Puddletown School is hiring for the position of elementary assistant guide in a 6-12 classroom for the 2023/24 school year. This position is ideally full time and will work closely under the guidance of the elementary Lead Guide to provide small and whole group lessons and support the ongoing work of the children.  We are a primary, elementary and adolescent program in Eastmoreland SE Portland with a growing and active commitment to social justice, anti-bias, anti-racism, and equity work (within and outside of our community). We are a caring and committed team of educators who greatly respect each other, the children, and the philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori.

Eligible candidates will need:
-Montessori elementary diploma (AMS 6-12,  or AMI)
-Criminal history registry

-CPR/1st aid
-Familiarity with anti-bias, anti-racist work
-Experience working in an elementary Montessori environment
-Classroom management skills, including providing support to children, overview and redirection as needed to children in class, working individually with children and in small group follow-up work, using positive discipline techniques with children (non-shaming and non-punitive), familiarity with collaborative problem solving approaches are a plus
-Ability to collaborate, communicate directly, support record keeping, support conference writing as needed, working closely with the other elementary guides
-Assist with preparation, cleaning and maintenance of the classroom environment

Key performance characteristics:
-Collaborate closely with lead guide to provide ongoing Montessori instruction, track and record lessons, and maintain the culture and systems of the classroom community
-Work with children in a warm, patient, calm, respectful and confident manner
-Maintain a calm demeanor in a busy, highly flexible environment
-Carefully observe daily and use these observations to inform your interactions and follow-up lessons with children
-Be organized, attentive to details, and independently follow through with the ongoing tasks of supporting a classroom
-Support children and fellow staff to maintain an organized, accessible and prepared environment
-Understand and execute verbal and written instructions, policies and procedures and implement them with a degree of independence
-Achieve and maintain positive relationships with children, staff and adults
-Maintain confidentiality

Compensation is regionally competitive and will be scaled based on experience and the number of hours you are available and interested in working. Full time will be between 34-40k. Benefits include: retirement matching, health insurance, personal paid time off, fall, winter & spring breaks, summers off (with an option to work), paid training opportunities and discounted tuition for any staff with children who attend Puddletown School.

A note to potential candidates: Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folx, and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.
(note suggested by Tiffany D. Loftin, a liberatory thinker & movement architect).

Please check out our website for more information about our program and the community: www.puddletownschool.com.