Apple Playschools (Upper School) GSRP Lead Teacher

Apple Playschools is seeking an experienced teacher to lead the GSRP classroom at Green Apple Nature Playschool (Upper School). This role is ideal for an educator who is deeply committed to early childhood development and eager to work in a program that thoughtfully integrates GSRP requirements with a Reggio Emilia inspired-approach. *** Please note this position is subject to state funding approval.

About Us: Apple Playschools is an early childhood educational center that offers outdoor immersion and Spanish immersion programs. At our Ann Arbor facilities, we seek to provide progressive early education for a better world. We are preparing to open our second GSRP Classroom and are looking for an experienced, creative lead teacher to help us serve the community!

What Sets Us Apart:

• Play-based education
• Emergent curriculum
• Anti-bias education 
• Emilia Reggio's approach to teaching
• Social justice-focused 
• Muddy & Messy!

Your Role: GSRP Lead Teachers provide high-quality and mission-aligned early childhood education for children in your classroom, and are the anchor of the classroom teaching team in best practices and inquiry. GSRP Lead teachers hold the main responsibility for collaborative curriculum planning, providing students with individualized support, and coordinating teaching staff to deliver high-quality learning experiences and complete daily classroom and community care tasks. GSRP Lead Teachers must work at least 35 hours a week, and at least 6 hours a day in the classroom.

What's In It For You:

• Competitive pay ranging from $19-22/hour, commensurate with experience
• Growth opportunities
• Flexible schedule options
• Retirement matching*
• Network Health Benefit Plan*
• 4+ weeks of PTO
• Child Care Assistance available!
• Low/No-Cost CDA Training Program 
• 50% tuition reduction at Apple Playschools
• Employee Assistance Program

Your Impact:

• Following the Reggio Emilia philosophy to design play-based learning activities and opportunities for child-led learning. 
• Setting and following through on program goals based on data from PQA, COR, and other identified tools. Completing the COR assessment tool promptly during the required scoring periods for all children in the program.
• Working in collaboration with the GSRP coordinator and Early Childhood Specialist to comply with all program, reporting, and enrollment requirements
• Completion of all required trainings and ongoing professional development requirements
• Providing exceptional partnerships with students, parents, and community members by conducting fall and spring home visits for all the children enrolled in the program and family-teacher conferences twice a year.
• Coaching and training up other teachers through feedback and modeling
• Contributing to a fun, welcoming, and organized environment
• Ensuring the safety of participants, reporting any concerns as per licensing guidelines

What You’ll Need – The Must-Haves:

• Be age 19 or older
• A valid Michigan teaching certificate and an Early Childhood Education (ZA) or Early Childhood-General and Special Education (ZS) endorsement, Birth-K, or PK-3 endorsement; or A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or child development with a specialization in preschool teaching. The transcript will document a major, rather than a minor, in child development or early childhood education.
  • Candidates who do not meet these requirements will be considered only if they can verify they have an Associate degree (AA in early childhood education or child development or the equivalent, or a valid classroom CDA credential AND a willingness and ability to enroll in a Bachelor’s program as part of the required Compliance Plan, with completion of at least two credit-bearing courses per calendar year.
• Be able to pass all required background checks and criminal history review
• Meet LARA and GSRP licensing education requirements appropriate to the assigned role
• Be committed to effective conflict resolution and collaborative communication with staff, families, children, and community partners
• Have sound judgment and ability to assess risk appropriately, including the capacity to act quickly and appropriately in case of an emergency
• Be able to work a minimum of 35 hours per week
• Be able to be “on your feet” for most of the day
• Hold, carry, or lift up to 25 pounds
• Work outside in all weather conditions and walk on uneven ground

Will Give You an Edge – The Nice-to-Haves:

• Prior GSRP experience and love of the outdoors

Come Join Us and Transform Our Community through work and PLAY!