Primary (3-6 year old) Teacher Assistant for 2026-27 school year

Spruce Pine Montessori School Job Description Job Title:

Primary Assistant Teacher Reports To:

Primary Lead Teacher Status:

Exempt

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:

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 children in a prepared Montssori 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 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, and on field trips 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
• 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 as needed
• Makes classroom materials as needed
• Reports all accidents or unusual situations to the Head of School and writes a dated report in the 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 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 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 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); Montessori Assistant online training completed within first 6 months of employment; first aid and CPR training, valid NC driver's license, criminal background check, medical exam and Tb test; experience with children. Basic computer skills required

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 $22,893- $30,461, commensurate with education and experience 10 days paid time off per year 5 paid holidays (Labor Day, Memorial Day, and 3 days for Thanksgiving) 3 weeks paid vacation (taken as Spring break and Winter break) during 10-month school calendar 9 weeks unpaid vacation in summer 3% matching IRA funds after the calendar year after the year beginning employment Seasonal bonus Health Reimbursement Arrangement of $2000 annually ($1500 the first year) 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 75% tuition reduction for one qualified child or 50% tuition reduction for 2 qualified children Updated 6/2023

JAR Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$23,925.00 - $31,837.00 per year

Benefits:

Employee discount Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person