Lower Elementary Assistant Guide

Casa dei Girasoli Montessori School is seeking a thoughtful, dependable, and child-centered Lower Elementary Assistant Guide to join our school community. Our Lower Elementary program serves children in a Montessori 6–9 environment where students are encouraged to develop independence, curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

The Assistant Guide works closely with the Lead Guide to support the daily flow of the classroom, maintain a beautiful and orderly Prepared Environment, and help create a safe, peaceful, engaging, and loving learning community.

The primary purpose of the Assistant Guide is to support the Lead Guide in whatever ways are needed to provide the best possible learning environment for students. Lead Guides and Assistants are expected to work collaboratively, learn from one another, and maintain consistency with Montessori principles and school expectations.

The Assistant Guide serves as an important tone keeper of the classroom, modeling grace, courtesy, respect, patience, and professionalism throughout the school day.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Lead Guide in maintaining a calm, engaging, and developmentally appropriate Montessori environment.
• Assist with the preparation, organization, cleanliness, and ongoing maintenance of the Prepared Environment.
• Prepare and maintain classroom materials, activities, and learning spaces.
• Assist students with work choices, classroom routines, transitions, and conflict resolution.
• Observe students and provide gentle, respectful, and developmentally appropriate guidance.
• Work with individual students and small groups as directed by the Lead Guide.
• Support individualized student needs and accommodations for students with varying learning abilities.
• Supervise students during classroom activities, transitions, lunch, recess, outdoor time, field trips, outings, and other school events.
• Share responsibility for the safety, supervision, and physical well-being of all students.
• Model grace, courtesy, peaceful problem-solving, and respectful communication.
• Support classroom behavior guidelines and expectations established by the Lead Guide.
• Communicate observations regarding student behavior, learning, or needs directly to the Lead Guide and, when appropriate, the Director.
• Maintain open, honest, warm, and respectful communication with students, families, and colleagues.
• Refer parent questions and concerns regarding individual students to the appropriate classroom Guide.
• Assist in the preparation of curriculum and classroom materials.
• Complete daily record keeping, observations, and other documentation as assigned.
• Report accidents and incidents immediately and complete Incident Reports in Transparent Classroom as required.
• Collaborate with colleagues, educational support personnel, and other professionals as needed.
• Work in partnership with colleagues to identify and address student learning needs and support instructional planning.
• Participate in classroom, staff, and school-wide planning to promote continuity between classrooms and contribute to the overall growth of the school.
• Attend and actively participate in Guide, Teaching Assistant, Lower Elementary, staff, and other meetings as assigned.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences and other family engagement opportunities as requested.
• Participate in school, community, and parent education events as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Assist with planning and participating in field trips and outings in collaboration with the Lead Guide, room parents, Outdoor Education Coordinator, and/or Director.
• Support the After-School Program as needed.
• Take the lead in the classroom in the absence of the Lower Elementary Guide, as appropriate and directed by school administration.
• Participate in required school-based and state-mandated professional development.
• Commit to continued learning and best practices in Montessori education.
• Participate in the school's evaluation process, including classroom observations, self-evaluation, and annual goal setting.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and expectations outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Lead Guide, Director, or Head of School.

Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 25.0 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person