Early Childhood Programs Educator

Description

Job Title: Early Childhood Programs Educator

Department: Learning and Public Engagement 

Reports To: Early Childhood Programs Manager

Supervises: N/A

FLSA Salary Classification: Non-exempt

Revision Update: January 2025

Availability: Weekdays during standard business hours with occasional weekend work or evening. 

Position Summary: 

Connect young learners to plants through the Garden’s early childhood programs. Utilizing the Garden’s outdoor living laboratory, work to maintain a safe, accessible, and stimulating environment for all learners, implementing developmentally appropriate lessons to children ages 2-5 in a nature-based setting. 

Essential Functions: 

• Teach in the Garden’s early childhood programs, primarily Garden Sprouts Pre-K, Seeds to Sprouts and STEM Camps. Learn and co-lead planned curriculum in a natural setting utilizing a child-led approach both inside and outside.
• Collaborate with the Early Childhood Education team to document individual learning through photographs, work samples, anecdotal notes, and standard assessments.
• Actively represent the Garden Sprouts Pre-K program philosophy and practice.
• Prep, organize, set-up, and clean-up all program supplies. Responsible for identifying and maintaining best storage practices.
• Participate in required training sessions, mentoring assignments, staff meetings, planning sessions, and education meetings. 
• Monitor safety at all times and perform continual risk assessments. 
• Support the Early Childhood Programs Manager to make sure all children are making progress in their learning, allowing for differences in abilities. 
• Communicate professionally with Garden Sprouts Pre-K families both in person and digitally, using Class Dojo and Brightwheel platforms.
• Support STEM Camps during Spring Break, Fall Break, and Summer Break in the early childhood camp programs, working alongside the entire Education team and performs other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education concentration with at least 2 years’ experience working with preschool age children. Or an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education with 4 years experience working with children 0-6 in a public or private operated nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center. 

Must possess a valid driver’s license, which is subject to insurability and an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report and complete a background check. Must become certified and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR (classes provided). Newly employed staff must submit a physical examination report completed prior to employment that provides evidence that they are free of communicable disease, including active tuberculosis and physical and mental conditions that could affect their ability to perform assigned duties as required by the State of Alabama.

Success Factors:

• A commitment to, and ability to effectively convey, the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants with a genuine passion that also embraces and exemplifies the Garden’s core values. Understand and communicate the Garden’s mission, vision, strategic plan, programs, and structure in a positive, constructive, and effective manner. 
• Public service attitude and genuine enthusiasm for working with students and the public. Must exhibit excellent oral presentation skills to communicate with guardians professionally in person and via electronic means. 
• Maintain a flexible, constructive, courteous approach to teachers, parents, children, and other staff. Willingness and ability to stay current with organizational communication channels checking email and Basecamp regularly for communication with supervisors and other staff.
• Sense of responsibility in the area of safety, including appropriate radio use and basic safety measures. 
• A love of nature and teaching outdoors, working with children for several hours a day under all types of weather conditions. 
• Expected to present a professional image to the public by following the Garden/Education Program dress code. 
• Flexible working both independently and as part of the education team. Can effectively adapt to change; can shift gears comfortably; is flexible and embraces change with a “can-do” attitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

Background knowledge in nature based and/or play based education. Understanding of the Montessori or Reggio Emilia approach to learning. Experience with English Language Learners