Children's House Classroom Assistant presso Childpeace Montessori School

Children’s House Classroom Assistant

Job Description

Childpeace Montessori School is seeking a Children’s House Classroom Assistant to work in our Children’s House (3- to 6- year-olds) program. This individual will support and maintain the Children’s House classroom as requested by the Guide of the classroom. The Assistant is responsible for the well being of the children while at school, and building supportive, appropriate relationships with colleagues and parents. The position is an hourly and non-exempt, school year position with opportunities to work the summers. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Curriculum: Assists in implementing a Montessori approach to learning.

• Assists the guide as directed to protect the children’s engagement in purposeful activities and support the child’s independence.
• Supports the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of each child as directed by the guide.
• Regards each child without prejudice or favoritism.
• Maintains confidentiality of each child and family.
• Shares objective observations of the children, both oral and written, with the guide.
• Leads small group and large group activities as requested by the guide (e.g. reading books, singing, story telling, games).
• Prepares a snack that follows school guidelines and protects children with allergies.
• Supports CH lunch time with procedures established by the guide.
• Assists CH staff to supervise crossing to/from play spaces and to lead a safe and engaging play time.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School

Care of the Environment: Assists in preparing the environment for the children.

• Assists in preparing the classroom environment to be clean, orderly, and beautiful.
• Attends to daily needs of sanitizing the class dishes, washing laundry, and bathroom tidiness.
• Supports the children’s participation in care and maintenance of the environment.
• Contributes to communal upkeep to enhance the beauty, functionality, and tidiness of the entire school environment.
• Assists in making materials for the classroom as directed by the guide.

Classroom Management: Assists in supporting the safety and relationships of children in the class community.

• Protects the guide’s lessons from interruption when possible.
• Supports guidelines for use of materials as instructed by the guide.
• Communicates and manages behavioral standards appropriate to each child’s abilities.
• Supports children’s skills of behavioral self-regulation. Uses positive phrasing and positive attitude when sharing expectations.
• Offers children language, modeling, and tools to support their skills of positive peer relationships, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Uses established protocol for tracking children’s attendance.
• Reports to the Guide, Program Director or office any accident that occurs in the class or play areas and completes any necessary accident/incident report form.

Relationships with Parents:

• Represents the classroom community positively and professionally at drop off and pick up times, and at classroom and community events.
• Assistants may be in a position to answer some housekeeping-type questions for parents, but mainly refers all questions, comments, or messages from parents to the guide (or Program Director if necessary).
• Adheres to professional protocol and school policies in all interactions with parents. Maintains professional boundaries, demonstrates awareness that one’s conduct is a reflection of the school environment, and uses good judgment when forming social connections with parents outside of the professional relationship.

Community Relations:

• Works with a positive and professional attitude when fulfilling staff responsibilities and implementing school policy.
• Communicates directly with the appropriate person any concerns or problems, adheres to all policies governing Childpeace, and implements the Childpeace Staff Charter.
• Attends all scheduled staff meetings and scheduled in-service meetings.
• Is prompt for scheduled work hours, all scheduled meetings, events and activities.
• Contributes to fundraising efforts and activities that support the school community.
• Maintains a professional appearance.
• Checks email every work day.

Professional Development:

• Reads the Staff Handbook and Parent Handbook and agrees to adhere to all Childpeace Montessori School policies.
• Completes 20 hours of documented, relevant professional development each school year in time for the annual licensing renewal.
• Engages with professional organization OMA (yearly dues paid by Childpeace).
• Reads educational materials and seeks out development opportunities for the purpose of expanding themselves as a resource to the children.
• Participates in staff meetings and peer observations as requested, and helps create an atmosphere of respectful collegiality.
• Shares and receives suggestions and feedback with colleagues.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Experience with 3- to 6-year-old children preferred.
• Associate degree or higher is preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Background Check/Enrollment in the Central Background Registry
• Food Handler Card
• CPR/First Aid
• Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
• Intro to Child Care Health and Safety class
• Prevention is Better than Treatment
• Professional development: Complete 20 hours of documented training each school year. All program staff must submit documentation to Oregon Registry Online.
• Participate in the Oregon Registry, and work toward a Step 9 or above.
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About Childpeace:

Our staff work with hundreds of toddlers through adolescents in their educational journey every year. Childpeace’s classrooms offer a beautiful, vibrant environment in northwest Portland three blocks from the Willamette River near several urban parks, walking trails, and restaurants. Our school is located within several blocks of major bike and bus routes with many staff commuting by bike and bus. Childpeace supports our staff with a competitive salary structure and benefits package, a program rooted in AMI standards, a commitment to professional development, beautiful and well equipped classroom environments, strong administrative support, and a dynamic working community of Montessori professionals.

Childpeace values responsibility, educational excellence, love of learning, sustainability, and equity as important characteristics of our learning community. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, particularly those from historically underrepresented groups, whose personal and professional experiences will help us work toward our vision to shape the future of our world through the cultivation of inquisitive minds and socially responsible young citizens. 

Childpeace Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, physical or mental ability, or any other status protected under local, state or federal laws in the admission of otherwise qualified students or in the administration of its educational policies or programs, hiring, or employment practices.