Westcliff University·Irvine, California
The Assistant Teacher supports student academic, emotional, and physical progress following Montessori, Reggio, and Nature Based philosophies, while being supervised by the Director. Responsibilities include preparing the classroom environment, developing and implementing the WELA curriculum, tracking student progress, and ensuring physical and emotional safety.
Description F.T. Infant- Assist Teacher
The F.T. Infant- Assist Teacher functions as a guide who helps to support their students’ progress academically, emotionally, and physically in the prepared environment and in accordance with Montessori, Reggio, and Nature Based philosophy and procedures. The teacher will be supervised by the Director on an ongoing basis.
Westcliff Early Learning Academy is a child care center that integrates Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and nature-based educational philosophies to foster self-directed, experiential learning. WELA is part of Westcliff University's educational ecosystem, grounded in over 30 years of academic excellence.
www.westcliffearlylearning.com
www.westcliff.edu
Responsible for preparation of the classroom environment, materials and equipment; ensures that all materials are in good repair. Maintains a neat, well organized, and clean environment. Develops and makes materials when needed. Inventories all classroom materials at the beginning and end of year. Plan and implement the WELA curriculum. Develop lesson plans, give appropriate presentations, and establish a record keeping system to track each student’s progress. Assist each student toward self-directed learning and normalization. Carefully monitor the academic and holistic development of every child in the class, following appropriate policies and procedures to ensure their physical and emotional safety at all times. Facilitate a respectful environment for children and adults and advocate a conflict resolution plan. Provide training and necessary instruction for all those assisting in the classroom. Prepare and maintain a weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule for activities, themes, and events. Stay within the classroom budget every month and make recommendations. Greet and assess all prospective children when they visit the school. Develop respectful lines of communication with parents and be available to meet with them. Educate parents about WELA’s philosophy and make suggestions for a complementary home environment. Plan and host Parent Nights once or twice a year and communicate with parents in writing weekly. Take the lead in supervising, maintaining, and planning the outdoor activities. Complete all paperwork on a timely basis as requested by the school Director and comply with continuing education opportunities. Help plan and attend all school events. Participate in staff, professional meetings, and training as requested. Maintaining confidentiality of staff and all those enrolled or affiliated with the school. Work with DSS as requested to complete observations and/or forms. Be familiar with all safety requirements. Lead the class and document all fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills. Track attendance twice daily and as needed. Meet daily or weekly with classroom staff to discuss plans, challenges, and goals. Train and supervise the class assistant on a daily basis.
Teacher’s should have a B.A. in early childhood education or a minimum of 12 ECE units with 1 year of teaching experience and 3 of the 12 units in an infant course. A passion for child centered education and the ability to work with groups of multi ages, needs, and abilities is desired. Excellent planning, multi-tasking, and organizational skills are necessary. Patience, observational skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure is required. The ability to work not only with children but staff and parents requires good communication skills. A positive and open attitude toward all children is a requirement. The Vietnamese language is desirable. By their hire date, teachers must be up to date on all State of California requirements with current TB, immunizations, medical and criminal record clearance and current CPR certification. Benefits include: 401K, Health and Dental and other Westcliff University benefits subject to eligibility
Westcliff University is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Candidates need a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a minimum of 12 ECE units, including 3 infant course units with one year of teaching experience. Desired attributes include a passion for child-centered education, excellent organizational skills, patience, observational skills, and strong communication abilities.
Market context
Teaching assistant roles in California often see steady demand, especially in early childhood settings where classrooms need support with child development and daily care routines. These positions can be competitive because employers look for candidates with specific ECE coursework, practical knowledge of child development theories, and the physical ability to handle active classroom environments. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to quickly confirm fit, then have your 12+ ECE units and relevant experience ready when you apply.