Assistant Forest Preschool Teacher

About the Forest Preschool

The preschool meets Monday through Friday September through early June. The program hosts up to 10 children aged 3 to 5 and is held exclusively outdoors (rain or shine). Children are dropped off by parents/caregivers at park in town and travel in the Pathfinders vans to nature preserves within 20 minutes of downtown Palo Alto. Frequent locations include Foothills Park, Arastradero Preserve, Redwood Grove, Shoreline Park and the Palo Alto Baylands.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Lead Mentor and assisting the children throughout their daily adventures
• Oversee physical and emotional safety and instruction for children during our nature programs
• Work with teaching team to develop lesson plans and related program activities (with ability to facilitate spontaneous teaching in the flow of nature)
• Reading or sharing stories during morning circle
• Participating in games and play with children
• Assisting children during snack and lunch time
• Preparing a variety of other activities dependent on the day's location
• Driving children in a Pathfinders minivan
• Attending weekly staff meeting

Requirements

• Must be available to work Monday through Friday from 8:15 am - 1:45 pm August 26, 2023 through June 7, 2024. Training/Orientation Day will be followed by on-the-job training during first month including meetings with director outside of teaching time and 20 hours of self-paced reading and supplemental videos. Weekly staff meeting Mondays 1:30-3:00pm.
• Previous experience working with children
• Genuine love of young children
• Understanding of child development, or willingness to get training
• A love of the outdoors, and knowledge of local ecology
• Current First Aid and CPR certified
• Good Driving Record
• Positive Attitude
• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Organized and reliable
• Eligible to work in the U.S. (I-9 verification required)
• Clean criminal record (background check required)
• Comfortable working in challenging weather

Desired Skills

• 12 units of early childhood education or willingness to take concurrently
• Nature skills like shelter making, basketry, cordage making
• Knowledge of local plant uses
• Conflict resolution/Peacemaking
• Available to work in our summer program June through early July 2023

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $23.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Grade levels:

• Pre-Kindergarten

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

School type:

• Private school

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Palo Alto, CA 94301: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Experience with children: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• CPR Certification (Required)
• First Aid Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person