Lead Preschool Teacher

Job Summary

The Farm & Forest School Lead Preschool Teacher will plan, design and lead curriculum and activities that support children in fostering an intimate connection to the natural world and local community while developing cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. The Lead Preschool Teacher is responsible for the supervision and care of students, ensuring their safety in our outdoor preschool program. The Lead Teacher is responsible for planning and implementing our curriculum, rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach, in accordance with licensing and agency practices, policies, and procedures.

They are expected to engage parents and families throughout the year.

• Treat children as competent and capable human beings.
• Understand that children learn best through play.
• Respect and practice curiosity about children’s interests and play.

• Enhance play with thoughtfully designed activities, language, and materials, including preparing lesson plans and the materials for activities.
• Work with the Director and other preschool staff to plan engaging activities that incorporate all learning domains and support our emergent curriculum.
• Acknowledge student feelings with sensitivity and model appropriate social behavior.
• Support and manage student behaviors so that all students can engage meaningfully in learning in a calm, regulated environment.
• Design the classroom spaces (indoors and outdoors) to promote positive social interactions and meaningful play experiences.
• Observe, assess and document students’ growth and development, using the portfolio method as directed by the Preschool Director.
• Document children’s learning and play daily by taking photos & videos.
• Utilize the Seesaw app to share photo & video documentation with families throughout the day.
• Upload photo & video documentation to Ketcha’s SharePoint weekly (by end of day Thursday).
• All photos and videos of students must be deleted from your personal devices at the end of each week.
• Hold parent-teacher conferences in the Fall & Spring to communicate with families about their child’s growth & development.
• Participate in family meetings as necessary outside of conferences. (These may be scheduled outside of your regular work hours).
• All other tasks as assigned.

• Actively supervise all students in your care.
• Ensure students’ daily needs are met, including (but not limited to): sunscreen, bug spray, water, food, warmth, and physical comfort.
• Manage risk and always stay aware of student safety.
• Document any behavior incidents and/or injuries with an incident report to be signed by parents within 24 hours of the incident.
• Take student attendance each day and communicate absences with the Preschool Director or office staff so that they can make attendance calls.
• Utilize email and the Seesaw app to write messages to families and communicate about their child’s day and needs.
• Communicate with all Ketcha staff, students, and families in a positive and respectful manner.
• All other tasks as assigned.

• Visually assess the classroom and playground environments to detect hazards. Remedy or report unsafe conditions immediately. Reports can be made to the Preschool Director.
• Organize indoor and outdoor environments daily to keep the spaces safe, clean, and accessible for children to use independently.
• Clean and sanitize the classroom spaces (indoor and outdoor) at the end of each day per licensing requirements and Ketcha policies and procedures.
• Communicate supply needs to the Preschool Director.
• All other tasks as assigned.

• Be a lifelong learner by engaging in regular professional development to expand, improve, and refine your teaching practice. (Licensing requires full-time teachers to complete at least 30 hours of training per year).
• Attend all scheduled professional development days during the school year.
• Attend all staff meetings (8:00-9:00) on Friday mornings.

ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL:
This position belongs to a class of employees referred to as Essential Personnel. Essential Personnel are those needed on site to meet the…