Toddler Associate Teacher (Maternity Leave Replacement)
Position: Toddler Associate Teacher (Maternity Leave Replacement)
Reports to: Lead Teacher, Director of Lower School; Head of School
Location: The Discovery School, 102 15th St., Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
About the School
The Discovery School is a private, non-profit school that offers a unique educational experience through a gradual evolution from pure Montessori, to a blended curriculum, to pure International Baccalaureate (IB) over the course of the child's academic career, serving children ages 18-months through eighth grade.
Through a progressive and internationally-minded framework, students receive a firm foundation in academic skills and participate in a wide variety of enrichment opportunities from a dedicated and caring faculty. Students in our toddler and primary program engage in learning in a Montessori prepared environment with Montessori trained teachers. Students in our elementary school are a part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our middle school seeks to challenge students with academic rigor in a low-pressure environment.
Who we are looking for
Discovery seeks a dynamic, creative, and dedicated Toddler Associate with a strong passion for learning, a growth mindset, and a commitment to innovation in education. Our culture is about having the freedom and latitude to discover your passions and thrive on encouraging this mindset. The Toddler Associate teacher should have a deep love of and respect for our students and believe that Discovery School students are: - Explorers pursuing their passions
- Spirited and reflective risk-takers
- Peacemakers
- Resourceful and persevering innovators
- Leaders who inspire others to discover and act on what is possible
- Responsible, courageous world citizens
Summary of Position
The Discovery School Toddler Associate Teacher understands and promotes the school's mission, vision, core values, and policies both within and outside the immediate school community. With the Lead Teacher's guidance, the management of children in the Outdoor Environment and the preparation and maintenance of the Outdoor Environment is an Associate's primary responsibility. Assisting the Lead Teacher with the management and maintenance of the Indoor Environment is another essential responsibility for the Associate Teacher. Associates are primarily responsible for student hygiene and diapering.
The expectations of both the Lead Teacher and the Associate must be consistent. The Lead Teacher and Associate will work together to create a peaceful atmosphere, and the Associate Teacher must become familiar with and imitate the Lead Teacher's model. The Associate is responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school's program, developing positive relationships within the school community, and protecting the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family in the school community.
The Toddler environment consists of an indoor space, a covered patio, and an outdoor space. A significant portion of the Associate Teacher's school day is spent outdoors, and a portion of the Associate's school day is spent indoors. This position requires the employee to spend most work hours actively attending to young children. This will include but is not limited to standing, bending at the waist, kneeling, sitting, and lifting.
The Associate Teacher will manage all aspects of the classroom and supervise a substitute teacher if the Lead Teacher is absent.
Normal Hours: - Monday through Friday, when school is in session, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm.
- Other hours as required and deemed necessary by the Director of Lower School and the Head of School.
- Associate Teachers may be required to work on days when students are not in (full) attendance to support the Toddler Program and other programs. These days will be confirmed just prior to these events.
- Associate Teachers may also be asked to work evenings to provide Childcare to support the Toddler program and/or other programs.
Assist the Lead Teacher as directed in: - The preparation, care, and maintenance of the environment, i.e., maintaining a safe, orderly environment and keeping it clean and in good condition.
- The preparation and maintenance of classroom materials.
- Working with individual and small groups of children.
- Supervising students, inclusive of managing snack/lunch, supply refills, assisting an injured child, dressing/undressing children, and diapering/toileting as necessary.
- Independent supervision of children while in the Outdoor Environment.
- Helping to maintain strong relationships with the parents, characterized by mutual respect and goodwill, including communicating with parents in the absence of the Lead Teacher.
- Helping with the maintenance of the inventory of the classroom.
- Helping with students' observation and maintaining current, accurate classroom records.
- Assist with the execution of emergencies and emergency drills per the established protocol.
The Associate: - Immediately corrects and reports safety issues, accidents, and incidents to the Lead Teacher and the Director of Lower School.
- Is directly responsible for cleaning the environment according to Lead Teacher directives and storing all classroom supplies properly.
- Monitors and assists children with work, self-care, and social relationships/interactions with peers.
- Per the Lead Teacher's direction, assists with arrivals and dismissals as required and with strict adherence to Emergency Contact protocol, including completing electronic attendance records according to policy.
- Is responsible for the safety of the children left in her/his charge until dismissed to a responsible adult. No child will ever be left unsupervised. Teachers are responsible for the appropriate treatment and well-being of all children, based on respect and consistent with the teachings of Montessori.
- Models the Lead Teacher's method of interacting with children and adults, per Discovery's policies, including respectful communication and positive directives and phrasing.
- Is required to attend team meetings when requested.
- Assists with other projects, programs, and planning as assigned or requested by the school's leadership.
- Shares questions and observations with the Lead Teacher.
- Establishes positive relationships with students, which, while recognizing the differing roles of adult and child, are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
- Notifies the Director of Lower School immediately of professional difficulties with children, parents, or staff, and personal difficulties that may affect the Associate Teacher's role/responsibilities.
Professional Responsibility: - The Toddler Associate Teacher is involved in ongoing self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom and collaborative professional growth.
- Completes required DCF and other required and related training
- Participates in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of collegial support and adherence to professional standards.
- Participates in a regular evaluation process, including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the Toddler Lead Teacher and in conjunction with the Director of Lower School or Head of School.
- Takes pictures/videos that have been previously requested by the Lead Teacher.
- Participates in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age-level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, and mentoring.
- Is responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the personnel handbook, Toddler Program Handbook, and all school policies.
- Is responsible for complying with all state regulations and requirements of accrediting organizations.
- Is responsible for keeping the Lead Toddler Teacher and Director of Lower School updated on events, personal and professional issues, schedule, and curricular coordination that could impact their performance.
- Performs other duties assigned by the Director of Lower School and Head of School.
Required Competencies: - Commitment to Discovery’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence:
- Model the Portrait of the Graduate
- Passionately pursue their own professional growth and development
- Unabashedly hold children at the center of all decisions and actions
- Cultivate an inclusive and vibrant learning community
- Discover and act on what is possible
- Collaboration & Teamwork
- Integrity and Trust
- Adaptability
- Attentive listener
Work Authorization: The candidate must be authorized to work in the US.
Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience.
Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b), LTD and STD, paid & holiday leave, and life insurance.
Start Date: July 27, 2026
To Apply: https://www.thediscoveryschool.org/about/employment
The Discovery School is an equal opportunity employer.
|