Early Childhood Classroom Support Teacher

Headwaters School; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Headwaters School in Austin, TX, seeks a full-time Early Childhood Classroom Support Teacher for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Montessori-based program emphasizes belonging, inclusion, and a joyful learning environment.

You will support children aged 18 months to 5 years, collaborate with lead and assistant guides, and engage families to ensure smooth transitions, developmentally appropriate activities, and a positive classroom culture. This role includes Extended Day Program duties.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED, required
• Bachelor's degree, preferred
• Passion for working with young children
• Experience with the Montessori philosophy and/or environment, preferred
• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion practices and curriculum in the classroom
• A commitment to personal and professional development
• Is a creative individual and team player
• Ability to maintain calm and focus
• Operates with a high level of integrity
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to learn positive language, new tools and conflict resolution strategies from team
• Flexible and adaptable
• Ability to follow oral and written directions
• Willing to support toilet learning, as needed

Responsibilities

• Work with children in our Early Childhood program aged 18 months - 5 years in a classroom setting consisting of a lead guide, an assistant guide and a support staff member.
• Support the children through their classroom experience, including assisting with nap time, toileting work, and other daily transitions in the classroom.
• Maintain a clean and tidy indoor and outdoor environment for all children in coordination with the other guides to provide a safe space for learning.
• Develop and maintain an environment that meets the sensitive period/plane of development of the children he/she works with.
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with your team to coordinate curriculum integration and implementation, as well as maintain communication with parents.
• The Support Guide position is a guide for the Extended Day Program (after school care).

Skills

Montessori experience

Early childhood

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Equity and inclusion

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Headwaters School, a Pre-K through grade 12 independent day school serving over 500 students across its three campuses in Austin, TX, is seeking full-time Early Childhood Classroom Support Teacher in our Early Childhood School for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. This position is for an immediate start. At Headwaters, our teachers nurture a school culture that promotes a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, a joyful environment, and the achievement of high expectations. Our faculty and staff ensure all members of our school community understand their role in advancing issues of belonging and inclusion. Headwaters School supports the professional growth of our school faculty in order to contribute to their feelings of fulfillment, to provide a model of lifelong learning for our students, and to advance the strategic goals of the school. Our faculty members are responsible for bringing our Purpose statement to life: to cultivate identity formation, foster empathy, and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world. In addition, they guide our students to live authentically, think expansively, and create bravely. We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers. The Support Teacher positions report directly to our Director of Early Childhood. Our ideal candidate is passionate about providing exceptional child care, and loves working with children and within a team. Our Early Childhood Campus teaches a Montessori based curriculum and we pride ourselves on our personal connection with every family and child we have in our care.

Title: Classroom Support Guide

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:45 am- 5:45 pm

Duties Include

• Work with children in our Early Childhood program aged 18 months - 5 years in a classroom setting consisting of a lead guide, an assistant guide and a support staff member.
• Support the children through their classroom experience, including assisting with nap time, toileting work, and other daily transitions in the classroom.
• Maintain a clean and tidy indoor and outdoor environment for all children in coordination with the other guides to provide a safe space for learning.
• Develop and maintain an environment that meets the sensitive period/plane of development of the children he/she works with.
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with your team to coordinate curriculum integration and implementation, as well as maintain communication with parents.
• The Support Guide position is a guide for the Extended Day Program (after school care).

Job Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED, required
• Bachelor's degree, preferred
• Passion for working with young children
• Experience with the Montessori philosophy and/or environment, preferred
• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion practices and curriculum in the classroom
• A commitment to personal and professional development
• Is a creative individual and team player
• Ability to maintain calm and focus
• Operates with a high level of integrity
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to learn positive language, new tools and conflict resolution strategies from team
• Flexible and adaptable
• Ability to follow oral and written directions
• Willing to support toilet learning, as needed

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position and compensation is competitive for the greater Austin area. The School offers a wide-range of benefits including generous paid time off, 100% paid medical insurance for the employee, 401(k) retirement plan, on-going professional support and continuing education opportunities, and a unique working environment where you are able to share and receive ongoing feedback. This position reports to the Early Childhood School Director.

Headwaters School welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All Employees are responsible for complying with the School’s equal employment opportunity policy.