Elementary School Teacher

Nature School of York is seeking a warm, flexible, and creative Elementary Teacher to join our relationship-based, nature-centered learning community for the 2026–2027 school year.

We are looking for an educator who believes children learn best when they feel safe, connected, curious, and known. Our school is intentionally small, screen-free, community-focused, and rooted in whole-child education. We teach to the child, not to the test, and we use standards as a guide while giving teachers the freedom to do what they truly love: teach.

Position Details

Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM plus one Friday a month
School Year: September–June
Class Size: Approximately 10 students
Salary: $30,000–$35,000 annually
Benefits: Paid holidays and school breaks, 4 PTO days, and tuition discounts

About the Role

Our elementary classrooms are small, mixed-age learning communities where relationships come first. Teachers are trusted to create meaningful, engaging lessons that meet students where they are developmentally, academically, socially, and emotionally.

At Nature School of York, learning does not stay within the four walls of a classroom. Teachers should be comfortable teaching outdoors, using nature, movement, exploration, hands-on projects, and real-world experiences as part of the learning process.

This is an ideal role for a teacher who wants the freedom to be creative, responsive, and deeply connected to their students.

Responsibilities

The Elementary Teacher will:

• Plan and facilitate engaging lessons for a small, mixed-age elementary class
• Use academic standards as a guide while adapting instruction to meet individual student needs
• Create a warm, relationship-based classroom environment
• Support the whole child, including academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth
• Teach beyond the walls of the classroom through outdoor learning, nature-based activities, projects, and hands-on exploration
• Communicate regularly and professionally with families
• Collaborate with other teachers and staff as part of a supportive school community
• Help students develop independence, curiosity, resilience, problem-solving skills, and a love of learning
• Participate in school events, community activities, and seasonal celebrations as needed

Qualifications

Candidates must have:

• A bachelor’s degree
• All required clearances, including PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Background Check, FBI Fingerprinting, and NSOR
• Experience working with elementary-aged children
• Comfort teaching outdoors and adapting to a nature-based learning environment

Teaching certification is preferred but not required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who is:

• Warm, flexible, and child-centered
• Creative and comfortable designing meaningful learning experiences
• Grounded in a growth mindset
• Able to teach mixed-age groups with confidence and care
• Comfortable with a screen-free learning environment
• Excited by outdoor education and hands-on learning
• Collaborative, community-minded, and relationship-focused
• Positive, dependable, and willing to jump in with a can-do attitude

We are looking for someone who understands that education is not just about collecting data or checking boxes. It is about knowing children well, helping them grow, and creating a learning environment where they feel capable, connected, and inspired.

To Apply

Interested applicants should email a resume and brief statement of interest to:

[email protected]

Pay: $30,000.00 - $35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person