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Montessori Classroom Assistant

The Montessori School
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Job Title: Classroom Assistant

Reports To: Head of School

Approximate Hours per Week: 20 hours, 2pm to 6pm

Location: On-Site with occasional remote or off-site meetings/trainings

Mission statement: The Montessori School’s mission is to inspire children to love learning, create, and make the world a better place.

Founded in 1972,The Montessori School is a non-profit, independent educational institution for preschool and elementary children ages 2 years 9 months – 12 years old. It has a dedicated staff of 30 employees. The total current enrollment stands at approximately 95 students. The Montessori School is in solid financial health, employs an excellent faculty and staff, and delivers an authentic, comprehensive Montessori curriculum.

The Montessori School is dedicated to the Montessori philosophy and is strongly invested in creating a unique, student-centered learning environment and helping families nurture respectful, responsible, and resourceful children. Highly qualified, Montessori-certified guides foster a love of learning and help all children reach their fullest potential at their own unique pace. Guides strive to educate the whole child, inspiring children to be caring, socially responsible participants in their community and in the larger world.

Position Description
* Specifically seeking candidates available to work from 2pm to 6 pm *

Assists the Lead Guide (Teacher) in creating and implementing a classroom community that guides the children through their spiritual, academic, social and emotional educational journey. Classroom Assistants help maintain the prepared learning environment for the success of the individual child and classroom community as a whole. Positive Discipline techniques and effective classroom management skills are key to supporting the classroom in a nurturing and proactive manner.

Essential job responsibilities include:

Education of Students:

  • Creates a positive relationship with all childcare children and their caregivers
  • Observes individual children and community of children at least 1x daily
  • Establishes a relationship with each child and is aware of each child's developmental processes and learning style
  • Has an understanding of Montessori philosophy and seeks opportunities to learn more
  • Understands the ability of the child
  • Respects and recognizes the importance of a concentrated child working

Safety:

  • Learns and uphold all school policies and procedures
  • Completes Body Safety, Mandated Reporter, and other safety trainings
  • Monitors playground and in view of all children
  • Aware of playground rules
  • Observes classroom and snack area carefully for hazards
  • Re-enforces classroom expectations to ensure the safety of the children
  • Uses First Aid training as needed
  • Monitors children behavior with materials
  • Reports safety, behavior, and maintenance issues as observed
  • Observes children to ensure they are not hurting themselves, others, or materials

Housekeeping & Sanitation

  • Follows 3-step protocols for sanitation
  • Follows room/job resetting and cleaning duties
  • Keeps materials replenished
  • Knows and follows proper protocol for meds/bio clean up
  • Checks and cleans up bathroom frequently
  • Maintains housekeeping and sanitation protocols in all areas (outdoor classroom, playground, hallway, etc.)

Communication

  • Checks emails daily and responds in a timely manner
  • Alerts Lead Guide/Head of School immediately of difficulties with children, caregivers, staff
  • Reports accidents/incidents and fills out appropriate forms in timely manner
  • Communicates with caregivers and children in a positive manner
  • Protect student privacy in accordance with FERPA and school policies.
  • Report all safety concerns, suspected abuse or neglect, or failure to uphold school policies/procedures to the Head of School or the Board of Directors of TMS.
  • As a Mandated Report, report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate Michigan agency in accordance with Mandated Report training.

Professional Development/Licensing

  • Clocks in and out of shift daily
  • Fills out vacation/sick time off requests in a timely manner
  • Maintains staff and personal professional development records on DHS Michigan Early Childhood Care and Educational Professional Development Records and submits to Human Resources
  • Knows the White book and ensures all members of the team know the policies and protocols in the White Book
  • Knows the Employee Handbook and ensures all members of the team understand common policies/protocols
  • Labels and dates all opened food and stores in appropriate place
  • Takes daily fridge temperatures

Classroom Management

  • Oversees safety of all children
  • Firm consistent ground rules enforced
  • Demonstrate kind, firm, respectful communication with children
  • Conscientiously attend to upkeep of the environment
  • Follow language tools and phrases used by TMS
  • Redirects inappropriate behavior

All other duties as assigned; the above list is not all inclusive.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • At least 3 years of direct experience working with children
  • Ability to work a 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm shift Monday through Friday as well as occasional evenings, and weekends to meet the needs of the school and its constituents
  • Excellent communication, teamwork and child safety skills required
  • Meet the physical requirements of this position detailed below

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience of 5 years or more working directly with children
  • Experience working in a Montessori setting
  • Training in Montessori philosophy
  • Associates or Bachelors degree
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings
  • Body Safety training, Mandated Reporter training, CPR certification

Qualified candidates must be willing to:

  • Demonstrate dedication to the practice of the Montessori educational philosophy
  • Demonstrate a collaborative style of teamwork
  • Commitment to ABAR (anti-bias, anti-racist), Body Safety, Mandated Reporting, and similar trainings and curriculum
  • Commitment to ongoing trainings and professional development
  • Complete all pre-employment screenings including background checks, TB testing, CPR training, and other requirements
  • Agree to and sign an annual employment agreement which outlines pay, vacation/PTO time and other details of employment for the time of service

Environment: The Montessori School campus, including outdoor environments, are designated non-smoking/non-vaping zones. The school property may include animals (such as chickens, turtles, etc) and includes a pond property, hill, outdoor classrooms, and other areas that have dust, dirt, water, and possible allergens. Being able to work in these areas is required for this role to ensure the success of our school. Reasonable accommodations would be made for those who need them.

Physical: Standing, walking, sitting, bending, lifting up to 25 pounds, working outside in various weather conditions, carrying supplies, assisting employees, and desk/computer work are all essential job functions for this position.

Schedule: This position is part-time, 20 hours per week, Mondays-Fridays 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm with monthly paid meetings/trainings from 6pm-8pm on the first Tuesday of each month.

Compensation: The range for this position is $15.10 - $19.98 per hour and is commensurate with education and experience. This position is an hourly/non-exempt position.

Benefits include: Generous Vacation time, Sick time, Paid Time Off during school holidays, paid professional development and trainings, and other benefits.

DEI statement: Anti-Bias and Anti-racism (ABAR) is an active and ongoing process for The Montessori School community in which we promote a community where all human differences are supported, including race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, language, ability, socioeconomic status, and many other areas of social difference. It requires us to challenge our learned biases and choose a lens through which we believe all people are equal, seek to understand differences, and value and respect all people regardless of their backgrounds.

Accommodations: Reasonable accommodation requests should be sent to . We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and walks of life. We are a diverse, progressive school community who value each person’s individual contributions and perspectives.

Application: Professional resume, application, and 3 professional references will be requested of all applicants. All interviewed candidates must also agree to submit to a thorough background checks, including fingerprint background checks to be considered for the next steps of the hiring process. Applicants who are offered employment must complete pre-employment screenings including background checks, TB testing, CPR training, and other requirements. Employment at The Montessori School is at-will employment. The Montessori School upholds all applicable local, state, and federal employment laws.