Midday Assistant
General Information
Part-Time (academic year) + flexibility to work in the summer
Permanent position
7.5-12.5 hours/week
Job Description
This is a great opportunity to be part of a Montessori environment without a huge time commitment throughout the week. Engage with children as they transition from the morning work period to lunch and recess. The midday assistant is a crucial part of the school’s operations; helping to provide breaks for other teachers, preserve the environment at lunch, maintain consistency in expectations, support children’s independence, and observe the children carefully to support their development. Bring fresh energy and a calm, grounding demeanor to the children’s midday routine.
As with all of our Montessori teachers, adults in the environment must respect the child, other adults, their personal environment, and themselves. Montessori teachers are creative, humble, trustworthy, patient, and enterprising individuals who embrace an attitude of lifelong learning. They must possess excellent organization, observation, and communication skills in order to successfully work in a classroom and collaborate with other adults. This position requires a commitment to best Montessori practices and an ability to work collaboratively within a team. As the leader in Montessori education in Iowa, MSM promotes strong standards of excellence and integrity in all we do.
The assistant teacher is responsible for:
Assisting in the maintenance of a nurturing, peaceful, and clean environment to meet the needs of each child.
Observing, guiding, and supervising children outside of the classroom environment.
Working cooperatively with other teachers and staff.
Protecting the peace of the environment.
Managing school expectations and routines.
Refraining from impeding upon the child’s independence or opportunities for his growth/discovery.
Establishing rapport and building relationships with students based on trust and mutual respect.
Setting an excellent example for students and instilling good values like integrity, accountability, understanding, respect, love, and cleanliness.
Ensuring school spaces are kept and returned to excellent condition at the end of shift.
Requirements & Qualifications
Prefer but not required: candidates with at least an associates degree (in any field).
Prefer but not required: AMS Montessori credential from a MACTE accredited program.
Prefer but not required: 2-3 years experience working within a Montessori environment.
Interest in the Montessori philosophy and child development.
The willingness to learn more through readings, practical experience, and teacher discussion.
Commitment to cleanliness and integrity.
Hardworking attitude and ability to take initiative.
Ability to work well with others and take direction.
The capacity to multitask, keep calm under pressure, and treat everyone with respect.
Physically engage with children on their level-bending down to speak with children, etc.
Have a sincere love of children and a genuine interest in their welfare.
Be a happy and emotionally stable person.
Smile and show tasteful enthusiasm while working with young children.
Dress in neat and comfortable attire.
Have the ability to refrain from ‘over helping’ a child and give the minimum direction that is needed.
Be prepared to observe other teachers as well as the children in the classroom. Observation of the teacher will provide the assistant with valuable insights into the effectiveness of her educational techniques.
Compensation & Benefits
Paid wellness time and school holidays.
Tuition discounts for children enrolled at MSM.
Many opportunities for professional development.
Salary scale is competitive and based on an individual’s experience and qualifications.