Jobs

POSITION SUMMARY
‍As a Folk Farm Teacher for Drylands Agroecology Research (DAR), this role will be responsible for supporting the growth of young children (ages 2-6), including tracking development, creating seasonal, age appropriate curriculum, and maintaining health, safety and emotional regulation. This role will also consist of building the school zones with safety, healthy risk, developmentally appropriate and engaging activities, and sensory experiences accessible to all abilities. This role is responsible for actively attending meetings with agenda notes, maintaining communication between teachers, DAR employees, and families. This includes sending weekly curriculum updates and monthly newsletters to families, supporting growth conversations, tracking progress throughout the semesters, and facilitating parent teacher conferences. This role reports to the Director of Folk Farm and works closely with Folk Farm families, co-teachers, and the land stewards of  Elk Run Farm.​

POSITION DURATION & SCHEDULE
‍This role is seasonal to the school year semesters targeting August to May with planned unpaid holiday periods as well. This position is on-site at the Elk Run Farm Monday to Wednesday 8:30am-4:30pm and Thursdays 8:30am-2:30pm. Additional hours include monthly socials and planned school year calendar events. Labor averages at 30 hours per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Instructional Planning
‍Creating, submitting and posting monthly/weekly lesson plans (using team’s preferred method) that are reflective, intentional, and that accurately and comprehensively illustrate the focus and direction of your explorations as a class.Lesson plans are due by the Thursday prior to the week of the plan.Attaining materials for teaching prior to lesson.Creating and sending weekly parent communications that proactively communicate curriculum so learning can be supported at home with your teaching teamCreating and submitting monthly class newsletters for distribution to parents, enrichment Educators, and the co-Directors. Monthly Class Newsletters should be sent out to parents no later than the 1st of the month. If the first of the month falls on a weekend, newsletters should be submitted the first Monday. Newsletters must be sent to the director(s) in advance of being shared with families, during the week prior. Newsletters will not be reviewed on weekends.
Classroom Organization and Management
‍Attendance at Fall Orientation, and all School Socials.Effective utilization of paid planning/administrative hours to maintain overall organization and maintenance of classroom duties, lesson planning, and team/class communications as needed. Maintaining tidy and engaging education spaces with the help of your team. Ensuring the set up of school thoroughly prepares learning spaces and and take down of school fully takes care of materials.Caring for all Folk Farm School materials and DAR properties, protecting materials from damage whenever possible.Assist building outdoor physical infrastructure (like shade structures) for the school.
‍Implementation of Curriculum Strategies and Techniques
‍Full presence and engagement in the learning environment. Effective implementation of classroom curriculum that is reflective, intentional, well developed, and that respectfully realizes and builds upon child interests while achieving developmentally and philosophically appropriate learning objectives. Implementation of a curriculum that provides context in which children’s curiosity can be expressed purposefully, and that enables them to experience the joy of self-motivated learning. Implementation of a curriculum that is balanced in its approach and use of project work, single concepts, themes, and directed inquiry. Implementation of a curriculum that provides opportunities for children to grow their knowledge, skills, and dispositions by asking questions, conducting in-depth investigations, and making decisions about their activities and learning. Maintaining the Farm school essence and Forest school influence. Reading, understanding, following, improving, and innovating the Folk Farm practices and principles as illustrated in the Folk Farm Teacher Handbook.
‍Student Documentation and Assessment
‍Individual student logs will be managed by the teaching team for the purpose of documentation and assessment for Parent-Educator Conferences. These documentation forms may include anecdotal notes, developmental observations, and any other information that is reflective of the child’s learning experience at Folk Farm. Fall and Spring Parent Educator conferences for all students in class as divided up by co-Educators - timely preparation of all conference related sign-up sheets and forms, as well as meeting with families. Maintaining tidy and engaging education spaces with the help of your team.
‍Administration
‍Continued training and sharing new information with the teaching team.Communication with the Director on a weekly basis as well as attending all meetings.Creation of email templates whenever applicable in family communications.Answering all emails during the work week within a 48 hours window.Supporting the growth of Folk Farm School taking initiative with  administrative time after school hours to plan, document, and engage with the needs of the school.Using surplus administrative time to help develop Folk Farm School grant writing protocols.

‍REQUIREMENTS
‍CPR CertificationAbility to lift 50lbs Early Childhood Education Certification and 3-5 years experienceAbility to relate and communicate in a health way to children, families, and colleaguesFarm, homesteading, or wild crafting related experience or exposure (preferred)
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COMPENSATION
‍This is an non-exempt part-time seasonal position structured around the school year semesters ranging from August to May. This position pays $25/hour.

REQUIRED ADDITIONAL DATES
‍Caregiver Orientation
August 22, 2023  9:30-11:00 am
Welcome Back Social for all & Orientation for New Families Elk Run Farm
Fall Semester: August 23, 2023 - December 15, 2023
Winter Semester: January 16, 2024 - March 18, 2024
Spring Semester: April 1, 2024 - May 24, 2024
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Monday October 2nd 3:15-5:45
Tuesday October 3rd 3:15-5:45
Wednesday October 4th 3:15-5:45
Thursday October 5th 3:30-6:00
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences
Monday April 15th 3:15-5:45
Tuesday April 16th 3:15-5:45
Wednesday April 17th 3:15-5:45
Thursday April 18th  3:30-6:00
Days Off
September 4  - Labor Day
November 22-23 - Thanksgiving Break
December 18 to January 16 - Winter Break
January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 19 - Presidents Day
February 20 - Teacher In-Service
March 18-29 - Spring Break
Social Calendar
Friday, September 15th 10:30-12:30
Friday, October 13th 10:30-12:30
Friday, November 17th 10:30-12:30
End of Fall Semester Celebration - Friday, December 15th 10:30-1:30
Friday, February 2nd 10:30-12:30
Friday March 15th 10:30-12:30
Friday April 5th 10:30-12:30
Friday May 10th 10:30-12:30
End of Spring Semester Celebration- Friday May, 23rd 10:30-1:30