Posted: Jul 15, 2025
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Nature Preschool Teacher

Cleveland Metroparks - Garfield Heights, OH
Temporary
Salary: $16.00 - $18.00 Hourly
Application Deadline: N/A
Early Childhood Education

The Nature Preschool Teacher supports the Nature Preschool Lead Teacher in providing a high-quality, developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 3 to 5. This position contributes to the successful implementation of Cleveland Metroparks Nature Preschool’s mission and philosophy, with a focus on nature-based, play-centered learning. The Nature Preschool Teacher plays a key role in ensuring the health, safety, and emotional well-being of all students while fostering curiosity, exploration, and connection with the natural world.

  • Assists the Lead Teacher in designing and implementing developmentally appropriate, nature-based curriculum aligned with the Early Learning Developmental Standards (ELDS) and Cleveland Metroparks' educational philosophy.
  • Collaborates with the Lead Teacher to generate and deliver weekly lesson plans that reflect student interests and seasonal themes.
  • Partners with the Preschool Lead Teacher and Program Administrator to ensure consistent, high-quality programming and care for all students.
  • Provides daily support for classroom tasks and individual student needs, including preparing snacks, managing transitions between indoor and outdoor learning environments, and assisting with dressing for weather conditions.
  • Promotes student health, safety, and emotional development through daily check-ins, routine site assessments, and individualized documentation and assessment practices.
  • Maintains strong communication and partnership with families through regular updates, meetings, and conferences, ensuring family backgrounds and experiences are reflected in the classroom.
  • Participates in staff meetings, professional development sessions, and school-wide events to support team cohesion and continuous improvement.
Education, Experience, Licenses:
  • Associate’s degree in early childhood education or an early childhood professional level two (2) designation from the Career Pathways Level (CPL) model is strongly preferred.
  • One of the following is also acceptable:
    • Enrollment in the second year of a college program in early childhood education/development
    • Completion of a two-year career-technical program in child development
  • Minimum of two (2) years of teaching experience with children ages 3–5.
  • Must obtain and maintain:
    • Certification in adult/child CPR and basic first aid
    • Communicable disease management certification
    • Child abuse recognition and prevention training
    • All required Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) annual trainings
  • Child care administrator qualification (as defined by appendix A to child care licensing rule 5180:2-12-07) is strongly preferred.
  • Preferred certifications: Growing Up Wild, Project Learning Tree (Early Childhood), National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
  • Must successfully pass a drug screening, background check, and criminal records check.
  • Experience facilitating outdoor learning in all weather conditions.
  • Familiarity with early childhood frameworks such as HighScope, Reggio Emilia, or play-based learning models.
  • Ability to create and maintain inclusive, respectful relationships with coworkers, students, families, and the public.
  • Knowledge of the natural and cultural history of Northeast Ohio.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic digital documentation tools.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with professionalism, initiative, and discretion.
Work Schedule: This program typically runs August – May with breaks during holidays and the summer. Hours are variable but are typically 32-40 hours per week.