Near North Montessori School·Chicago, Illinois
The Assistant Teacher supports the Lead Teacher in fostering the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children aged 2-3. Responsibilities include maintaining the Montessori environment, preparing materials, and modeling grace and courtesy within the classroom.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Assist the Montessori Lead Teacher with the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth and development of students Prepare and maintain a Montessori environment, including developmentally appropriate materials and activities. Assist with maintaining a classroom true to the Montessori philosophy, including fostering a classroom community of respect and kindness. Demonstrate a warm regard, self-regulation, integrity, curiosity, responsibility, and creativity with a deep respect for racial, cultural, and gender diversity Assist in preparing, cleaning and maintaining the room environment and materials on a daily basis Act in a way that exemplifies and models the school’s expectations of grace and courtesy Attend and participate in meetings and training sessions for position, classroom, or level when invited Acquire professional training in the educational field by attending educational conferences, training workshops and other related activities Perform other duties and responsibilities as required, assigned, or requested
Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required Experience working with children 2 and 3 years old, preferably in a Montessori, educational setting CPR/First Aid/MAT Energetic, dedicated, and able to become involved in all aspects of the program Friendly, patient and warm demeanor Ability to communicate with parents in a positive and engaging manner Team player Demonstrated ability to provide high level of support and assistance Ability to commit to equitable education and employment practices, anti-bias, anti-racist work and learning Effective communicator, verbal and written, with children and adults Demonstrated ability to adapt to a variety of settings and environments Basic understanding of a child's cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development Demonstrated ability to provide high level of support and assistance Physical ability and stamina to support small children throughout the day
Pay Information: The salary range for this position is $40,000 - $45,000 annually based on skills and experience Near North Montessori believes that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, ancestry, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, conditions, and privileges of employment.
Candidates must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, with an Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred. Experience working with toddlers in an educational setting and current CPR/First Aid certification are required.
Market context
In Illinois, teaching assistant roles are commonly driven by school staffing needs in special education and general classroom support, especially where paraprofessional licensing is required. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for a valid TASN paraprofessional license, at least 60 semester hours or a paraprofessional exam, plus strong communication and knowledge of disabilities. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits from the original posting to save research time, then confirm your license status and readiness to follow classroom directions before applying.