Dodge Nature Preschool seeks a Lead teacher to be part of the teaching team in fulfilling the school’s mission of meeting children’s developmental needs while initiating them into a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world.

Program Description
Dodge Nature Preschool operates as part of the Dodge Nature Center which is located on 320 acres in West Saint Paul, Minnesota. Grounds include woodlands, prairie, ponds, wetlands, a model farm with animals, gardening program, a greenhouse, apple orchard, maple syruping facility, and apiary. A state-of-the-art preschool building provides education in three classrooms. The spacious rooms include kitchens, teacher offices, plumbed water tables, planters, and many windows offering views of the Nature Center grounds. Doors from the classrooms lead to a spacious playground that has exits to Nature Center trails. Class size is 18 three and four year olds and is taught by two lead teachers and one assistant.
The curriculum for the Dodge Nature Center preschool uses a social constructivist approach for addressing naturalistic, linguistic, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, musical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligences. Parent involvement and student-mentoring opportunities are encouraged.

Compensation
Varies with education and experience.

Responsibilities
1. Implement curriculum based on best current practices in early childhood education. (constructivist approach, inquiry based learning, Reggio Emilia Approach)
2. Maintain an attractive, functional, appropriate learning environment.
3. Develop and deliver programming including long-range planning and well-prepared daily activities with special attention to nature education.
4. Track the development of individual children, assess needs, and plan based on those needs.
5. Maintain relationships with parents.
6. Supervise educational assistants, interns, volunteers, parents and other members of the classroom teaching team.
7. Work with Dodge Nature Center Naturalists to provide activities for the preschool children on Dodge Nature Center grounds.
8. Play an active role in the operation of the preschool through weekly planning and training meetings and events, in-service training, participation in interview teams, policy discussions, and writing assignments. Participate in the process of seeking and maintaining NAEYC accreditation.
9. Take part in professional development opportunities locally, statewide and nationally as appropriate. Maintain membership in NAEYC or other appropriate professional organizations. Read literature on current trends or related topics. Participate in leading presentations and workshops as the opportunity arises.
10. Adhere to the code of Ethics of the National association for the Education of Young Children.

Requirements

Education/certification:
Qualifies as teacher as per rule 3, Minnesota State Licensing, including a BA in ECE or related field, Masters degree preferred.

Required Knowledge:
• Extensive knowledge and experience in early childhood education, including a college degree in ECE or Child Development or a related field.
• Experience teaching preschool in a child-centered, developmentally appropriate program.
• Experience in a NAEYC accredited program or commitment to working towards achieving accreditation.
• Experience or education in environmental education or commitment to learning about appropriate early childhood nature education.
• Experience working with the Reggio Emilia Approach or familiarity of the Approach desirable.

Skills/Abilities:
• Independence and ability to work with little direction.
• Sensitivity to children.
• Sensitivity to adults and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to appropriately supervise and lead teaching team.
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings and weekends for parent meetings and in-service training.

Physical activities and requirements of this position:

This position requires active participation with children up to 6 hours per day in the classroom, playground, and throughout the nature center.

Please send resume and credentials to:
Ms. Marty Watson, Preschool Director
mwatson@dodgenaturecenter.org  
1715 Charlton Street
West Saint Paul, MN 55118

651-789-5275
651-554-8444 (fax)