Bilingual Teaching Assistant- Outdoor Preschool

Barefeet Farm School (BFS) is hiring a bilingual (Spanish/English) teacher for the 2024-2025 school year! We are looking for a very specific person to join our dream team of teachers.

Our ideal candidate is fluent in English and Spanish, has experience working with young children, is interested in growing professionally, is willing to work outside in all weather, and is passionate about supporting preschoolers in a play based and child led learning environment. Other desirable skills include excellent communication, emotional intelligence, skilled in both team-based and self directed work, and enthusiastic about working outdoors.

This position pays $20 per hour, 34 hours per week: 8:30-4:30 Monday-Thursday, plus 2 additional hours to be scheduled collaboratively between the employee and director. Barefeet Farm School is a fully outdoor, year round preschool. We operate in all weather between 20 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Barefeet Farm School has received a grant to hire a bilingual teacher in order to more accurately reflect the demographics of our surrounding community, support enrolled Spanish speaking families, and offer Spanish language exposure/instruction to non-Spanish speaking students so that they can continue to be in community with their Spanish speaking peers after leaving BFS.

Required qualifications:

-high school diploma or equivalent

-be at least 18 years old

-be able to pass a background check

-test negative for tuberculosis

-1 year experience in a childcare, preschool, or school setting

-ability to work on your feet outside for 8 hours in potentially inclement weather

Job description:

Barefeet Farm School teachers are responsible for caring for the needs of children enrolled in the school. Teachers will be physically and mentally present with students during school hours. Teachers will be aware of the children’s safety and assure that all children are accounted for inside the bounds of the program space throughout the day. Teachers will present opportunities for children’s growth as appropriate and address behavior concerns as they occur. Teachers will make an effort to use language and actions that support the established culture of BFS.

Teachers are charged with the responsibility of upholding the BFS culture, as shared in training from the BFS director and grown together throughout the school year. Teachers will make an effort to be open and present with children, enjoy their time together at preschool, and marvel at the magic of play.

The bilingual teacher will speak Spanish at school as frequently as possible, both in order to expose non-Spanish speaking children to the Spanish language and effectively communicate with Spanish speaking children, translate written school documents into Spanish, and work with the BFS director to forge connections with Spanish speaking families in Whatcom County.

Teachers are responsible for keeping the program space organized and in working order. Teachers will lead the children through the daily rhythms of preschool. When children are not present, teachers may perform site maintenance, plan for programming and/or communication with families, or perform other tasks as mutually agreed upon with the director. Teachers need to have their own reliable car transportation to commute to work; BFS is not easily reached by bicycle or bus.

Teachers will connect with parents/guardians and get to know families through daily interactions and family engagement events.

All teachers report directly to Erin Majeske, the BFS director.

Teachers will report any pertinent information regarding communication with families, concerns or celebrations regarding individual children, site maintenance requests, or requested programmatic changes to the director.

TO APPLY, please respond to this job posting with the answers to the following questions:

1) Why are you interested in working for a child led, play based preschool?

2) Please describe your experience with the Spanish language. Are you fluent in Spanish?

3) Describe a person who is emotionally intelligent. What does that mean to you?

www.barefeetfarmschool.com