Montessori Assistant Guide

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES: Promotes the image of the school and supports its

mission, vision, and goals by exhibiting the following behavior: excellence, competence, innovation,

collaboration, respect, resourcefulness, flexibility, and accountability. Uses positive and professional

language and always exhibits loyalty to the school. All employees must be punctual and ready to

greet children when they arrive. Tardiness and absenteeism are not acceptable.

SUMMARY: Assistant Teachers

Assistant teachers assist the lead teacher in providing a warm, nurturing and safe environment where self-direction is enhanced, independence encouraged, and individuality respected. Assistant teachers meet the emotional, physical, intellectual and social needs of both the individual and the group in the following areas:

· classroom environment, management and professionalism. Assistant teachers follow the direction of the lead teacher and report to the lead teacher.

· Assistant teachers lead extracurricular activities such as Drama, Spanish, Music, Art and/or Physical Education- to be determined with Lead Teacher, depending on experience and skills.

· Assistant teachers help with feedings, diaper changing and classroom custodial duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES include the following; others may be assigned:

● Implements curriculum set forth by lead teacher

● Is responsible for the safety and physical well-being of the children at all times

● Adheres to professional standards as an educator for the purpose of maintaining quality

and excellence

● Follows all policies and procedures of the school as written in the employee and parent

handbooks

● Helps to prepare and maintain a classroom environment in which the furnishings and

materials create an imaginative, nurturing, learning environment and correspond to the

needs of the group

● Provides for the learning needs of the individual children

● Protects the privacy and working atmosphere of the class at all times

● Supervises children in the classroom, on the playground at all times

● Supervises children in monthly fire drills

● Helps to maintain current, accurate, individual progress notes, attendance records,

incidental notes and weekly overview of class work

● Assists in holding at least two conferences per year with parents

● Assists in on-going communication with parents regarding children’s specific needs and

school operational needs

● Participates in parent/teacher meetings and any other meetings deemed necessary by the

Head of School

● Takes responsibility for the care and maintenance of the classroom and teaching materials

and equipment. Organize storage of supplies, materials, and activities

● Makes classroom materials as needed

● Reports all accidents or unusual situations to the Head of School and writes a dated report

in classroom journal.

● Notifies the Head of School immediately of personal difficulties with children, parents, or

staff members

● Assists with developing other projects, programs, and planning as requested by Head of

School

● Supports all school related fundraising projects

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordinates with lead teacher to oversee parent volunteers, subcontractors, and substitute teacher responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The successful candidate must love and respect children, exhibit leadership qualities, have a sense of humor, be friendly and work cooperatively with teams, must be self-motivated and have the personality to motivate others, and must be able to set priorities and meet deadlines.

This position requires a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations with a continual need for tact and diplomacy, must be able to manage a wide variety of personalities. Must have excellent decision-making skills. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Associate degree (A.A.) from a two year college or technical school or six months to one-year related experience and/or training; Red Cross training in first aid and CPR, valid driver’s license, local criminal background check; experience with children. Basic computer skills required; Montessori assistant training preferred.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out job

description. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that

must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations

may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger,

handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and

talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is regularly required to

stand, and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision

abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are

representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this

job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform

the essential functions.