Infant Teacher

American Montessori Society Inc; Philadelphia, Northern (Philadelphia County, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and benefits

Relocation assistance available

Job summary

Philadelphia Chinese Academy is seeking a Mandarin-speaking Toddler Lead Teacher to guide a Montessori classroom, fostering academic, emotional, and physical development in a peaceful prepared environment.

Responsibilities include leadership, teacher-child interactions, environment setup, planning, staff relations, and parent involvement, with close collaboration with the Head of School and families to support each child's growth.

Qualifications

• AMI or AMS certification from a MACTE-accredited program.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States.
• B.S. or M.S. in Early Childhood Education and teaching experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Montessori classroom guiding academic, emotional and physical development.
• Model Montessori environment; maintain order and safety.
• Collaborate with families and staff to support each child’s development.

Skills

AMI/AMS certification

US work authorization

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Philadelphia Chinese Academy

Chinese or SpanishSpeaking Toddler Lead Teacher

Job Description

The Lead Teacher of a Montessori classroom is a guide who helps direct the children's activities academically, emotionally, and physically in a prepared and peaceful Montessori environment that challenges each child to reach his/her fullest potential in the developmental areas, in accordance with Montessori Philosophy. The lead teacher shall set up and operate his/her environment and maintain the order and neatness characteristic of the Montessori environment. The teacher shall possess collaborative communication standards with all families and staff striving to become the most effective educator possible.

As Lead teacher your responsibilities fall under six (6) categories: Leadership, Teacher-Child Interactions, Environment, Planning and Scheduling, Staff Relations, and Parent Involvement:

Leadership

• Possess an attitude which shows to co-workers, administration, community, parents and children, that he/she believes in the Montessori philosophy and is proud of the work that is being done.
• Carry out duties and work schedules in a consistent manner.
• Attend all staff meetings.
• Consistently arrive at work in a timely fashion.
• Adhere to and follow confidentiality policies.
• Respect and adhere to all safety requirements as mandated by PCA and OCDEL
• Work collaboratively with the Head of School, teachers and other special supports.
• Be a role model to the assistant teacher in the classroom consistently communicating information required for a harmonious classroom, guides as a mentor and updates regarding emergency regulations.
• Follow all policies and procedures as outlined in the staff handbook.
• Set professional development goals with the Head of School as required by the OCDEL

Teacher-Child Interaction

• Greet each child warmly upon arrival.
• Model desirable communication habits:
  • Eye contact at child's level.
  • Listen to the child.
  • Use appropriate voice tone as a teaching tool.
  • Use encouragement appropriately
  • Use positive language showing you have a unique view of the child.
• Ask open-ended questions
• Use positive, consistent, predictable behavior management as the policy states in the Staff handbook.
• Help children accept mistakes without shame.
• Refrain from discussing negative information.
• Be alert to the total group when dealing with only a part of the classroom.
• Assist those children needing help during transitional times.
• Do not interrupt children at work.
• Respect the rights of the children.
• Use observation skills to gain information of how each child learns and to scaffold their learning when giving lessons.
• Identify each child's learning style.
• Offer each child a challenging and appropriate Montessori curriculum in each area through lessons which are based on individual levels of learning.
• Move to the child quietly and respectfully when needing to get their attention.
• Assess a child's learning and be able to communicate that assessment in parent teacher conference held two times per year for each child.
• Present materials to children in a developmentally appropriate manner considering the age and ability of the child and/or group of children you are addressing.
• Provide consistent order, routine and structure for all children.
• Conduct all conversations and lesson plans with children in Mandarin Chinese.

Environment

• Prepare the environment to meet all ages and each child's learning style.
• Using observation to develop strategies that engage the child.
• Support each child in finding appropriate challenges
• Work to guide each child to become self-reliant and/or independent.
• Provide and model a peaceful learning environment.
• Keep the environment and storage aread clean and orderly.
• Use developmentally appropriate practice with the age group served.

Planning and Scheduling

• Meet with the assistant teacher at least one time per week and ad hoc throughout the day as needed. This time should be spent discussing observations, classroom environment, strategies and plan for individual child's needs.
• Work together with the assistant teacher to carry out plans for the classroom as a whole. field trips, walks, etc.
• Meet every other week with the Head of School.
• Participate and seek out professional development to improve quality within the classroom and to meet all OCDEL requirements. Do the same for your assistant.
• All spending is controlled through a school budget. The request for purchasing materials must be made to the Head of School. Keep all receipts of materials that you have purchased with your personal funds.

Staff Relations

• Exhibit respectful and friendly attitude with the staff promoting a cooperative and team spirit.
• Accept constructive criticism and show a willingness to make changes in work style which will bring about positive changes.
• Refrain from gossip and airing personal problems at inappropriate times.
• Work with other teachers in special programming that has been developed by the team.

Parent Involvement

• Maintain respectful relationships with all parents respecting their rights.
• Refer problems to the Head of School if they cannot be solved individually.
• All communications to families of PCA must be done by using a business email address set up by the school admin or via Brightwheel.
• Communicate in the beginning of the school year and as often as necessary to individual families about their child.
• Communicate weekly via Brightwheel to all families about activities of the week in pictures.
• Send messages as needed to families.
• Touch base with the parents when concerns arise either through Brightwheel, phone or face to face.
• Lead "Parent and Me" workshops

Job Requirements:

• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) or American Montessori Society (AMS) certification from a MACTE accredited program
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must have authorization to work in the United States
• B.S. or M.S. in Early Childhood Education & teaching experience preferred

* Must possess effective communication techniques and the ability to relate and communicate to children, staff, parents, and Head of School

Must possess the ability to provide a classroom management style that is predictable, orderly, respectful and peaceful.

• Extremely competitive pay and benefits.

Minimum of 3 year experience as a certified Montessori teacher. Relocation assistance available.