Toddler Co-Lead or Assistant

North American Montessori Teachers' Association (NAMTA); Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days paid time off

Up to 12 paid sick days

Unlimited bunny snuggles

Summers optional

Job summary

NAMTA's school acknowledges a warm, patient advocate for toddlers in a Montessori setting. You will support a Lead Teacher in a 1–3 year old classroom, helping prepare the environment and guide early independence.

You may join as an assistant or as a co-lead for a Toddler Guide, with MACTE Montessori training encouraged or provided in-house. Outdoor readiness and a collaborative spirit are essential.

Qualifications

• Genuine warmth and patience with young children.
• Comfort being outside in real weather.
• Reliability and follow-through, since the classroom depends on you showing up.
• Collaborative mindset as a true partner to the lead teacher.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead Teacher in a 1–3 year old classroom.
• Help prepare the environment and support daily routines.
• Guide children toward independence and toilet learning when appropriate.
• Build real relationships with children and their families.
• Be a steady, familiar presence in the classroom day-to-day.

Skills

Warmth and patience

Reliability/attendance

Collaborative mindset

Sense of humor

Education

MACTE accredited Montessori training

Job description

We are a school with a lot of opinions about getting kids outside. If “freedom of movement” sounds like a philosophy and also a daily logistical adventure, you’ll fit right in.

We’re a nature-focused, indoor-outdoor school where children spend meaningful chunks of their day outside, and we’re a small, close-knit community with a low-drama, high-collaboration culture. No one is exempt from diaper changes here!

The best part–our campus. You will be part of the first team to serve children at our newest location — 7 acres of beauty, where rabbits, chickens, ducks and goats will roam alongside our students. A babbling creek, wooded acreage for exploring, abundant raised garden beds and even an apiary for our honeybees. A true Montessori dream campus.

The Schedule

This role can be part or full-time depending on your preference and need. Our Toddler Community program is half-day, but we also offer afternoon programming which you could be a part of if additional hours are desired.

The Role

You’ll work closely with a Lead Teacher in a classroom of 1-3 year olds, helping prepare the environment, supporting daily routines, and guiding our youngest students towards independence.

It’s not all fun and games, though—you’ll help children learn to use the toilet independently, handled with the same warmth and patience as everything else. You’ll build real relationships with the children and their families, and you’ll be a steady, familiar presence in the classroom day to day.

We are open to someone without a credential joining as an assistant (and can offer you MACTE accredited Montessori training in-house if interested!) or a credentialed teacher who would like to join our amazing Toddler Guide as her co-lead.

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need years of experience, but you do need the right temperament. What matters most:

• Genuine warmth and patience with young children, including on the harder days
• Comfort being outside in real weather, not just nice-day weather
• Reliability and follow-through, since the classroom depends on you showing up (we don’t play around about attendance here!)
• A collaborative mindset. You’re a true partner to your lead teacher, not just an extra set of hands
• A sense of humor, because you will need it

What You’ll Get

• Hands‑on experience in a classroom that takes early childhood seriously without taking itself too seriously, mentorship from an experienced lead teacher, and a genuine sense of belonging to a small, tight-knit team.
• 30 days of paid time off plus up to 12 paid sick days.
• The opportunity to be part of a living Montessori lab school where we grow Montessori educators with the same care and intention that we do children.
• Summers optional
• Unlimited bunny snuggles.