Early Childhood - Teacher

Summary

Ready to join a dynamic new team? PlayNest is hiring an infant/toddler/preschool teacher for our new location in Prospect. At PlayNest we believe children are strong, capable learners - always curious and ever ready to explore and discover. We provide the space and time for all children to learn, grow and be heard. Children ARE the curriculum! PlayNest teachers are flexible, open-minded and ready to be learn alongside the children in their care. The Teacher position will initially be part-time with the potential to become full-time after an orientation period. Pay starts at $16.50 and is dependent on education and experience. Understanding of Reggio Emilia-inspired practices and emergent curriculum is ideal.

Duties

• Act as a resource and guide, provoking ideas, problem-solving, and conflict mediation, while allowing children to lead their own learning journeys. This includes asking open-ended questions instead of providing direct answers.
• Engage with children (and everyone) with a kind and firm approach, using an equal balance of warm, gentle interactions and clear boundaries.
• View parents and families as partners, building strong, authentic partnerships through regular, meaningful communication that creates a cohesive learning community.
• Design and maintain an aesthetically pleasing, safe, and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment that encourages exploration, creativity, and inquiry, considering the space as the "third teacher".
• Observe children's interests and curiosities to co-construct and implement an emergent, project-based curriculum rather than using rigid lesson plans.
• Use a variety of media (photos, videos, transcripts, work samples) to document children's progress and thinking processes. This documentation is used for reflection, assessment, and communication.
• Assume an equal share of staff joint housekeeping responsibilities.
• Engage in ongoing self-reflection and professional development to continually grow and align with best practices in early childhood education.
• Maintain licensing requirements and appropriate accreditation requirements for professional development.
• Participate in developing an individualized annual professional development plan including regular reflection meetings with colleagues and school leadership.

Requirements

PlayNest teachers, above all, are responsible for upholding and demonstrating this approach in all decisions and interactions.
Other requirements include:

• High energy and the ability to work well with others (staff, children, and parents) and to foster a team environment.
• A strong understanding of child development.
• The ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels. May also be required to kneel, bend, squat or crawl.
• Willingness to play alongside children when invited and also allow children to direct their own learning as appropriate.
• Willingness to play outside in a variety of weather and temperatures.

Must clear full background check.