Support Teacher

Who We Are

Dandelion Montessori is a one-room school serving children ages 2 years 9 months to 6 years. Dandelion Montessori opened in 2015 and serves up to 25 children.

Your Role

As a support teacher, you will be a critical member of our school community. You will work collaboratively with teacher leaders to maintain a beautiful, orderly Montessori prepared environment, support the daily rhythm of the classroom, and foster the care, independence, and development of each child.

Support teacher responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting the implementation of the Montessori curriculum and daily classroom rhythm under the guidance of lead teachers.
• Preparing, maintaining, repairing, and organizing curricular materials.
• Maintaining an inventory of classroom materials and ensuring that materials are clean, complete, accessible, and ready for use.
• Supporting all aspects of the daily routine, including arrival and dismissal, lunch, dishes, nap/rest, recess, bathroom routines, and classroom laundry.
• Actively engaging with children and supporting their independence, self-help skills, and developmentally appropriate participation in classroom life.
• Modeling respectful communication, grace and courtesy, good hygiene, and care for self, others, and the environment.
• Observing children and sharing questions, observations, and relevant information with the team.
• Communicating respectfully and collaboratively with colleagues and, as appropriate, with families.
• Following school policies, licensing requirements, health and safety procedures, and Montessori practices.
• Participating actively in team meetings, collaborative work, and school community responsibilities.
• Taking initiative in your own intellectual and professional development and participating in opportunities for ongoing learning and growth.

Experience

• Massachusetts EEC license preferred.
• Previous experience working with children strongly preferred (in a childcare setting or an in-home/nanny setting).
• Understanding of child development and a genuine interest in supporting young children.
• Strong interpersonal, listening, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute positively to a team environment.
• Ability to take initiative while also seeking guidance, feedback, and advice.
• Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Ability to meet Massachusetts EEC background check and health requirements.

Mindset

• Committed to Equity: You are eager to expand access to quality early education; you are ready to engage in anti-bias, anti-racist self-work and community-work. You recognize that creating an equitable environment requires continual reflection, learning, and action.
• Generous: You live with kindness, practice gratitude, and lead with love. You support your colleagues, and approach collaboration with openness.
• 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.

Physical and Environment requirements

This role involves actively participating in the physical life of a Montessori classroom and should have the ability to:

• Walk up to 1 mile to accompany children to a local playground frequently.
• Participate in indoor and outdoor activities with children, including kneeling, bending, squatting, crawling, sitting on the floor, and moving comfortably throughout the classroom and outdoor environment.
• Use hands and fingers to handle classroom materials, tools, and equipment.
• Lift, carry, and move children ages up to 5 years and classroom materials as required by the position and licensing requirements.
• Communicate clearly and listen to children and adults at varying voice levels.
• Maintain visual and auditory awareness of children throughout the environment.
• See clearly at close and extended distances, including the ability to distinguish colors and demonstrate adequate peripheral vision and depth perception.

Work hours

The support hours will be distributed between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as an online team meeting Wednesday from 7:45-8:45 pm. The working schedule will be determined in collaboration between the new hire and the Dandelion Head of School, but must include Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 11:00-5:30 pm, and the online Wednesday team meeting (7:45-8:45 pm).

Hours & Benefits

This can be a part-time or a full-time position. Salary is commensurate with EEC qualifications,…