Forest Kindergarten Support Teacher (Part Time)

The Community School for Place-based Education seeks a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced educator to support our multi-age Forest Kindergarten “Sweet Fern” class in collaboration with a small and dedicated teaching team and school faculty, beginning August 2025. 

The ideal candidate: 

  • Has experience in and a passion for Place-based teaching and learning in the field and in the classroom; 

  • Has at least 3 years of teaching experience and is comfortable leading a multi-aged group teaching and learning outdoors throughout the seasons; 

  • Has strong group dynamics, management and facilitation skills, with experience and understanding of this age group’s social-emotional development and psychology;

  • Is well-rounded and comfortable teaching and integrating all foundational subject areas;

  • Engages multiple ways of knowing into curriculum implementation and development;

  • Possesses clear, confident and engaging communication skills, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail; 

  • Skilled and passionate in interpreting the natural history and ecology of MDI;

  • Has a sense of adventure and experience teaching and learning on trail;

  • Possesses strong outdoor/bushcraft skills; 

  • Builds positive and meaningful educational relationships with the local and greater community; 

  • Works to uphold principles of social justice in the interest of students, colleagues, and the school community and believes in education as a tool for powerful social change;

  • Embraces and values collaboration with colleagues, families, and our local community. 

A State of Maine Teaching certificate or equivalent is preferred. 

Due to the active nature of our program, current certification in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or higher is required of all teaching staff. 

Sweet Fern Forest Kindergarten is located on the banks of Babson Creek and in the nearby woodland forests, marsh and fields. We have a yurt classroom as an indoor space for rest time, gear storage, and indoor lessons and occupy a 77 acre campus in Somesville, Maine. 

While the Forest School model is inherently Place-based and shares many parallels with the TCS model for the grades, we believe that the practices of Forest Kindergarten best meet young students in establishing a strong social-emotional foundation and physic al development. The curriculum presents opportunities for inquiry, wonder, problem solving, and inspires a genuine love for learning that will last long past student’s days as a Sweet Fern. With this foundation, the academics follow. Our Forest Kindergarten model allows for developmentally appropriate play and exploration that is wonder-filled and inquiry-based, all while developing a strong sense of self, place and community. 

Connection to one another and to the place we live is important to us and our learning. We are a highly collaborative teaching community that practices mindful listening and makes decisions together. Both teachers and children are caretakers of the school property. Additionally, we extend our stewardship to the surrounding landscapes and communities of Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park and local land trust preserves. 

The Community School (TCS) is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals and employment decisions at TCS will be based on factors such as merit, qualifications and abilities. TCS does not discriminate on the basis of an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Salary Range: $18,000-$26,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications, with benefits to include health and dental insurance. 

If you are interested in joining our collaborative and dynamic teaching team, please send a cover letter and resume to our school office at: office@thecommunityschool.me, with “Forest Kindergarten Part Time Teacher” in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled.