Posted 12/17/24: (**$500 sign-on bonus**)
Assistant Preschool Teachers -- Hiring *Now*
Overview:
At Prairie Flower Children’s Center, we seek to nurture children’s innate senses of wonder, curiosity and gratitude, and to honor their vital need for an unpressured childhood where imagination, creativity and self-discovery can bloom. For more than 25 years, we have provided children in Ames, Iowa, and beyond with a nature-based, play-based and child-led early childhood experience. At a time when parents are feeling pressure to “ready” even their toddlers and preschoolers for future school and college careers, Prairie Flower Children’s Center is fiercely committed to protecting the simplicity and wonderment of early childhood. We believe all children have the inherent capacity and desire to learn through play, deep connection to nature and place and a curriculum that nurtures their minds, bodies and spirits. Our Programs We offer a range of early childhood programs, including year-round morning-only or full-time preschool and mixed-age kindergarten for children ages 3-6; after-school programs and summer camps for children ages 5-12; and a parent-child playgroup for children 15 months to 3 years old and their caregivers. We also hold occasional community festivals for families to strengthen ties and celebrate our shared connection to seasonal rhythms. We are located at 1517 Northwestern Ave. in central Ames, which isn’t a far walk from nearby woods. We rent two classrooms from (but are otherwise not affiliated with) Bethesda Lutheran Church. Job Description We are seeking two assistant teachers who believe in the importance of unpressured childhood to help support all facets of our preschool programs. In this role, you’ll help supervise and guide children both in the classroom and during our woodland explorations, and assist with daily setup and cleanup for the program. If you enjoy working with children, this position is a unique opportunity to gain experience with nature-based education and forest school philosophy while nurturing young children during a vital phase of their growth. The desired start date for these positions is January 6, 2025. The positions needed are for the mornings, Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and the other for Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. These are the minimum hours required with additional hours available between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. based on center need and qualifications of the applicant. We are willing to consider candidates interested in working Spring 2025 only, though prefer candidates interested in working at Prairie Flower long-term. We will also consider other schedules (e.g. Monday-Wednesday-Friday) for applicants who meet the qualifications and share a passion for our mission. As the assistant teacher, you will:
Qualifications and Characteristics
Bonus Additional Qualifications and Characteristics
Benefits and How To Apply These are part-time positions based in Ames, Iowa, with a pay rate starting at $13 per hour. Assistant teachers have time off during school-scheduled holiday breaks (same holidays as Ames Community School District, plus July 4 and July 15-19). We are offering a $500 sign-on-bonus; half to be paid upon hire and the second half to be paid at the end of the spring semester. We offer professional development opportunities, a commitment to work-life balance and small class sizes that allow for strong relationships with children and their families. The position reports to the Prairie Flower Children’s Center director. To apply, please email your resume and two professional references to Monica Marcomb at [email protected]. We will review applications on a rolling basis. A cover letter is optional, but you are welcome to submit one if you think it would help us get to know you, your background, interests or vision better than by reading your resume alone. (We will consider all applications equally on their merits, with or without the submission of a cover letter.) Questions? If you have questions about any aspect of the position or application process, please contact Monica Marcomb at [email protected]. For a deeper understanding of our mission, values and what we do at Prairie Flower Children’s Center, please visit www.prairieflowercc.org. |