Kindergarten Teacher - Cloud Forest School

  Costa Rica

• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Length of Position: 1-2 years+

Description: Hiring for 2010 school year We are looking for candidates to fill the following positions: Preschool and kindergarten teachers.

Our preschool and kindergarten classes have an average of 15 students, the majority of whom are local Costa Rican children. Our English speaking teachers work in partnership with a Spanish-speaking Costa Rican teacher, so that our students are exposed to and develop skills in both English and Spanish.

Our school year is year-round, divided into six 6-week thematic curriculuar segments. Our school calendar is such that we have a one-week vacation every six weeks, plus 4 weeks in December/January and 4 weeks in June/July. The preschool and kindergarten positions are both 5/7 time: classes run from 8a.m. - 12 noon Monday through Friday. There is a possibility of full-time work if the candidate is also able to teach elementary music, art, or dance classes in the afternoons.

We are looking for candidates who have had at least 2-3 years teaching experience at the preschool/kindergarten level, and who have experience teaching english language learners. Teachers must be state certified in early childhood education or kindergarten to be considered. First priority will be given to candidates who are bilingual in both English and Spanish, and who are able to teach another elective.

Highlights: The Cloud Forest School sits upon a 106 acre campus of pastureland and rainforest, nestled at the top of Costa Rica's northwest Tilaran mountain range. Monteverde is renowned for its unique biodiversity, and is surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of conserved cloud forest. Our town of 5,000 people is comprised of local Costa Ricans and north American and European nationals who have decided to make Costa Rica their home. Full of art, music, the best coffee and ice cream in the nation, and a magnificent natural ecosystem, Monteverde is a dynamic, though remote, place to live.

The Cloud Forest School serves 200 local children, from preschool through high school. A progressive, bilingual, educational institution, environmental education is one of our core mission values.

Qualifications:
- Must be currently certified to teach Preschool and/or Kindergarten
- Must be a native English speaker
- Fluent language skills in Spanish - speaking, reading, writing is HIGHLY desired
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- At least 2-3 years of classroom teaching experience, especially with English language learners.
- Appropriate grade-level teaching certification is required for this position.

*** NOTE: This is not a TEFL/TESL position.

Minimum Education: Bachelors

Salary / Pay: Teachers are paid in colones, which is the local Costa Rican currency. Teachers also receive a holiday bonus.

Experience Required: yes

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, Kiwi and South African Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Cloud Forest School's Mission Statement: Our mission is to nurture generations of ecologically aware, academically well-rounded bilingual individuals. We will work to provide students with the knowledge, values and skills needed to make environmentally and socially conscious decisions on a local, national and global scale. Our vision is a sustainable future for the Earth through educating individuals to love, respect and protect the natural environment, to strive for justice and peace as well as academic excellence and to work towards conserving biodiversity and enriching community life.

Year Founded: 1991