Elementary School Teacher - 4th Grade

CESA 7 is seeking to hire a 4th grade teacher for Sugar Maple Nature School. Sugar Maple Nature School is a free public charter school. Class sizes at SMNS are a maximum of 20 students each and all classrooms have a full-time paraprofessional during student in-person instruction. Sugar Maple Nature School operates on a 4 day in-person student work week Monday to Thursdays, and Fridays are teacher preparation time to allow curriculum building, lesson preparation and collaboration among the small teaching team.

The vision of SMNS is to create an environment where students are connected to the outdoors every day. The school accomplishes this through the mission to serve as a laboratory for outdoor learning which amplifies the outcomes of public education, serves learners of all abilities and needs, fosters a deep connection to the environment, and prepares students for success in school and life. SMNS will provide rich, diverse, and authentic learning experiences for students in K-8th grade through a nature-based, inquiry-based, and a project based learning environment. The SMNS campus is located at the Hawthorne Hills County Park, allowing our students to access prairies, woodlands, wetlands, ponds, and the Milwaukee River as outdoor classrooms and utilize the trails as school hallways.

A SMNS Teacher is passionate about learning, their students, and innovative teaching in the outdoors. This is a student centered, collaborative, nature-based program and candidates must be comfortable teaching portions of the day outdoors. Sugar Maple Nature School utilizes the Bridges Math Curriculum, and prior experience with that curriculum is helpful. Our model includes an emphasis on Project Based Learning, which allows for creativity and autonomy in the classroom. We place great value in instilling a growth mindset in our students and encourage them to view errors as opportunities for learning and growth.

A SMNS Teacher will work closely with the SMNS Principal, teaching staff, and the Office Manager to create a school community that reflects the vision of Sugar Maple Nature School. This is an elementary teaching position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as a member of the teaching team.
• Perform all aspects of classroom management, preparation, and implementation of current teaching strategies.
• Great interpersonal communication skills are a must.
• Organize and participate in special activities for students.
• Design, deliver, and assess nature-based, inquiry-based, and project-based learning; effectively integrate content standards.
• Participate in regular staff meetings.
• Attend appropriate conferences, workshops, and in-services including the Summer Institute professional development for school staff (beginning Aug. 17, 2026); participate in appropriate professional development as required by the DPI.
• Communicate with parents using a variety of methods as needed.
• Guide placement procedures and participate in placement meetings, as assigned, for newly referred students.
• Participate in selecting and ordering equipment, classroom supplies, and other materials for SMNS.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education and Licensure:

• Solid educational background including a Bachelor's degree in education.
• A current and appropriate Teaching License issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• Evidence of competencies in classroom management, learning strategies, individual and group management, curriculum development, and program evaluation.
• Additional stipend will be considered for highly qualified candidates with Readining Specialist Certification.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Model the core values of SMNS.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for teaching outdoors a portion of the day year-round in all types of weather.
• Demonstrate a strong desire to collaborate in nature-based learning, project-based learning, and provide a student-centered education.
• Flexible candidates with a growth mindset and ability to reflect and vary their instructional delivery model.
• Strong belief that an inclusive, nature-based learning environment offers a more productive and personalized way of educating all students.
• Ability to deliver instruction incorporating workshops, immersion, field experience, and traditional delivery to ensure that all individual student needs are met in accordance with preferred mode of instruction.
• Proven leadership skills and the ability to work effectively with groups and individuals.
• Demonstrate skill in organizing ideas and presenting them with clarity and conciseness.
• Creative and imaginative approach to problem-solving and demonstrated ability to think outside of the box.
• Experience integrating technology into instruction.
• Self-starter and a well-developed ability to set and meet goals and outcomes.