Temporary Front Office Assistant

Woodland School, Portola Valley, CA; Portola Valley (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Woodland School, Portola Valley, CA, is seeking a Temporary Front Office Assistant to support daily Front Office operations, greet visitors, answer calls, and assist with student health and routine needs. The role runs Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with occasional extra hours for school events.

Responsibilities include supervising students at lunch/recess, assisting staff with administrative tasks, and maintaining a welcoming, organized front office environment while upholding

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience with children in school, childcare, camp, or similar setting preferred.
• Experience in an office, customer service, or administrative role preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with children and adults.
• Ability to stay calm, patient, and responsive in a busy school environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and shift priorities as needed.
• Discretion with confidential information and ability to work as part of a team.
• Comfort with basic office technology (email, phones, common applications).
• Current First Aid/CPR certification, or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for students, parents, faculty, staff, and visitors.
• Answer and direct incoming phone calls and respond to routine inquiries.
• Assist students with illness, injuries, and routine needs; follow health and safety protocols.
• Communicate with parents/guardians regarding arrivals, departures, illness, injuries, and routine matters.
• Support student attendance, dismissal, and daily school operations.
• Provide coverage for lunch, recess/playground supervision, and other student supervision needs as assigned.
• Support teachers and staff with day-to-day requests and administrative tasks.
• Assist with school events, activities, and special projects as needed.
• Help maintain an organized, safe Front Office and school environment.
• Receive and assist vendors, deliveries, and campus visitors.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion with information.
• Collaborate with Front Office staff and respond flexibly to changing priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Email/phones

Office applications

Job description

Overview of Woodland School

Located just west of Stanford University, Woodland is an independent day school that offers a joyful approach to learning in a diverse, respectful, and inclusive environment for approximately 300 students in early childhood through eighth grade.

Woodland School specializes in education that inspires students by nurturing each individual’s voice, intellect, and character. Our students’ innate sense of wonder is the foundation of learning at Woodland School. Teachers craft meaningful, multisensory learning experiences that enable creativity, ingenuity, and deep interdisciplinary connections. Students explore and develop complex understandings that engender a sense of self and purpose in the world.

Woodland School’s faculty create a school environment that is as supportive and nurturing as it is challenging, and they embody the core values of the school—stewardship, integrity, curiosity, resilience, equity, and respect. Our teachers apply best practices through collaboration, integrated curriculum, brain-based teaching and learning methods, and continued professional development.

Woodland School is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from candidates who reflect such diversity.

Position Overview

The Temporary Front Office Assistant supports the daily operations of Woodland School’s Front Office and helps maintain a safe, welcoming, and responsive environment for students, families, faculty, and visitors.

Regular Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Occasionally, there will be additional hours for special school functions.

Position Specifics

• Serve as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for students, parents, faculty, staff, and visitors.
• Answer and direct incoming phone calls and respond to routine inquiries.
• Assist students who come to the Front Office with illness, injuries, minor first aid needs, and other routine needs; follow established school health and safety protocols.
• Communicate with parents/guardians regarding student arrivals, departures, illness, injuries, and other routine matters.
• Support student attendance, dismissal, and other daily school operations.
• Provide coverage for lunch, recess/playground supervision, and other student supervision needs as assigned.
• Support teachers and other school employees with day‑to‑day requests, classroom needs, copying, materials, and other administrative tasks.
• Assist with school events, activities, and special projects as needed.
• Help maintain an organized, safe, and welcoming Front Office and school environment.
• Receive and assist vendors, deliveries, and other campus visitors.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate judgment when handling student, family, and school information.
• Work collaboratively with Front Office staff and other members of the school community and respond flexibly to changing priorities throughout the day.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the school’s daily operations.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience working with children in a school, childcare, camp, or similar setting preferred.
• Previous experience in an office, customer service, or administrative role preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and positively with children and adults.
• Ability to remain calm, patient, and responsive in a busy school environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and shift priorities as needed.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information and student needs.Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Comfortable using basic office technology, including email, phones, and common office applications.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification, or willingness to obtain certification as required.
• Ability to be physically active throughout the school day, including standing, walking around campus, supervising students outdoors, and responding to routine student needs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The position can be physically demanding. Reasonable accommodations may be made if requested in advance.

Salary

$28 - $30/hour depending on qualifications and experience.

Note

Woodland School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin in the administration of its educational or admission policies, financial aid distribution, or other school programs. Woodland School is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from candidates who reflect such diversity.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.