About the Organization

Founded in 1965, Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara (MCS) is an independent school and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The school boasts sixty years rich in a history of nurturing a lifelong love for learning among children ages 18 months through 6th grade – grounded in the Montessori method. An American Montessori Society Member School, MCS fosters independent, self-motivated, confident, life-long learners, who will become positive forces to care for and transform our world. The school is located on a beautiful garden campus in Goleta, California. 

About the Opportunity 

MCS seeks a warm, reliable, and nurturing educator to serve as an Assistant Teacher in our Toddler aftercare program. This role supports our youngest learners in a calm, safe, and engaging environment at the end of the school day and offers an opportunity to work alongside a talented and committed staffulty and a caring community of families.

Working in collaboration with the Toddler Lead Teachers and program team, the Assistant Teacher helps maintain a welcoming, orderly, and developmentally appropriate environment that reflects Montessori principles. In aftercare, this role supports toddlers’ routines, social-emotional development, and growing independence while ensuring each child feels secure, supported, and cared for during the afternoon and evening hours at the conclusion of the school day.

Roles & Responsibilities

A Toddler & Primary Assistant Teacher at MCS performs the following duties:

Classroom Environment & Curriculum

• Support the Lead Teacher in maintaining a beautiful, orderly, and well-prepared Montessori environment that reflects high standards of care, organization, safety, and intentionality for toddlers.
• Assist in the daily Montessori work cycle, including preparing materials, supporting activities with clear modeling and gentle guidance, and reinforcing consistent routines and expectations appropriate for toddlers.
• Support small-group and individual activities as directed by the Lead Teacher, grounded in Montessori principles and aligned with the developmental needs of toddlers.
• Build warm, respectful, and trusting relationships with children, supporting a classroom culture that fosters security, independence, confidence, community, and belonging.
• Reinforce age-appropriate social-emotional development, helping toddlers practice self-regulation, emerging communication skills, cooperation, and problem-solving throughout the day.
• Support children in developing independence in self-care, transitions, and classroom routines consistent with Montessori practices; assist with the implementation of individual behavior or support plans in partnership with the Student Support team as applicable.
• Help maintain a classroom environment that ensures safety, consistency, and predictability; uphold school-wide behavioral expectations and support developmentally appropriate guidance strategies.
• Participate in required supervision duties (indoor/outdoor play, arrival/dismissal, toileting support as applicable) in compliance with California licensing and labor regulations regarding rest and meal breaks.
• Partner with the Lead Teacher and Director of Operations to prepare, organize, and manage classroom materials and supplies within established budgets and procurement guidelines.
• Along with other classroom assistant teachers, maintain primary responsibility for cleaning activities, maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of the classroom each day. 

Observation & Record-Keeping

• Under the direction of the Lead Teacher, observe and document children’s developmental progress through daily observation and record-keeping, using notes and classroom insights to inform individualized support and classroom planning.
• Assist with conference preparation and documentation for family conference cycles as needed.

Family Engagement

• Support a culture of positive, respectful, and professional communication with parents and caregivers.
• Follow school-wide communication protocols when sharing student information.
• Greet families warmly during dismissal, and school events, helping foster strong home–school partnerships.
• Assist with classroom communications, family events, and visitations as directed by the Lead Teacher.
• Participate in the broader life of the school community, including occasional evening events and occasional weekend commitments (e.g., Back-to-School Night, MCS Town Hall).
• Support and supervise classroom events, on-campus experiences, and family gatherings as assigned, including assisting with supervision and logistics.

Professionalism & School Culture

• Model professionalism, emotional intelligence, and Montessori values.
• Embody MCS’ culture of collaboration, accountability to self-team-families-mission, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion at all times.
• Serve as a steady, solutions-oriented presence for staffulty and families.
• Seek out and embrace opportunities for collaboration with colleagues across the school.
• Model lifelong learning: Seek out opportunities for learning and development, including opportunities to learn from peer feedback from your colleagues.

A Typical Day

Below is a sample schedule for a typical day in this role:

• 10 am: Arrive at MCS
• 10-11:30 am: Cover breaks for Toddler and Primary classroom teachers
• 11:30 am - 12 pm: Primary classroom lunch helper
• 12-2 pm: Toddler nap room
• 2-5:30 pm: Supervising/teaching children in the Toddler classroom
• 5:30-6 pm: Cleaning & prep time

Qualifications

Successful candidates for this role will evidence the following qualifications:

Experience & Professional Qualifications

• At least three years of experience working in a licensed preschool classroom environment (strongly preferred)
• A Child Development Teacher Permit or 18 early childhood education (ECE) credits totalling 18 semester units, including supervised experience
• Excellent command of spoken and written English (required)
• Strong command of classroom management techniques that align to the positive discipline philosophy (required)
• Prior experience working in a Montessori classroom a plus (preferred, not required)

Mindsets & Skills

• Commitment to MCS’ mission, vision, and core values
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate effectively as a member of a results-oriented, high-performing team
• Passion for serving children with diverse learning needs 
• Commitment to living out principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Sound professional judgment and decision-making skills 
• Capacity to share, receive and implement feedback with grace and agility
• Emotional intelligence, integrity, and humor
• Very strong personal organization, planning, and follow-through

Essential Job Functions 

The physical demands described here represent essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• The role is performed primarily in a school setting and requires the physical stamina necessary to engage with toddlers throughout the day.
• Duties include frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, stooping, reaching, lifting, and sitting at children’s level, including working on the classroom floor to support toddlers’ activities, routines, and care needs.
• The position requires the ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds, including classroom materials, equipment, or emergency supplies, and to safely lift or assist a child as needed for care or safety purposes.
• The employee must be able to use hands and fingers to handle, grasp, and manipulate materials, including Montessori materials and equipment of various sizes, shapes, and textures.
• The employee must be able to move quickly and safely in response to toddlers’ needs, behaviors, or emergency situations, both indoors and outdoors.
• Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, all of which are necessary for supervising toddlers, observing developmental cues, reading instructional materials, and using a computer.
• Hearing and speaking abilities are required to communicate clearly with children, staff, and parents; provide verbal guidance and reassurance; participate in meetings; and respond promptly to safety concerns or emergencies.
• The employee is regularly exposed to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, including varying weather, moderate noise levels, and typical hazards associated with supervising active toddlers.
• The role requires daily direct interaction with toddlers, including close physical proximity and hands-on support, to provide instruction, guidance, redirection, care, and classroom management.
• Regular in-person communication and collaboration with parents, colleagues, administrators, and other members of the school community is required.

All MCS employees must clear a DOJ/FBI background check (LiveScan), must provide a negative TB test, must know the school emergency procedures, and must perform other duties not specifically stated as directed by the Head of School.

About Montessori Center School

Founded in 1965, Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara (MCS) is an independent school and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The school boasts sixty years rich in a history of nurturing a lifelong love for learning among children ages 18 months through 6th grade – grounded in the Montessori method. An American Montessori Society Member School, MCS fosters independent, self-motivated, confident, life-long learners, who will become positive forces to care for and transform our world. The school is located on a beautiful garden campus in Goleta, California.

Connections working at Montessori Center School