Preschool Teacher Job Posting
Big Wonder Child Care
60 N Kent Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
612-240-5547
Fulltime (40 hours) Non-Exempt
A year-round position, from 8:00 am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday, will require occasional evening hours.
Big Wonder seeks a program coordinator to be part of the teaching team in fulfilling the school’s mission:
Big Wonder honors the unique rights of children, families, and teachers and nurtures a race-conscious, anti-bias, and equitable learning community. We are committed to equity and inclusion and serve families of different races, family structures, religious beliefs, and social-economic backgrounds. Big Wonder is inspired by Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and spiritual inquiry frameworks to develop high-quality educational spaces for young learners and families. We share our innovative learning frameworks and policies to improve equity and educational practices in early childhood settings.
Program Description
Big Wonder is a place of exploration and innovation. We are working to create new pedagogical methods, funding frameworks, policies, and networks to collaborate, build, and create robust, equitable, and sustainable solutions for early childhood education.
We follow an emergent curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Spiritual Inquiry, and Anti-Bias Education. Seeking a teacher in a classroom for mixed ages 2.5-5 years, with three co-teachers.
Compensation
$23.00/hour. Varies with education and experience; wage will increase after the first year.
Responsibilities
With a teaching team, develop and implement an emergent curriculum using a child-led, inquiry-based Reggio Emilia & Montessori approach that incorporates anti-bias learning goals.
Maintain an organized, safe, and welcoming learning environment that nurtures play, problem-solving, and questioning.
Develop and deliver well-planned programming that assesses children’s needs and learning desires and pivots and modifies programming, in the long and short term, based on the children's needs and learning desires.
Nurture and maintain healthy, loving relationships with children in your classroom.
Develop and maintain a healthy and appropriate working relationship with other staff members and parents, always maintaining discretion and trust.
Play an active role in the operation of the preschool through weekly planning and training meetings, events, and in-service training.
Participate in professional development opportunities and implement new learning as appropriate.
Invite collaboration with outside professionals and coaches.
Commitment to action research to develop, implement, and document innovative learning frameworks with your teaching team on:
Anti-Bias Education
Anti-Racist Education
Spiritual Inquiry
Social Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and Virtues Development
Adhere to the code of Ethics of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Manage classroom behavior by:
maintaining a positive regard for children,
develop secure, loving relationships in your class,
modeling healthy behaviors and problem-solving,
nurturing pro-social skills in children,
developing healthy habits and classroom routines,
implementing natural limit-setting when appropriate.
Engage children in self-discovery and inquiry-based play by asking open-ended questions in child-driven projects.
Encourage a positive self-identity and an appreciation for differences and diversity through anti-bias education, diverse representations in the classroom, empathy building, and perspective-taking practices.
Mentor teacher assistants, teaching aides, and interns, especially in the Reggio approach
Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Qualifies as a teacher per MN Rule 3. BA or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or related field preferred but not required.
Required Knowledge:
Extensive knowledge and experience in early childhood education, including a college credit in ECE, Child Development, or a related field.
Experience teaching preschool in a child-centered, developmentally appropriate program.
Experience in Parent Aware accredited program or commitment to working towards achieving accreditation.
Experience or commitment to learning about social justice education.
Experience working with the Reggio Emilia or Montessori approach or familiarity with this approach is desirable.
Skills:
Sensitivity to children’s learning styles and ability to communicate clearly with parents.
Ability to develop collaborative team relationships and problem-solve.
Ability to supervise assistant teachers and interns.
Ability to use technology to support documentation of children’s work.
Physical activities and requirements of this position:
This position requires active participation with children up to 7 hours daily in the classroom, playground, and gym.
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds to waist level.
Benefits:
11 Paid Federal Holidays, 3 Weeks Vacation (one week from Dec 26 to the 1st, and 2 weeks flex time), Paid Sick Leave.
Retirement Contributions (Starting March 2024)
Tuition reduction for children of faculty members (after 1st year)
Professional Development and opportunities for growth