STUDENT- FWS Montessori School Assistant Guide

Summary:

The Assistant Guide position at Ithaca Montessori School (IMS) requires love, patience, and respect for children. Assistant Guides support and guide children in activities designed to promote social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth following the philosophy of Maria Montessori.   The Ithaca College Off-Campus Community Service Program provides interested students with Federal Work Study (“FWS”) eligibility, as awarded by Student Financial Services. This position is based at The Montessori School 12 Ascot Place, Ithaca.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Education and experience to meet IMS and the New York State Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) Assistant Teacher Requirements as follows:
• High School Diploma or Equivalent 
• One year of experience working with children less than 6 years old
• Educational background in Early Childhood, Child Development, or a related field is preferred
• Child Development Associate (CDA) preferred
• CPR/First Aid Certification preferred
• IMS requires employees to be at least 18 years of age
• Pass all background clearance checks required by OCFS
• Meets school/state health requirements: Including TB tests, immunizations, and a physical.
• Able to lift 50 pounds.
• Able to squat, stand, and sit for 2 hours or more at a time.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Montessori Philosophy:

• Gain an understanding of Montessori philosophy through training, mentoring, and the application of skills and knowledge acquired through this process.
• Promote the school’s mission, vision, and values to the IMS community in a positive and supportive manner.
• Assist in the welfare, safety, and educational achievements of each child.
• Care for the classroom environment in a way that leaves it clean, organized, well stocked, prepared, and inviting for the children.
• Meet monthly with the classroom team and lead guide to ensure a strong team dynamic and effective communication.
• Observe and record pertinent information in regard to the areas of development for each child and share with the classroom team and lead guide in a timely manner.
• Support the classroom Lead Guide in classroom maintenance and curriculum presentations to the children.
• Support the classroom by assisting in tone-keeping and classroom management.
• Assist in supporting the children in material and behavioral choices.

Professionalism and Work Ethic:

• Arrive on time, ready to work each day.
• Adhere to the guidelines of attendance and time off policies.
• Be committed to fulfilling the obligations of the offer of employment per the dates on the offer letter.
• Adhere to and follow the guidelines in regard to the dress code per the IMS Employee Handbook
• Read, review, and comply with all policies of the IMS Employee Handbook.
• Engage with children, families, and staff as an early childhood professional committed to respect, integrity, and kindness toward others.
• Adhere to IMS policies in regard to confidentiality.

Health and Safety:

• Understand and ensure compliance with all OCFS regulations, including ensuring that children are supervised at all times, that proper ratios of staff to children are maintained at all times, and that children are signed in and out of the school program as they arrive and depart.
• Assist in the daily Health and Wellness Checks in the morning and afternoon.
• Assist in the completion of any necessary Incident Reports and provide a copy to the family on the same day of the incident. Report any serious injuries to the administration immediately.
• Ensure children are released only to individuals designated as authorized transporters.
• Be responsible for any school keys assigned, reporting their loss immediately to the administration.
• Read, review, and comply with all plans and procedures in the IMS Emergency Plan.
• Read, review, and comply with all policies of the IMS Health Care Plan.

Training:

• Complete 15 hours of professional development in the first six months of employment and annually thereafter.
• Maintaining an ongoing 30 hours of professional development every two years in accordance with OCFS regulations.
• Create goals annually and follow an individualized professional development plan.
• Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Training.
• Participate in all professional development training on and off campus per the direction of the Education Director.
• Meet monthly with the Education Director to check-in.

Communications:

• Greet children and families in a friendly and professional manner each day.