Preschool Teacher

Who are we?

Montessori Children’s Center (MCC) in San Francisco has been a leader in Montessori education since 1976. We are dedicated to helping children feel that they belong in the world and that the world belongs to them.

Who do we serve?

We are a classical Montessori preschool and kindergarten for children aged 2 to 6, where each student’s evolution is nurtured individually, where families feel proactively supported, and where teachers are consistently well cared for.

How do we serve our teachers?

We deeply value the experience, care, and dedication that educators bring to a thriving school community. We recognize that teaching is both joyful and demanding, and we believe that all teachers deserve ongoing appreciation and support.

That support includes generous paid time off. Our 2026-2027 academic calendar includes two weeks of winter break, one week of spring break, two weeks of summer break, mandated closures, and all federal holidays, in addition to sick and emergency leave.

We also believe that great educators never stop learning. We offer opportunities for personal and professional development, Montessori training, and pathways for career advancement.

To help sustain a healthy work-life balance, MCC integrates wellness into the workday. Staff have access to wellness amenities within the school, designated wellness days, and an external benefit for professional coaching. Our goal is to create a workplace where teachers feel respected, nurtured, and ready to grow.

About the role:

The Preschool Teacher, also known as the Assistant Montessori Guide, plays an essential role in creating a calm, joyful, respectful, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 2 to 6.

The Preschool Teacher reports to the Director and works under the day-to-day classroom leadership and direction of the Lead Montessori Guide. They are expected to follow the Lead Guide’s classroom plans, instructions, routines, assignments, and individual child-support strategies while contributing observations, questions, and ideas respectfully and constructively.

Working closely with the Lead Guide and teaching team, the Preschool Teacher supports children’s development through attentive care, active supervision, hands-on activities, consistent routines, and thoughtful guidance. They help protect the Montessori work cycle, maintain the prepared environment, and support each child’s growing independence, concentration, confidence, and sense of belonging.

This position offers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with children, families, and a supportive teaching team while developing a deeper understanding of Montessori education. For the right candidate, MCC may also support enrollment in a MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher training program.

Desired start date:

August or September 2026

Key responsibilities:

Classroom Support

• Support the Lead Montessori Guide in creating a consistent and authentic Montessori classroom experience.

• Respect and support the Lead Guide’s role as the instructional and operational leader of the classroom, and consistently follow established classroom plans, schedules, routines, expectations, and individual child-support strategies.

• Help protect the uninterrupted Montessori work cycle by maintaining active supervision, minimizing unnecessary interruptions, and supporting children’s concentration.

• Guide children toward purposeful activity while respecting their independence and individual pace, and support them as they select, complete, restore, and transition between classroom activities.

• Support children in using materials that have already been presented, model careful and respectful use of classroom materials, and assist with individual and small-group activities under the guidance of the Lead Guide.

• Facilitate developmentally appropriate group activities and support afternoon enrichment experiences in nature education, gardening, art, music, movement, and open-ended play as assigned.

• Contribute observations, questions, and ideas respectfully, seek clarification when needed, and consult the Lead Guide or Director before adjusting an established classroom approach.

Child Development and Responsive Care

• Provide warm, responsive, and respectful care that meets the individual needs of each child.

• Build trusting relationships with children while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

• Support children’s social and emotional development through calm guidance, clear and consistent limits, co-regulation, and respectful problem-solving.

• Help children develop independence, confidence, concentration, self-regulation, and consideration for others.

• Observe children’s verbal and nonverbal cues and respond thoughtfully to their developmental, physical, and emotional needs.

• Support children through separation, transitions, frustration, conflict, and other common classroom experiences.

• Use developmentally appropriate language, modeling, redirection, and opportunities for children to solve problems and repair relationships, while following established classroom approaches and consulting the Lead Guide or Director before adjusting an agreed-upon support strategy.

Child Supervision, Care, and Safety

• Provide attentive, active supervision that supports the safety and well-being of children during classroom work periods, transitions, meals, outdoor play, rest periods, and enrichment activities.

• Maintain awareness of where the children in their assigned group are, what they are doing, and any needs or safety concerns that arise.

• Position themselves strategically to maintain clear sightlines and remain present and engaged throughout assigned supervision periods.

• Support children with toileting, diapering, handwashing, dressing, meals, rest, and other self-care needs as appropriate.

• Follow established procedures related to children’s allergies, medical needs, food safety, illness, sanitation, medication, and emergency care.

• Respond promptly to injuries, incidents, behaviors requiring support, and other safety concerns; complete and submit required incident reports accurately and promptly; and communicate concerns to the Lead Guide or Director.

• Help maintain required staffing ratios, communicate before leaving or transitioning out of an assigned supervision area, and follow all school policies, licensing requirements, emergency procedures, and health and safety practices.

Classroom Environment and Organization

• Support the Lead Guide in preparing and maintaining a beautiful, orderly, safe, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate Montessori environment indoors and outdoors.

• Follow the Lead Guide’s systems for classroom organization, material placement, storage, cleaning, and daily preparation.

• Prepare the classroom environment each day and ensure materials are complete, accessible, clean, and ready for use.

• Restore classroom areas throughout the day, return materials and other items to their designated locations, and encourage children to participate appropriately in caring for their environment.

• Prepare, organize, rotate, and maintain classroom materials under the direction of the Lead Guide, consulting the Lead Guide before making changes to materials or their placement.

• Maintain organized classroom storage and supplies, assist with monitoring inventory, and promptly communicate repair, replacement, or replenishment needs.

• Address or report spills, damaged items, and environmental concerns, and complete assigned classroom preparation, cleaning, opening, and closing responsibilities consistently and thoroughly.

Observation, Documentation, and Record-keeping

• Observe children objectively and share relevant observations with the Lead Guide.

• Document assigned observations related to children’s interests, development, behavior, social interactions, and classroom experiences.

• Use factual, objective, respectful, and professional language when documenting children’s behavior and development.

• Complete required incident, injury, toileting, meal, rest, and other classroom records accurately and promptly.

• Use Illumine daily to document meals, rest, toileting, activities, and other classroom information required by school policy.

• Communicate urgent or sensitive information directly to the Lead Guide or Director rather than relying solely on written documentation or an Illumine entry.

• Maintain accurate and confidential child and classroom records in accordance with school policies and licensing requirements.

Team Collaboration and Communication

• Work collaboratively with the Lead Guide, Director, teaching team, and other members of the school community, contributing to a positive, respectful, accountable, and supportive team culture.

• Respect and support the Lead Guide’s role as the instructional and operational leader of the classroom, and carry out classroom assignments, routines, individual child-support strategies, and instructions provided by the Lead Guide and Director.

• Demonstrate accountability by completing assigned responsibilities consistently, thoroughly, and within the expected timeframe, and communicate promptly when additional support is needed or an assignment cannot be completed.

• Remain receptive to feedback, seek clarification when needed, and apply agreed-upon guidance and next steps in daily classroom practice.

• Share questions, concerns, and differing perspectives directly, privately, respectfully, and with a solution-oriented approach, involving the Director when additional support is needed or the matter involves safety, policy, or schoolwide operations.

• Participate in team meetings, classroom planning conversations, training sessions, and schoolwide initiatives, and maintain clear, timely, and professional communication through in-person conversations and designated electronic channels, including Slack.

• Communicate promptly regarding absences, delays, schedule concerns, classroom needs, and other operational matters, and support colleagues as requested while continuing to prioritize assigned supervision and classroom responsibilities.

Family Partnership

• Welcome children and families warmly during arrival, dismissal, school events, and other interactions.

• Support respectful, proactive, and professional communication with families.

• Share brief, factual updates about a child’s day when appropriate and consistent with classroom communication practices.

• Refer questions about developmental progress, Montessori curriculum, behavioral plans, classroom decisions, enrollment, policies, or sensitive matters to the Lead Guide or Director.

• Use Illumine consistently and professionally to support accurate and timely communication with families.

• Protect the privacy and confidentiality of all children and families, and communicate information only through appropriate professional channels.

• Support parent conferences, family events, open houses, and other school community activities as assigned.

Professional Development and School Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing training, professional development, and Montessori learning opportunities.

• Develop increasing familiarity with Montessori philosophy, classroom practices, terminology, materials, and the responsibilities of the Assistant Guide.

• Apply training, feedback, and agreed-upon guidance consistently in daily classroom practice.

• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, accountability, sound judgment, flexibility, and respect for confidentiality.

• Arrive prepared and on time for scheduled shifts, meetings, training sessions, and assigned responsibilities.

• Follow all school policies, procedures, licensing requirements, and professional expectations, and maintain required certifications, training records, and health clearances.

• Support classroom and school operations as needed and represent MCC positively and professionally in interactions with children, families, colleagues, visitors, and community partners.

Physical and Operational Requirements

• Work at a child’s level for extended periods of time, including sitting, kneeling, bending, squatting, and moving throughout indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Remain visually and physically attentive while supervising children and move quickly when necessary to respond to a child or safety concern.

• Lift and carry up to 30 pounds.

• Assist children with physical care, self-care routines, and transitions as needed.

• Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

• Perform opening, closing, and classroom duties, including preparing snacks, sweeping, sanitizing tables, washing dishes, setting up and putting away nap cots, stocking supplies, laundering classroom items, vacuuming, and organizing classroom materials.

• Complete other responsibilities assigned by the Lead Guide, Director, or supervisor based on classroom and school needs.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 12 semester units in early childhood education or child development, with core units in Child/Human Growth Development, Child, Family and Community, Programs Curriculum, from a college or university accredited by regional institutions, e.g. the Western Association of Schools and Colleges - WASC.

• At least 3 years of work experience in a licensed childcare center or comparable group childcare program.

• Clear background check (criminal history, fingerprinting through CA DOJ, FBI, and Child Abuse Central Index).

• Certifications in CPR and First Aid.

• Completion of Mandated Reporter Training within 90 days of employment.

• Completion of health screening, including a tuberculosis (TB) test, prior to employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a Montessori classroom.

• Familiarity with Montessori philosophy, materials, classroom routines, and the prepared environment.

• Experience using childcare communication or documentation platforms such as Illumine.

• Interest in growing into a Lead Montessori Teacher, including willingness to enroll in an employer-sponsored, MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher training program for ages 0 to 3 or 3 to 6.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Starting at $25 per hour or higher, with pay determined by experience, education, Montessori experience, and qualifications.

• Health, vision and dental plan, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and retirement savings plan.

• Discounted housing benefit in the Parkmerced neighborhood of San Francisco.

• Access to professional coaching benefit.

• Professional development and Montessori training opportunities.

• Regular compensation reviews with the goal of proactive increases as the school grows.