Early Childhood Center Art & Outdoor Education Specialist

Sinai Akiba Academy•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Douglas Family Early Childhood Center of Sinai Akiba Academy is seeking a dynamic and innovative Art & Outdoor Education Specialist to join its teaching team. This role is responsible for integrating creative expression and outdoor play, designing and leading a curriculum for children aged 2-5 that encompasses both the Art Studio and the Outdoor Learning Environment. The ideal candidate is a proponent of 'process-over-product,' possesses high physical stamina, a passion for play, the outdoors, and art, and can foster profound learning moments by sparking children's imagination. This includes developing challenging activities for individual, small, and large groups that promote social-emotional, language, cognitive, physical, and self-help development, and motivating children's enthusiasm for active participation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or relevant field or a minimum or 12 ECC units
Proven experience in Early Childhood Education with a specific focus on outdoor curriculum development and arts instruction
Ability to work on campus Monday - Friday 7:45AM - 3:30PM
Strong physical fitness and enthusiasm for engaging in classroom and outdoor activities
Demonstrated ability to create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environment
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with children, parents, and colleagues positively and effectively
Knowledge of safety regulations and risk management practices in outdoor environments

Responsibilities

Provide a science-based outdoor curriculum that is fun, safe and age-appropriate, ensuring materials and centers are rotated regularly
Create and document inspiring age-appropriate provocations that center around the Jewish and secular holidays as well as the children’s interests
Help teachers plan or spontaneously extend their classroom activities to the outdoors
Determine the organization of each play area and ensure a variety of learning opportunities
Refresh activities before each age group
Oversee the teachers by assigning them specific responsibilities and monitoring that they are actively participating
Ensure that outdoor time is unique, fun, safe and age-appropriate for all students
Facilitate play and learning rather than directing the children’s play
Observe and document how the children are engaging with the materials and scaffold the learning accordingly
Maintain professional and sensitive communication with parents and colleagues regarding child development and curriculum
Utilize the Outdoor/Art Studio bulletin boards and digital platforms (Seesaw) to provide pictures and documentation of student progress
Assist and coordinate holiday “on the yard” experiences
Determine the organization of play and experiential learning through a variety of intentional art areas to ensure age-appropriate opportunities for learning
Set up age-appropriate provocations with intention alongside opportunities to strengthen development
Observe and reflect how children engage with materials and scaffold learning accordingly
Maintain, monitor and replenish all ECC art materials
Ensure all art supplies are non-toxic and areas are free of hazards
Oversee and mentor teachers in the Art Studio, assigning responsibilities and ensuring they engage in active learning and observation
Create long term projects connecting to curriculum and holidays
Curate a yearly Art Exhibit focusing on a multitude of mediums
Design art experiences that prioritize sensory exploration (paint, clay, collage, recycled materials) over specific end results
Introduce famous artists and concepts through simplified, hands-on activities and provocations
Teach the meaning behind each Jewish Holiday and ensure students experience the Jewish Holiday atmosphere through all their senses. (touch, taste, smell, see and hear)
Understand and be able to teach Jewish Holidays and rituals as appropriate to the developmental stage being taught, according to Sinai Akiba Academy’s mission and Conservative Judaic values and practices. (i.e., Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simcha Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Yom Ha’atzmaut)
Instill Ahavat Israel (Love of Israel): Love for the people and Land of Israel through ensuring that Jewish and Israeli symbols are displayed and referred to
Jewish Music: Learn and sing along Judaic songs with students