly or biweekly as needed
• Maintain clear communication with staff and families about day-to-day operations of the school and assist with Preschool Director or Education Manager to ensure that curriculum and instruction is of highest quality, meets early education standards and outcomes, and is inclusive and culturally responsive.
• Manage supplies and needs of classroom/school building (communicating any safety/maintenance issues, taking inventory of supplies monthly, coordinating buying with assistant from Preschool Director or Education Manager).

Approximate Workload Distribution

• 70-90% teaching, curriculum development and instruction; program support including design and upkeep of classrooms and outdoor learning areas; family communication and reports.
• 10-30% staff meetings and professional development.

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• MA EEC Lead Teacher certification preferred (MA EEC Preschool Teacher certification welcome to apply)
• At least 3 years of experience teaching young children.
• Excellent writing and communication skills and ability to work cooperatively and independently
• Interest and/or experience in nature-based, emergent, play-based and anti-bias early childhood education
• Must be comfortable exploring the natural world in a variety of weather throughout the year for 2 or more hours a day
• Successful candidates must pass multiple background record checks, as required by Mass Audubon and Department of Early Education and Care, including CORI/DCF/SORI and fingerprints
• Three employment references
• First Aid and CPR Certifications are preferred but not necessary; training is provided

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $24.50-$26.00/per hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements.

Benefits eligible staff at Mass Audubon may elect to enroll in medical, dental, and vision plans. Mass Audubon also offers disability and life insurance plans, a retirement plan, and Flexible Spending Account options. Mass Audubon employment also includes access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through and the Reciprocity Agreement through the Consortium of Non-Profit Arts/Cultural/Environmental Organizations of New England. Mass Audubon employees enjoy 13 paid holidays (holidays may shift annually due to where days fall within calendar).

Work Schedule
This is a school year position running from late August through June, Monday through Friday, 35 hours per week between 8am-3pm. During the summer months, this position works a reduced schedule of 5 hours/week.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.