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We are seeking preschool and elementary associate teachers, specialists and substitute directors for the 2025/2026 school year and beyond.

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Elementary Classroom Aide (Directly Below)

Elementary Associate Teacher

Preschool Assistant Teacher Job Description

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

Elementary Classroom Aide

Salary: $21–$25/hour (depending on experience)
Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time
Benefits: Paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays; professional development stipend; and retirement program participation for all employees. Full-time employees also receive a gym membership and 50% employee coverage in our health and dental plan

Key Responsibilities:

  • Foster a warm, inclusive classroom community and help students navigate routines, transitions, and collaborative learning

  • Prepare and organize classroom materials and snacks, assist with general classroom cleanliness, and support the Elementary Director with administrative tasks

  • Support lead teacher during classroom activities and field trips 

  • Provide emotional and academic support, encouragement, and general guidance to children

  • Participate in team meetings or planning sessions as needed

  • Maintain open, proactive communication with the Elementary Director and teaching team

Qualifications:

  • Enthusiasm for experiential, nature-based, inquiry and child-centered education

  • Collaborative, flexible, and dependable

  • Up-to-date immunizations and ability to pass a background check upon hire

  • Clean driving record

To Apply:

Reach out with a short letter of interest to info@forager.school. We’d love to hear from you!

Apply

Elementary Associate Teacher at The Forager School 

Salary: $25–$32/hour (depending on experience)
Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time
Benefits: Paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays; gym membership; 50% employee coverage for our health and dental plans; professional development stipend; participation in our retirement program (Full-time employees eligible)

Key Responsibilities:

  • Support daily learning experiences in literacy, math, science, art, social-emotional learning, and nature-based exploration. Lead portions of the daily schedule. 

  • Foster a warm, inclusive classroom community and help students navigate routines, transitions, and collaborative learning

  • Support students individually and in small groups, adapting to different ages, learning styles, and levels of readiness

  • Collaborate with the lead teacher and specialists and co-create meaningful learning experiences

  • Prepare and organize classroom materials and help document student learning

  • Engage in training to support teaching of core curriculum programs

  • Support the Elementary Director with administrative tasks

  • Support outdoor learning, field trips, and community-based projects

Qualifications:

  • Experience working with early elementary-aged children 

  • Enthusiasm for experiential, nature-based, and child-centered education

  • Collaborative, flexible, and dependable

  • Up-to-date immunizations and ability to pass a background check upon hire

  • Clean driving record

To Apply:

Reach out with a short letter of interest to info@forager.school. We’d love to hear from you!

Assistant Teacher for a Preschool on the Sonoma/Mendocino Coast 

Salary: $21/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.

Apply