Early Learning Center Outdoor Preschool Instructor

Details
Posted: 29-Jul-26
Location: Carpinteria, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $ 22.00- $28.00 per hour DOE
Categories
Early Childhood
Preferred Education
2 Year Degree

• Reports to:
  
  Director of the ELC
• Status:
  Non-Exempt (Hourly)
• Contact:
  Co-Directors of ELC:
• Pay Scale: $ 22.00- $28.00 DOE

At the ELC, we believe childhood is an adventure best experienced outside. We are a community of dedicated educators who merge the respectful, mindful practices of the RIE philosophy with a deep love for the outdoors.
Rooting our work in Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), we meet young learners where they are—as individuals and as a community—helping each child achieve meaningful, challenging goals in both indoor and outdoor settings. We believe children learn best through play. Guided by child-directed exploration and balanced by teacher-supported activities, our structured daily routines give children the confidence and control to make sense of their world, build vocabulary, and stimulate cognitive growth.

At the Cate Early Learning Center (ELC), we embrace the beautiful, messy, and deeply rewarding work of outdoor education while prioritizing safety, joy, and emotional well-being. As an Educator, you aren’t just supervising children—you are co-conspiring with nature to cultivate resilient, empathetic, and curious human beings.
At Cate School, we pride ourselves on fostering a community where our employees truly thrive. We offer a highly supportive, collaborative culture, and a robust benefits package to ensure our educators are cared for as deeply as our students. As a member of our team, you’ll enjoy full access to our premium campus facilities, including our library, gym, pool, and athletic track.

We also provide complimentary meals in our campus dining hall during the academic year. Tucked away in the foothills, our campus offers breathtaking mountain views and serene walking trails—perfect for a peaceful break or an outdoor adventure with students.

• Supervise children closely to ensure their safety and well-being in any setting and weather conditions.
• Administer first aid and respond to emergencies, documenting all incidents accurately.
• Teach children about risk management while encouraging them to take age-appropriate risks.
• Model and enforce personal hygiene practices, including proper hand-washing.
• Maintain a precise headcount of students at all times. Ensuring each child is signed in and out each day.

• Embrace the Outdoors:
  Lead and engage children in immersive outdoor activities across all weather conditions, nurturing their natural curiosity, risk-assessment skills, and connection to the earth.
• Language-rich program:
  Promote positive and respectful interactions by creating a safe nurturing space that supports learning; using open ended resources, story books, and labeled areas to emphasize language development.
• RIE & Respectful Care:
  Plan, supervise, and implement a preschool curriculum aligned with RIE philosophy—treating every child with dignity, honoring their natural development, and encouraging active problem-solving. Helping each child to become aware of his/her role as an integral member of the group.
• Routine:
  Ensure daily rhythms (outside time, meals, diapering, rest times) are handled in an organized, peaceful manner to provide children with a comforting sense of routine.
• Developmental Assessments:
  Conduct routine developmental observations and assessments to tailor your teaching to each child's unique pace and learning style.

• Build Trust:
  Form deep, respectful relationships with families that celebrate their unique cultural, socioeconomic, and individual differences. Communicate effectively and professionally, sharing observations about their child’s development through conversations, emails, and a parent portal.
• Transition Support:
  Greeting each family as they walk in to ensure a gentle, warm transition into our program.
• Collaborative Leadership:
  Provide constructive guidance to support staff by collaborating with co-teachers to support the program’s goal.

• Paperw…