Lower School Naturalist

University School Of Nashville

Job Location:

Nashville, IN - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 7 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Description

University School of Nashville

Lower School Naturalist

Classification: Full-time In-service to In-service (i2i)) 1.0 FTE exemptReports to: Head of Lower SchoolPurpose: To connect children in grades K-4 to the wonder of the natural world by designing leading and participating in outdoor field experiences that foster knowledge love and a sense of place. Student journeys are the foundation of the K-4 Young Naturalist program.

Responsibilities

Plan and facilitate outdoor journeys to engage students in focused exploration of the natural world that tie to the USN Sustainable goals
Work with Lower School faculty and administration to develop and articulate K-4 program curriculum
Collaborate with grade-level teams to plan a year-long journey calendar and assist classroom teachers with lessons and/or activities that support or extend journeys
Work with the K-12 Director of Experiential Education to plan outdoor ed opportunities beyond LS
Conduct field research for upcoming journeys
Connect naturalist activities that extend the classroom science curriculum
Contract with outside professionals to support journeys especially those that include skill specific experiences (e.g. climbing kayaking or canoeing)
Maintain strong relationships with educational teams at Warner Parks and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and develop new connections in support of the evolving naturalist curriculum
Coordinate journey transportation with the Transportation Manager; communicate changes as needed
Find or create learning opportunities for Lower School teachers to build capacity in the area of outdoor education and curricular connections
Advocate for and monitor the health of school-based natural learning spaces through positive relationships with the Operations team (i.e. Edgehill outdoor classroom nature play River Campus wetlands)
Continue as the liaison for the school composting program
Maintain a web presence at to reflect the years journeys and curricular connections and explore new ways to communicate the naturalist experience to the USN community at large
Attend professional development workshops and conferences
Perform other duties as determined by the Head of Lower School and in some cases the Director

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education or a related subject Masters degree preferred
Teaching experience in an elementary education setting
Participation in naturalist workshops and trainings including Wilderness First Aid certification
Experience with a diverse school community
Knowledge of Responsive Classroom is a plus
Understanding and experience with Next Generation Science Standards

Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills in the service of collaboration with adults and student engagement
Maintain a high degree of organization to support curricular planning journey logistics and budgeting
Communicate thoroughly accurately and concisely both verbally and in writing
Maintain a positive and professional demeanor
Demonstrate integrity and confidentiality

The School

University School of Nashville is an independent non-sectarian co-educational day school with enrollment of over 1000 students in kindergarten through twelfth 1915 the George Peabody College for Teachers opened Peabody Demonstration School USNs predecessor which earned acclaim for its curriculum and 1974 Peabody College announced plans to close PDS and a group of parents alumni students and teachers reconstituted and re-chartered the school as University School of Nashville.

USNs midtown location adjacent to Vanderbilt University and its Peabody College for Teachers reminds us each day of our beginnings over 110 years ago in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. Its a vibrant educational community for both students and teachers in the midst of a dynamic city.

In the USN community students expect much of each other and faculty benefit from that high standard. We seek educators who are enthusiastic about their own learning to complement their work and we offer many opportunities for professional growth. USN is committed to creating an institutional environment that mirrors the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville. USN encourages a diverse applicant pool and provides equal employment opportunities for employees and job applicants.

Please be prepared to upload the following items through USNs online application for this position:

1. Cover Letter

2. Resume

Required Experience:

Senior IC

DescriptionUniversity School of NashvilleLower School NaturalistClassification: Full-time In-service to In-service (i2i)) 1.0 FTE exemptReports to: Head of Lower SchoolPurpose: To connect children in grades K-4 to the wonder of the natural world by designing leading and participating in outdoor fiel...