Teacher - Ellis Hollow Nature School - Ithaca

Ellis Hollow Nature School is hiring. We're a small outdoor preschool for children ages 3 to 5, based at the Ellis Hollow Community Center on Genung Road, just east of Ithaca. The program is mostly outdoors, with an indoor space for when the weather wins or the moment calls for it. The schedule is Monday through Thursday mornings, 8:15 to 12:30, September through June, with roughly 30 additional hours across the year for events, parent meetings, and things like the Ithaca Festival Parade. This is a salaried position.

The classroom is in the woods. It's been built up over time and we're always building more. Someone who makes things, fixes things, or just gets inspired outside will fit right in.

Two teachers run the program together. We're looking for someone with energy, good instincts with kids, and the ability to improvise. It helps if you like to sing, dance, or be generally silly. We plan carefully but follow the children's lead— some of the best mornings happen when the plan goes out the window.

Day to day, that means greeting families and passing along what they need to know about their kid's morning, guiding play, reading aloud, helping kids work through conflicts on their own terms, and contributing to lesson planning, monthly newsletters, and photo albums. The work is physical. You'll be outside in all weather, on your feet all morning, and will need to be comfortable lifting, crouching, and keeping up with small people who move fast.

We're hiring for a co-teacher role. A co-teacher collaborates on developing and teaching weekly lesson plans. This is a cooperative enrichment program, not a licensed daycare. No teaching certification is required. We value different approaches and backgrounds, and experience with young children matters more to us than formal credentials. This is also a good role for someone who wants to develop as a teacher, not just someone who already has it figured out.

Details:

• Location: Ellis Hollow Community Center, 111 Genung Road
• Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 8:15am to 12:30pm, September through June
• Additional hours: approximately 30 per year (parent workdays, board meetings, Open House, Meet and Greet, Ithaca Festival Parade)
• High school diploma required, BA/BS preferred
• Camp counselor, wilderness, or other outdoor experience is a plus
• Experience with child-centered emergent curriculum is valued
• To apply, send a resume, cover letter and three references