Montessori Assistant Teacher: Houston, TX

As Montessori Assistant Teacher (internally titled Assistant Teacher II) for Bezos Academy, you share our passion for early childhood education and the Montessori method, drawing your energy from working in a child-initiated learning process. Your responsibilities will include assisting lead teachers in developing and implementing a program that promotes the cognitive, language, emotional, social, and physical development of each child. Drawing on your previous experience working with young children, you will support lead teachers in a multi-state network of schools in under-resourced communities, offering quality Montessori-inspired preschool at no cost to families.

LOCATIONS

We are actively hiring for an Montessori Assistant Teacher for our preschool in Houston – Northside (8855 McGallion Rd, Building 2, Houston, TX 77022).

SCHEDULES, BENEFITS, AND COMPENSATION

• School schedules vary depending on community needs but generally range from 8am-5:30pm, with teachers staggered across these hours with varying start and end times totaling no more than 8 hours per day. Your specific schedule will be determined with your school leader when considering all staff, classroom, and community needs.
• This is a full-time (40 hours per week), benefits-eligible, non-exempt/hourly position.
• Compensation for this position is $23-$32 per hour (~$39,000 - $56,000 annually). The upper third of the compensation range is typically reserved for existing employees who have been in the role for multiple years and demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting compensation will vary with prior experience and qualifications but is expected at $26-$29 per hour.
• This role includes 32 paid days of scheduled breaks, 3 paid days of personal time off, 9 paid days of sick (care) time, 10 paid holidays, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Meet one of the following criteria:
  • Four years of professional experience as an aide, assistant, or lead teacher of children from infancy through third grade
  • Two years of professional experience as an aide, assistant, or lead teacher of children from infancy through third grade AND an associate’s degree in a relevant field (i.e., child development, early childhood education etc.)
  • Bachelor’s degree
• Primary Montessori teaching credential from a MACTE-accredited institution or on track to obtain one within two years of hire
  • If you do not hold a Primary Montessori teaching credential from a MACTE-accredited institution, you will be eligible to complete the Bezos Academy Montessori Primary teacher coursework, provided at no cost
• Ability to pass background checks, tuberculosis screenings, and trainings required by the state of Texas required to supervise children independently
• Ability to independently supervise, communicate effectively with, and care for young children safely, including ability to lift a minimum of 40 lbs
• Access to reliable transportation to and from work and ability to consistently attend work as scheduled to ensure proper staff-to-child classroom ratios and support smooth school operations

This role requires a Primary Montessori teaching credential from a MACTE-accredited institution. If you do not currently have this credential, your employment in this role is provisional until you successfully obtain one. You must obtain this credential within two years of your start date to remain in this role. Upon hire, you may elect to obtain a credential through the Bezos Academy Montessori Credential Program (MCP), offered at no cost, or through any other MACTE-accredited program at your own expense.

Participation in MCP is voluntary and unpaid. MCP activities may occur during periods that overlap with scheduled working hours or scheduled breaks, including summer break. To the extent that participation in MCP overlaps with your regular working hours, those working hours will be paid. To the extent participation overlaps with scheduled breaks for which you are eligible, those scheduled breaks will remain paid.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates degree or higher in education or related field
• Experience teaching in a Montessori preschool
• Professional experience working with young children with special needs
• Experience working with children and families in low-income areas

RESPONSIBILITIES

*NOTE: The combination of responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the school site, students, and prior experiences of the Montessori Assistant Teacher. Some Montessori ATs will provide support across an entire school rather than be assigned to a single classroom.

Instructional

• Support the lead teacher in preparing and delivering instructional activities that facilitate active Montessori learning experiences
• Assist in presenting individual and small-group Montessori lessons, adapting activities to meet each child’s developmental stage and interests
• Observe each child daily to assess skills, interests, and needs and use this information to facilitate learning and growth
• Encourage the development of early literacy, math, and problem-solving skills through hands-on, purposeful work that supports kindergarten readiness
• Prepare and maintain a well-organized, safe, and attractive classroom environment conducive to the optimal growth and development of children
• Organize materials and clean the workspace to facilitate the learning process for each child
• Support children’s increasing independence with daily living skills (i.e., washing hands, using the bathroom, eating meals and snacks, cleaning up, etc.)
• Assist teachers in maintaining records on each child’s progress and development

Student Support

• Develop a positive relationship with each child and promote the development of self-esteem and self-discipline
• Provide support for children with diverse learning needs, including occasional or short-term support in small group settings when helpful for classroom participation, emotional regulation, or routines
• Partner with lead teachers to implement student support and/or behavior plans as needed

Operational

• Assist teachers with the full implementation of Bezos Academy’s performance standards, policies, and procedures
• Support Bezos Academy classrooms by following regulations and guidelines in the day-to-day operation of the classroom (i.e., cleaning materials, meal prep, nap time transitions, etc.)
• Prepare and maintain a well-organized, safe, and attractive classroom environment conducive to the optimal growth and development of children
• Organize materials and clean the workspace to facilitate the learning process for each child
• Support children’s increasing independence with daily living skills (i.e., washing hands, using the bathroom, eating meals and snacks, cleaning up, etc.)
• Maintain eligibility and professional growth by obtaining a MACTE-accredited Primary Montessori teacher credential within two years (if not already credentialed)
• As needed, independently supervise children throughout the day in classrooms and a variety of other situations, including but not limited to arrival/departure, transitions, outside time, rest/nap time, and (if offered) extended hours

Other

• Participate in team meetings, center activities, and staff development
• Assist lead teachers in conducting staff/family conferences
• Establish a positive relationship with each child’s family and share information about the child’s day at the preschool
• Assume postures at low levels (e.g. kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor) as needed to communicate effectively with children

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Bezos Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.