Assistant Toddler Teacher

The Gardner School•Dedham, MA

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Toddler Teacher works in The Gardner School’s preschool environment, supporting the Lead Teacher in delivering age-appropriate instruction and care. The role involves actively engaging children in play, learning activities, and transitions; providing nurturing guidance; and adapting activities in response to children’s interests and developmental needs. The assistant helps maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom, follows health, hygiene, and sanitation procedures, and supervises children throughout the day. The position also supports communication with families, collaboration with colleagues and school leaders, compliance with state licensing requirements and school policies, and ongoing professional development. The Gardner School is an academically focused preschool serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years. It provides extensive training, orientation, and continuing education, and supports internal opportunities for promotion. The school describes its environment as caring, fun, dynamic, and supportive of teachers’ contributions and professional goals.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
Ability to reliably commute to the school’s location.
Fluent English reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills sufficient to communicate effectively with students, families, and staff, implement curriculum and safety procedures, and complete written reports.
Meet all applicable state licensing requirements for education and experience.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with children, peers, and families.
Basic understanding of early childhood development principles.
Strong time-management and multitasking abilities.
Positive attitude and problem-solving mindset.
Intermediate PC or administrative skills.
Ability to lift, carry, and hold children and infants weighing 10 to 60 pounds.
Ability to bend, reach, and move freely throughout the classroom.
Ability to operate a computer, phone, and classroom or office equipment.
Regular and reliable attendance.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 year of experience working with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.
Passion for early childhood education and a nurturing, joyful approach to care.
Interest in growing within a supportive, mission-driven preschool environment.

Responsibilities

Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing age-appropriate curriculum and activities aligned with each child’s developmental needs.
Engage with children during play, learning activities, and transitions.
Provide nurturing guidance that supports children’s emotional and behavioral development.
Adapt activities based on observations of individual children’s interests and needs.
Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom and support daily routines, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
Follow health and safety guidelines, including diapering and feeding, and supervise children at all times.
Help manage classroom materials and contribute to a calm, positive environment.
Maintain respectful, supportive relationships with parents and families.
Participate in ongoing communication and classroom updates as directed by the Lead Teacher.
Collaborate with teaching team members and school leaders to ensure consistency and support across classrooms.
Adhere to state licensing regulations and The Gardner School’s policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality regarding child and school information.
Maintain reliable attendance and participate in ongoing training and development.