Primary After School Assistant | Mon - Fri - 12:00 - 6:00pm

Montessori School of Lake Forest; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted tuition

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

The Montessori School of Lake Forest is seeking an afternoon Primary After School Assistant for the 2026-2027 school year. This role supports a class of children aged 3 to 6 in our Primary After School program, working closely with a Lead Teacher and upholding Montessori principles.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 12:00pm to 6:00pm (30 hrs/wk) with Club Days during school breaks (8:30am-4:30pm). Pay starts at $18.00 per hour; full-year benefits apply for 30 hours per week, with paid holidays

Qualifications

• Prior experience working with children preferred (3-6 age group).
• Prior Montessori Primary (3-6) experience strongly preferred.
• Good communication skills and strong work ethic.
• Investment in continuous learning and development.
• Ability to collaborate, multi-task and learn through observation and modeling.

Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality and supportive respect for colleagues, children and families (required).
• Apply Montessori principles to interpret philosophy for each child’s development.
• Ensure safety and physical well-being of children at all times.
• Assist children with self-care, including diapering and toileting.
• Stock, organize, and daily clean the classroom and materials.
• Care and maintenance of classroom materials; guide others in this task.
• Supervise indoor and outdoor recess with children.
• Observe children and support class rules and procedures.
• Report accidents immediately and file written reports if needed.
• Share staffing for Club Days during school breaks and openings.
• Attend staff meetings and in-service programs as scheduled.
• Attend committee meetings and special meetings requested by the Executive Director.
• Assist with other projects, programs, and planning as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Patience

Teamwork

Continuous learning

Job description

Primary After School Assistant | Mon - Fri - 12:00pm - 6:00pm

The Montessori School of Lake Forest is seeking an afternoon Primary After School Assistant (ages 3-6) for the 2026-2027 school year. This person will support a class of children in our Primary After School program (ages 3 to 6) working closely with a classroom Lead Teacher. The ideal candidate has experience working with children in a Montessori Primary (3-6) environment and will be reliable, and possess a patient, positive and respectful manner toward children in their care.

• Hours are Monday through Friday, 12:00pm - 6:00pm (30 hrs/wk) AND Club Days during school breaks and holidays (8:30 - 4:30pm).
• Position available for 2026-2027 school year
• Full year (12 month) position with paid holiday and paid time off (PTO)
• Pay starting at $18.00 per hour
• Discounted tuition available for children of employees
• 30 hours per week = benefit eligible
• Experience working with children in a Montessori Primary (3-6) environment preferred
• Position start date August 2026

Responsibilities include:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and supportive respect for colleagues, children and families (required.)
• Apply professional knowledge of child development principles to interpret Montessori philosophy in a manner that assures each child’s optimal development.
• Is responsible, with assistant’s help, for the safety and physical well-being of the children at all times.
• Assisting children with self-care, including diapering and toileting.
• Classroom stocking, organization, and daily cleaning.
• Responsible for the care and maintenance of classroom materials, including guiding the assistant and the children to share in this responsibility.
• Supervising indoor and outdoor recess with children.
• Observing children and supporting class rules and class procedures.
• Reporting all accidents immediately and per school protocol, prepares a written accident report if serving as the primary adult involved.
• Sharing staffing responsibility for Club Days (school breaks and dates on which the school is open for enrolled families.)
• Attend staff meetings and in-service programs as scheduled.
• Attend committee meetings and special meetings requested by the Executive Director.
• Assist with any other projects, programs and planning as assigned by Executive Director.

Qualifications include:

• Prior experience working with children preferred
• Prior experience working in Montessori classroom strongly preferred
• Good communication skills and strong work ethic
• Investment in continuous learning and development
• Ability to collaborate, multi-task and learn through observation and modeling

We are a strong school community, dedicated to Montessori principles, committed to inspiring independence, self- confidence, respect and academic excellence.