Aftercare Guide

Aftercare Guide

Linden Tree Montessori in Columbus, Ohio seeks an Aftercare Guide to lead our aftercare program.

Linden Tree is a PreK-2nd grade school (adding a grade each year, up to 8th) serving children ages 3-9 in Columbus, Ohio. Linden Tree will open in Fall 2026 and serve around 40 children. We are a tuition-free Montessori school for Kindergarten and up, and tiered tuition for PreK. Our mission is to provide a tuition-free Montessori education that empowers every child through an accessible, high-quality, holistic and equitable learning environment.

We are committed to fostering strong community and family partnerships, celebrating diversity and nurturing a lifelong love of learning.

Linden Tree Montessori School is part of Wildflower Schools, a network of 1-2 room, teacher-led, authentic Montessori learning environments serving children from infancy through high school. The Wildflower model combines time-tested Montessori methods with promising new practices in family partnership, teacher empowerment, and intentional diversity. At Wildflower, we believe that embracing equity is an essential part of our work. We are committed to deeply engaging in what Maria Montessori called “the preparation of self” as it pertains to understanding our implicit biases, blind spots, and prejudices.

The Wildflower network is decentralized and nonhierarchical, rooted deeply in our values of Connectedness and Growth; our norms of Anti-Bias Anti-Racist and Unity, Autonomy with Support, and Awareness and Compassion; and our purpose and principles that guide our schools’ design.

The responsibilities of the Aftercare Guide include, but are not limited to:

• Planning and managing the Aftercare Program, keeping in mind the nature of the child and the time of day
• Working collaboratively with the Teachers
• Assisting in the end of school day transition
• Sharing informal monthly updates with Heads of School regarding Aftercare Program
• Managing administrative tasks for the Aftercare Program (attendance records, incident reports, replenishing first aid supplies, etc.)
• Observing children and sharing questions and observations with teacher leaders
• Initiating growth and change in your own intellectual and professional development; participating in opportunities for professional growth and learning

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Previous experience working with children required (in a childcare setting)
• Previous Montessori experience preferred
• Child Development Association (CDA) Credential or willing to obtain
• At least 2 years experience working in the classroom and/or childcare setting
• First Aid/CPR/AED certified
• Communicable Disease / Child Abuse Prevention Training
• Pass FBI/BCI background check reimbursed by school
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage children in an aftercare atmosphere
• Desire to learn and embrace Montessori ideals and principles
• Desire to learn skills in redirecting children that match Montessori and Positive Discipline

• Committed to Equity: You are eager to expand access to quality early education for racially and socioeconomically diverse communities; you are ready to engage in anti-bias, anti-racist self-work and community-work
• Generous: You live with kindness, practice gratitude and lead with love. You seek advice openly and are comfortable working in a non-hierarchical organization.
• Growth Oriented: You are eager to stretch beyond your current experience, to develop new skills and expertise, and to more fully explore your purpose and potential.

15-20 hours/week; from 3-6 p.m. Linden Tree Montessori offers opportunities for ongoing professional development, pathways and resources towards Montessori training in connection to the wider Wildflower community and supports

Salary: $19/hr and is commensurate with experience.

The role requires the ability to move around the classroom and outdoor areas, engage with students at their level (including sitting on the floor and getting up frequently), and lift materials up to 30 pounds.

Linden Tree Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, sex or gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or in any other way based on personal identity markers that do not relate to the capacity of an individual person to carry out the responsibilities of a role.