Preschool Lead Teacher

PRESCHOOL TEACHER- Job Opening

Seeking creative educators committed to inquiry and social-emotional learning.

Ventana School is seeking a lead preschool teacher. It is a 12-month, 40-hour-per-week position. If you are interested in an inspired, co-learning, team-teaching experience, please consider applying.

School Overview

Ventana is a Reggio-inspired, independent preschool - 5th grade school located in the beautiful Los Altos Hills. We are seeking a preschool teacher who can passionately and joyfully support children’s play, exploration, inquiry, and creative and critical thinking. We promote experiences that build a child’s relationship with the natural world and use of materials as “languages” of expression. We practice inquiry-based teaching and learning at all levels and provide children with many experiences and materials to express and represent their thinking.

What makes teaching at Ventana different:

● Inquiry-based teaching with opportunities to create emergent curriculum

● Space and time to build relationships with students and teach social-emotional skills

● The Reggio-Emilia approach to education promotes the use of artistic disciplines to invite and extend learning at all age levels

● Focus on collaboration between teachers and across disciplines

● Administration that is committed to eliciting the perspectives of teachers

We are looking for teachers who:

• Demonstrate commitment to inquiry-based learning
• Have a strong understanding of the Reggio-Emilia approach
• Have at least 3 years of classroom experience in a Reggio-inspired program
• Understand the importance of building relationships with children and families
• Are reflective practitioners
• Are flexible and creative
• Successful candidates will be well-versed in the social-emotional needs of a diverse preschool population and able to collaborate and communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues.

Essential Job Functions

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

● Supporting learning inquiry and active student participation by developing age-appropriate project work through thoughtful reflection on student interests, passions, and dialogues

● Maintain a Reggio-inspired classroom environment that is aesthetically pleasing, invites inquiry, and is child-centered

● Supervising children at all times

● Presenting daily provocations and activities to students to create a rich, joyful learning environment

● Modeling Ventana’s Core Values

● Providing well-written, consistent, and timely communications, using a variety of channels (i.e., email, in person)

● Collaborating daily/weekly with co-teachers, specialists, and the Director of Early Childhood Education

● Monitoring student progress through consistent observations and documenting their progress as needed

● Preparing written reports for each student once per year by the specified deadline

● Preparing portfolios for each student at the end of the year

● Facilitating a democratic community through classroom meetings, conflict resolution strategies, and a view of the child as ‘competent’ in both solving problems and contributing to solutions

● Attending and fully participating in school-wide functions and admissions events

Benefits for employees who work more than 30 hours per week:

● Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage

● Lay Employee Retirement Plan

Compensation:

Pay is $32.50 - $39 per hour and commensurate with education and experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree + in education or related field preferred
• Applicants must have at least 12 semester units or 18 quarter units in ECE/CD.
• Fully qualified under California State Community Care Licensing Regulations.
• 3+ years of classroom teaching experience in a Reggio-inspired program
• Proficient in using Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive), along with other digital tools for communication, collaboration, and organization.

Applications accepted now – Please send the following documents to: [email protected]

Your application will be considered complete and reviewed by our hiring committee when ALL of the following documents are received.

● Cover letter

● Resume

● A brief statement of your early childhood philosophy of teaching/learning

We will receive and review complete applications until the position is filled.

Pay: $32.50 - $39.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person