The Full-time Nature PreKindergarten Lead Teacher, under the leadership of the Director of the Nature School, and in collaboration with the NPK Assistant Teacher and the Nature Kindergarten Team, will be responsible for implementing the school’s existing Core Learning Goals for PreKindergarten using the natural world in a mostly outdoor setting. Our unique outdoor campus with classroom yurts becomes the primary context that informs course curriculum and content. In this 5th year of the Nature PreKindergarten (NPK) class, the NPK Lead Teacher will take the lead in setting the schedule and curriculum design and implementation for a growing class, while ensuring reasonable consistency with the existing EDS expectations and Nature School culture. The NPK Lead Teacher reports to the Director of the Murray Nature School.

About Episcopal Day School and the Murray Nature School
EDS, a 77-year-old PreK-8, launched its inaugural Murray Nature Preschool (NPS) in 2019 and Nature Kindergarten (NK) in 2020, based at the 38-acre multi-purpose experiential ed campus located 7 miles from main campus. EDS began the 2022-2023 school year with 315 students on the Walton Way Campus (including 2 sections of preschool) and an additional 32 students on the Nature School Campus.  The program’s first few years have been extremely successful and well-received..

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate immersive outdoor PreKindergarten classes. This includes maintaining a safe, loving environment with safety routines that protect yet empower children.  

• Nurture individual needs of children while managing whole group experiences and unstructured play and exploration.

• Partner with the Nature Kindergarten team to ensure consistency and maximize campus synergies.

• Collaborate with other teachers, volunteers, and /or parents.

• Document learning progress in many formats (written documentation, photos, content for seesaw etc.).

• Other duties that support families, children, staff, and/or residents in the program may be also assigned.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Qualities

• Minimum of a B.A. or B.S. in a related field, education early childhood education preferred

• Experience in early childhood education and/or outdoor/nature education programs preferred

• Willingness to complete Forest School Certification

• Love of children, love of learning, love of nature

• Patient, compassionate disposition

• Strong collaboration and communication skills

• Adaptable to changing weather conditions, terrain, and physically strenuous activity 

Salary
This is a full-time, ten-month, salaried faculty position. Compensation and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.