Outdoor Early Childhood Educator - Part-Time

Principal Function: The Outdoor Early Childhood Educator is responsible for creating responsive, safe, joyful, and nurturing learning environments for children that foster inquiry, exploration, learning and reflection in collaboration with other educators at Preschool on the Prairie. This role will be fulfilled in our outdoor classroom daily.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Creates and maintains a nature-rich and inquiry-focused outdoor classroom environment.
• Prepares and develops invitations to play in relation to children's needs and play schemas.
• Interacts with children in a respectful and mindful manner.
• Maintains reciprocal relationships with families and caretakers.
• Reflects, asks questions, and demonstrates a willingness to continue to grow as a teacher of young children and lifelong learner.
• Collaborates with and supports departmental team where assistance may be needed.
  
  

Education and/or Experience: High School Diploma or G.E.D. required; B.A. or higher in Education (Early Childhood) preferred; Three (3) years teaching experience in an early childhood setting preferred; Extensive study and learning around child development and outdoor/environmental education preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities: The following skills and abilities are either required or desired.

• Computer software skills required include: Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• The ability to operate a computer, printer, copy machine, scanner, fax machine, and other office equipment is required.
• Organizational skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Group management skills.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at Conner Prairie should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping ones emotions under control; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments; Remains open to others ideas and tries new things.
• Teamwork Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyones efforts to succeed.
• Diversity Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organizations goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Professionalism Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality/Quantity Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to promote and improve quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality; Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity and works quickly.
• Safety/Security Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and events on time; Follows instructions; Responds to managements direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan.
  
  

Job-related Competencies To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
  
  

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk and hike; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently will stand; walk; and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee will frequently climb stairs (buses and building areas); balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Preschool on the Prairie is an outdoor, nature preschool meeting outside daily in all weather conditions. We utilize the woods and creek on our property as part of our classroom as well. Easy to moderate hiking can be expected. Appropriate clothing to stay dry, warm, or cool is required.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to working in wet or humid conditions and reasonably expected to work in various types of outdoor weather conditions.

• Our duties are all weather related.
  
  

Preschool on the Prairie is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, following the Hamilton Southeastern School District Calendar.