Job Opportunity: Classroom Assistants
Location: Washington, DC
Department: Curiculum and Instruction
Application Deadline: Until filled
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Director of Student Support
Compensation: Salary starts at $37,000 and will be commensurate with degree and years of experience
FLSA Status: Exempt

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School
Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School's mission is to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.

Founded in 2016, Breakthrough Montessori is a public charter school in Washington, DC. In the 2024-25 school year, we will serve 388 students in PK3 through grade 6. At Breakthrough Montessori PCS, we believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Students of all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a personalized education.

Our school is grounded in an institutional commitment to development, prevention, and community. We support human development through a strict application of the time-tested Montessori instructional model. We support prevention through early learning, support, and intervention, enabling us to quickly and effectively address learning challenges. Finally, we support the community through an intensive approach to family engagement.

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is committed to equity in all areas of our school's work. We believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Therefore, we are a supportive environment that seeks to employ a diverse staff reflective of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is a coaching school; all team members receive and give coaching to support professional growth.

Position Summary:

Breakthrough Montessori PCS classroom assistants are dedicated to public Montessori and are excited to help shape this transformational school. This position focuses on assisting the class through transitions and helps support another assistant and guide in the classroom to help children be as independent as possible. This work includes duties like leading groups of children on walks to and from recess; managing lunch for a classroom of children with the help of another adult; creating activities for, and managing a group of children during after-school programming, etc. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The Classroom Assistant is a 10-month position. Typical working hours are Mondays from 8:00am-4:30 pm and Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm. Responsibilities include the following:

• Develop warm connections with children and implement effective strategies to manage small and whole group activities in the Montessori classroom, playground, and during transitions.
• Maintain a prepared learning environment according to the developmental and curricular specifications outlined by the Guide/Teacher, including following a weekly and daily cleaning/ sanitizing schedule to maintain the prepared environment.
• Clean and prepare the environment and make materials from 5:30 to 6:00pm everyday. This includes straightening materials on the shelves, wiping tables, running the dishwasher, sharpening pencils, replenishing supplies, dusting shelves, etc. -
• Set limits and boundaries and maintain appropriately high standards for child behavior in the Montessori context.

• Ability and openness to being trained by the Lead Guide to maintain consistent limits and freedoms for students according to the Montessori method and manage various behavior needs in collaboration with the classroom team.
• Participate in group coaching meetings, level meetings, and classroom team meetings.

• Implement warm and efficient strategies to actively support students who nap. Establish appropriate alternatives for students who do not nap.
• Maintain and deliver activities for aftercare, creating programming to share with colleagues for regular rotation, and overseeing group activities with aftercare classes, with an expectation of following lessons as set forth by the Extended Day Coordinator 
• Observe student activity and base interactions on observed needs and developmental abilities
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and the school leadership team

• Direct all questions and concerns from families directly to the Guide

• Be willing to take the lead when necessary and take the initiative always
• Fulfill duties in accordance with the Classroom Assistant Appraisal
• Provide a spirit of hospitality at school gatherings, occasional public events, and ongoing family engagement events
• Attend and participate in school events outside of regular school hours
• Other duties as assigned 
• Exhibits: 
  • self-discipline
  • independence
  • responsibility
  • grace and courtesy
  • respect for others
  • care of environment
  • care of self
  • community building

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

• Have a firm commitment to Montessori pedagogy and implementation and upholding the school’s mission and anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.
• Commitment to upholding the confidentiality of students and parents
• Proven ability to work as a member of a diverse team of educators 
• Enthusiasm and commitment to our vision and mission
• Creative, energetic and nurturing personality
• Organizational and interpersonal skills
• Timeliness and attention to detail
• Punctuality

• Ability to effectively direct families to the Guide if they have questions
• Ability to manage various behavior needs of all students.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Fluency in a language other than English is a plus

Education and Experience:

• Experience working with diverse populations of students, parents, and families. 
• Minimum requirement is an Associates degree, but a Bachelor‘s degree in the applicable field preferred
• Classroom assisting experience, preferably in a Montessori environment and/or with young children
• Experience collaborating and working as an assistant
• Experience with families from diverse backgrounds

Benefits: 

We provide employees with a robust leave policy that includes:

• Paid personal time off
• Paid COVID sick leave
• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday 

Breakthrough invests heavily in the professional development (PD) of our faculty through:

• A weekly early release schedule with professional development and collaborative planning time from 1:30-4:30 pm every Monday;
• An individual professional development budget of $250/year to pursue additional PD opportunities;
• Conference participation and 
• A Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license. 

Other benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision
• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)
• AFLAC
• Educator wellness groups, facilitated by a clinical psychologist.

For information on Breakthrough Montessori PCS, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.breakthroughmontessori.org. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.