Toddler Assistant Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

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 exhibits loyalty to the school at all times. All employees must be punctual and ready to greet children when the children arrive. Tardiness and absenteeism are not acceptable.

SUMMARY: Toddler Assistant Teacher (ages 13-36 months), Full time/year round position

Toddler Assistant Teacher assists 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 children in a prepared Montessori environment that challenges each child to reach their fullest potential in accordance with Montessori philosophy. Assistant teachers follow the direction of the lead teacher and report to the lead teacher.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES include the following; others may be assigned as needed:

• Implements curriculum set forth by the 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 family 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 and on the playground at all times
• Supervises children in monthly fire drills and quarterly lockdown and shelter in place drills.
• Adheres to all guidelines set forth by the NC Department of Child Development and Early Education, including requirements for star rated licensing
• Greets children as they arrive in the morning.
• 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/guardians
• Assists in on-going communication with parents/guardians regarding children’s specific needs and school operational needs
• Participates in meetings with parents/guardians 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. Organizes storage of supplies, materials, and activities as needed
• Makes classroom materials as needed
• Reports all accidents or unusual situations to the Head of School and writes a dated report
• Notifies the Head of School immediately of personal difficulties with children, parents/guardians, 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 the lead teacher to oversee 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 in 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 and 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: NC Early Childhood Credential required within a year of employment (covered by TEACH scholarship);Red Cross training in first aid and CPR, valid NC driver’s license, criminal background check, medical exam and Tb test; experience with children. Basic computer skills required, Montessori assistant training required within 6 months (online course).

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to teach math concepts for age level to be taught.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out the 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 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary range between $28,932- $38,500, commensurate with education and experience

12 paid time off days per year

6 paid holidays (Labor Day, Memorial Day, July 4, and 3 days for Thanksgiving)

4 weeks paid vacation (taken as Spring break and Winter break) during 10-month school calendar plus an additional week in August

3% matching IRA funds in the calendar year after the year beginning employment

Seasonal bonus

Health Reimbursement Arrangement of $2000 annually

Short-term disability

$25,000 Life insurance policy

Vision insurance (paid by employee)

Professional development money by request

State sponsored scholarship for continuing education in Early Childhood

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $13.91 - $18.51 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week