Work With Us

We are seeking a Founding Lead Teacher for the upcoming Forager Elementary Microschool for Fall 2025. Job description and application instructions below.

We also continue to welcome applicants for Assistant Teachers and Substitute Teachers/Directors.

Founding Lead Teacher: Progressive Elementary Microschool on the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast

Salary: $75k - 95k+, depending on experience and background 

Employment Type: Full-Time

Benefits: Paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays; 50% employee coverage for our health, dental, and vision plans; relocation assistance; housing stipend; professional development opportunities; and participation in our retirement program

Location: Gualala, California 

Start Date: July 2025

Website: https://www.forager.school/

We are seeking an inspired and visionary Founding Lead Teacher to launch a progressive elementary microschool on the wild and beautiful Sonoma-Mendocino Coast. Rooted in hands-on, experiential learning, this program invites children to cultivate wonder, think critically, and explore deeply. This is a unique opportunity to help build a school from the ground up — shaping its culture, pedagogy, and curriculum – while guiding young learners in a dynamic, mixed-age classroom where curiosity and creativity thrive. 

About the Program:

Launching in Fall 2025, our elementary program will begin with a small cohort of 6 to 10 children, ages 5 to 9, in a mixed-age classroom. It builds on the successful foundation of The Forager School preschool, a beloved hub in our coastal community for child-led, nature-connected early learning.

The program blends core academic foundations in literacy, math, and science with interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning. Students engage in tinkering, experimentation, and creative expression as they explore real-world questions. The curriculum will weave STEM- and STEAM-inspired elements (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) into a well-rounded program grounded in nature, social-emotional learning, and meaningful problem-solving. The Founding Lead Teacher will be supported by an assistant teacher, a team of specialists (e.g., music, foreign language, engineering), and an administrative team. 

Our Ideal Candidate:

You are a thoughtful educator who is excited to build something new. You thrive in dynamic, collaborative environments, bring structure without rigidity, and understand how to nurture each child’s growth — academically, emotionally, and socially. You have experience teaching core elementary subjects and enjoy designing interdisciplinary projects that encourage hands-on learning and student agency. You bring ideas to life through nature, storytelling, and design challenges. Most of all, you’re excited to roll up your sleeves, dream big, and co-create something meaningful with children, families, and fellow educators. 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Design and implement a hands-on, interdisciplinary curriculum that weaves together literacy, math, science, and creative problem-solving for a mixed age classroom

  • Promote social-emotional learning and a sense of community within the classroom

  • Help recruit and collaborate with assistant and specialist teachers; adapt strategies to support program growth (3-5 new students annually) 

  • Lead inquiry-based investigations, outdoor learning experiences, and field trips; build connections with local experts and community resources to enrich student learning

  • Collaborate with the Director of The Forager School preschool program to ensure smooth student transitions and shared staff development

  • Communicate regularly with families and foster a collaborative school-home relationship

  • Collaborate with Forager’s administrative team on staff scheduling, admissions, resource planning, and policy development

In lieu of a cover letter, please provide brief answers to the following questions, along with a resume to: info@forager.school

  1. Give an example of how a lesson you were really excited about flopped and how you pivoted to respond to the needs of your students.

  2. Describe an interdisciplinary project you worked on with your students that you are proud of. What would you do differently if you could do it again?

Qualifications:  

  • Experience teaching and designing curriculum for elementary-aged children, including core subjects like literacy, math, and science

  • Comfort with mixed-age groupings and ability to differentiate instruction accordingly

  • Knowledge of evidence-based educational practices 

  • Passion for STEAM education, project-based and inquiry-based learning

  • Up-to-date immunization records and ability to pass a criminal background check upon hire

We are seeking assistant teachers and substitute directors for the 2024/2025 school year and beyond.

If you are interested in becoming a substitute director for the Forager School, please email us at info@forager.school.

The job description for the assistant teacher position is below.

Assistant Teacher for a Preschool on the Sonoma/Mendocino Coast 

Salary: $20/hr+ (depending on experience)

Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time

Benefits: Sick days, paid holidays, professional development to support career growth (ECE credits, conferences, workshops, skills training, etc.) 

Location: Gualala, California 

Start Date: Flexible

Seeking an Assistant Teacher for a vibrant, creative, mixed-age preschool on the California coast in the Sea Ranch/Gualala area. The Forager School is a play-based preschool for kids ages 2 to 5. We prioritize a love of learning, creative problem-solving, outdoor exploration, and social-emotional learning. Located in a rural setting, our school is well integrated with the outdoors and fosters an appreciation and understanding of the natural environment. 

The Assistant Teacher will collaborate with the Preschool Director to build a learning environment for 8 to 12 students. Our ideal candidate is creative, flexible, self-motivated, highly collaborative, and values strong relationships. Additionally, s/he is familiar with Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori approaches, and is excited to partner with the Preschool Director to develop a curriculum that encourages children to be active participants in their own education. This position will report to the Preschool Director. Passion for education and a love of children are a given! 

In this role, you would: 

  • Provide nurturing care and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for young children. 

  • Assist the Preschool Director in carrying out lesson plans by preparing and setting up classroom activities and leading portions of the daily program.

  • Collaborate in curriculum development and field trip programming based on students’ developmental stages and interests. Attend regular meetings with the Preschool Director to discuss curriculum plans and development observations.

  • Support teaching key skills including social-emotional and interpersonal skills, sharing, self-awareness, self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and relationship building.

  • Maintain an open line of communication with parents and provide constructive feedback on a regular or as-needed basis under the guidance of the Preschool Director. Participate in parent-teacher conferences. 

  • Supervise and engage with children on field trips and drive the school vehicle as needed.  

  • Assist in keeping the classroom clean and orderly throughout the day, and assist with setup and cleanup at the beginning/end of each day. 

  • Help children use the bathroom and assist with nap-time diapering. 

  • Support the Preschool Director with administrative tasks as necessary. 

  • Work with diverse populations of children and adults from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Requirements:  

  • At least one (1) year of experience working with children ages 2 to 5 years old, preferably in a childcare setting.

  • Completed or currently in the process of earning a minimum of six (6) ECE credits. Candidates interested in obtaining director level credentials are encouraged to apply. 

  • Bilingual candidates (Spanish and English) encouraged to apply.

  • Up-to-date immunization records

  • Submit to a criminal background check upon hire.

  • Clean driving record and ability to drive a school vehicle. 

To Apply:

Apply through the button below or send an email to info@forager.school.

In lieu of a cover letter, please provide brief answers to the following prompts:

  1. Describe an inspiring lesson for preschool aged children that you have organized and taught.

  2. Describe a previous experience where you worked in collaboration with another teacher in a learning environment, and what you learned from this experience.