Job Description
Job Title: Toddler/Casa Assistant
Department: Education
Reports to: Early Childhood Coordinator
Salary/pay grade: NA
Employee Status:
FLSA Classification: Non-exempt
[x] 35 – 40 hrs/wk
[] 20 – 35 hrs/wk
[] less than 20 hrs/wk
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Toddler/Casa Assistant supports the Lead Guide in preparing and maintaining a peaceful Montessori Toddler/Casa environment, attending to children’s physical needs and safety while modeling positive interactions and communications with adults and children.
REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Required Education and Experience
An assistant teacher with the credential listed in column A must have the education and experience listed in column B
Column A
Column B
(1) High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalency
Experience: 2,080 hours as an aide or student intern Education: 12 quarter credits (8 semester credits)
(2) Minnesota license as a family day care or group family day care provider
Experience: 2,080 hours as a licensed family day care or group family day care provider
Education: 12 quarter credits (8 semester credits)
(3) Diploma from Association Montessori International or preprimary credential, primary diploma, or provisional certificate from the American Montessori Society
Experience: 520 hours as an aide or student intern Education: three quarter credits
(4) Minnesota technical institute certificate as a Child Development Assistant
Experience: 520 hours as an aide or student intern Education: no additional required
(5) Two years full-time postsecondary education from a college or university
Experience: 1,040 hours as an aide or student intern Education: nine quarter credits (6 semester credits)
(6) Child Development Associate credential, center based or for family day care, from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
Experience: no additional required Education: no additional required
(7) Baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited college or university
Experience: no additional required
Education: nine quarter credits (6 semester credits)
(8) Certificate or credential for a two year program in child development or early childhood education at a Minnesota community college or technical college
Experience: no additional required Education: no additional required
(9) License from the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning for Prekindergarten Associate
Experience: no additional required Education: no additional required
Preferred Experience
1 - 3 years experience in a Montessori School
Qualifications & Competencies
Certifications
AMI Montessori 0-3 or 3-6 Orientation
All required annual training per DHS and OSHA, as applicable
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
40% - Preparation and Maintenance of Montessori Toddler/Casa Environment
- Cleaning the environment
- Refill supplies daily
- Properly storing supplies
- Materials-making and repair
- Refresh classroom materials seasonally, at the discretion of the Guide
- Ensure materials are arranged correctly daily
40% - Connection to the Children
- Supervise the classroom as directed by Lead Guide, protecting the peace, safety, and physical wellbeing of children at work, through Global Awareness of the classroom
- Respond to and report all accidents and incidents according to training
- Assess and prioritize how and when to intervene with children
- Assist children with conflict resolution processes, in small groups and individually
- Assist children with their work, at the direction of the Lead Guide
- Support the Lead Guide in presenting Grace & Courtesy lessons
- Supervise and support nap
- Facilitate transitions within the day
- Assist children in the bathroom, as needed. This function holds higher priority for the Toddler Assistant
- Observe the children at work
- Support children’s snack routines
20% - Connection to Montessori Community of Practice
- Assist, at the direction of Lead Guide, with Family Communications
- Initiate professional development opportunities to meet total hours required by DHS
- Attend staff meetings as scheduled
- Participate in special community events as outlined on the calendar and in the Employee Handbook.
- At the direction of the Lead Guide, coordinate birthday, laundry, and conference reminders to families
- Assist Toddler/Casa Aide when Guide is unavailable
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This job demands:
- Work activities of a seasonal/cyclical nature
- Interruptions to work flow
- Dealing with confidential information
- Work subject to precise measures of quality or quantity
- Outside in extreme weather conditions
- Mobility
- Ability to lift 50+ pounds
- Ability to accept direction
- Concentrated attention over an extended period of time
