Outdoor Preschool Teacher

Part-Time Outdoor Preschool Teacher (Owls Program + Growth Pathway)

Wise Forest Preschool – Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Wise Forest Preschool is seeking a part-time teacher to join our team in the afternoons for our Owls Extended Day Program (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 12:00–2:30pm), plus a Wednesday morning shift in our Morning Program (8:30am–12:00pm).

This role lives primarily in the Owls afternoon program, with one Wednesday morning woven in, and is designed for someone who is interested not just in a set of hours, but in slowly becoming part of the fabric of Wise Forest.

We’re looking for an educator who loves being outside for real (fog, wind, eucalyptus sap, the whole thing), values play-based learning, and is curious about growing into something deeper over time.

About Wise Forest Preschool

Wise Forest is a child-centered outdoor preschool inspired by European forest kindergartens. Our play-based curriculum serves children ages 2.5–5 in the wooded areas of Golden Gate Park.

We spend our days observing closely - not just supervising, but noticing. We follow children’s questions about mushrooms, fairness, sticks, death, ladybugs, and friendship. We value educators who remain grounded and attentive, modeling attuned behavior while thoughtfully scaffolding children’s interests. We care about emotional fluency as much as we care about balance beams. We praise effort, concentration, and repair. We try to cultivate compassion, resilience, and a lasting connection to the natural world, without rushing childhood along.

About the Owls Program

Owls is an extension of our Morning Program. After the larger morning session, a smaller group of students stays on, creating a quieter, more intimate afternoon rhythm.

Owls is often where the longer hikes happen. The more elaborate building projects. The slow art.

Group sizes range from 5–11 students. You’ll work alongside an experienced co-teacher who leads the group, allowing you to support, engage, and build relationships with the children throughout the afternoon.

On Wednesdays, you’ll also join the Morning Program, giving you the opportunity to experience the full arc of the day and begin to understand the deeper cadence of our practice.

Growth & Long-Term Vision

While this position is primarily rooted in the Owls afternoon program (with one Wednesday morning shift), our intention is not to hire someone who simply “covers” hours.

We’re hoping to find someone who wants to become embedded in the Wise Forest community — to learn our ethos, our language, and our ways of observing and responding. Someone open to growing alongside us.

If it feels like a strong mutual fit, there is real opportunity to expand in scope, hours, and responsibility over time. Our hope is that by May, this role could transition into a full Morning Program + Owls teaching position. In the months leading up to that potential transition, there will be ample opportunities to substitute in the Morning Program and become more deeply integrated into the rhythm of the school.

Ideally, we would love someone who is able to step in as a substitute teacher for our Morning Program when needed and who is genuinely interested in potentially growing toward a more full-time presence at Wise Forest in the future.

We are open to candidates who are only available for the Owls program; however, preference will be given to someone who can sub in the mornings and is open to deepening their involvement over time.

Position Details

Schedule: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays (12:00–2:30pm, Owls Program)Wednesdays (8:30am–2:30pm, Morning Program + Owls Program)*Additional substitute opportunities across all program days

Compensation: $30/hourLocation: Golden Gate Park (meeting point in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond)Start Date: March 9, 2026

Ideal Candidate

Experience working with preschool-aged childrenStrong preference for candidates who have completed ECE credits, are currently working toward them, or have a comparable educational pathway and experience in early childhood educationComfortable spending the entire class outdoors, rain or shineCollaborative, reflective, and steadyTimely, and reliableAble to balance warmth with clear boundariesGenuinely interested in child-centered, play-based, and nature-connected educationInterested in growing within a small, values-driven school community

If you’re looking for meaningful work in a magical outdoor setting, and are excited by the possibility of growing roots somewhere, we’d love to hear from you!

Please send a cover letter and resume to the Director, Faye Terry, at faye@wiseforestpreschool.com.

Pay: From $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 14.25 – 20.0 per week

Work Location: In person