Toddler Co-Lead Teacher (Montessori)

TODDLER CO-LEAD TEACHER (AGES 18 MONTHS TO 2.5 YEARS)

Language Garden Montessori School - Bellevue, WA

Language Garden Montessori School is a bilingual Montessori early childhood program in Bellevue, WA, serving children from infancy through age 6 in English and Mandarin classrooms. We are a small, close-knit school with a highly international staff and family community.

We are hiring a Co-Lead Teacher for our Toddler classroom. This is a new position. Our Toddler classroom is moving to a co-teaching model in which two Lead Teachers share full responsibility for the classroom as equal partners. We are looking for an experienced toddler teacher with strong classroom management skills who works well in a shared leadership role.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING

The following conditions are firm and non-negotiable. Please apply only if all of them work for you. This protects both you and the children from a difficult transition later.

SCHEDULE: This is a full-time, in-person, Monday-Friday position, 8 hours per day. Your daily start and end times are set at the time of hire and then remain the same every workday. Please apply only if you can commit to this schedule consistently.

CO-TEACHING: You will lead the classroom together with our current Toddler Lead Teacher. The two Co-Lead Teachers plan together, share all classroom duties, and present consistent routines and expectations to the children. Please apply only if you are comfortable sharing leadership of a classroom rather than running it alone.

PERSONAL CARE: Diapering, toilet learning, and accident cleanup are a standard, shared, and non-delegable part of this role. Both Co-Lead Teachers share these duties equally.

EXPERIENCE: At least two years of professional experience with toddlers in a state-licensed childcare center or preschool (for example, a Washington DCYF-licensed program) is REQUIRED. Experience in unlicensed settings, such as drop-in childcare, recreation programs, babysitting, or nannying, does not meet this requirement. Applicants without this background will not be considered.

REPORTING STRUCTURE: Co-Lead Teachers report to the school's Lead Educator, who manages classroom staff, and to school leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-lead a Montessori toddler classroom serving children ages 18 months to about 2.5 years. Some children remain in the Toddler classroom past 2.5 until they have completed toilet learning.

• Establish and maintain calm, consistent, and predictable classroom routines

• Guide toddler behavior with patience, clear limits, and positive redirection

• Plan and prepare developmentally appropriate, hands-on activities with your co-teacher

• Manage daily transitions, including arrival, meals, nap, outdoor play, and dismissal

• Assist children with diapering, toilet learning, handwashing, and mealtimes

• Supervise children attentively at all times, indoors and outdoors

• Observe and document each child's progress and adjust support as needed

• Communicate openly and respectfully with families, including daily updates

• Coordinate daily with your co-teacher so the classroom runs as one team

• Provide basic first aid as needed

• Attend staff meetings and collaborate with colleagues

• Prepare typed student reports and other written documentation using basic computer tools

WHO YOU ARE

• Brings at least two years of professional experience caring for toddlers in a state-licensed childcare center or preschool

• Has strong classroom management skills and stays steady when the room gets busy

• Communicates directly, kindly, and professionally with a teaching partner

• Works well in a highly international, multilingual, and multicultural environment

• Adapts comfortably to a workplace that values hierarchy, mutual respect, and indirect, relationship-based communication

• Follows the school's established curriculum, routines, and teaching practices, and is receptive to direction and feedback from school leadership

• Is organized, observant, warm, and patient with very young children

• Understands that all classroom staff share equally in the full scope of child care, including personal care routines

• Is open to learning Montessori philosophy and practices through formal training

WHAT YOU BRING

• At least two years of professional experience with toddlers in a state-licensed childcare center or preschool (REQUIRED)

• Reliable availability for the full-time, Monday-Friday schedule stated above

• Willingness to share classroom leadership with a co-teacher

• Willingness to assist with all personal care routines as described above

• Physical ability to actively supervise, lift, and care for young children throughout the day

• Ability to pass a background check, as required for licensed childcare staff in Washington State

• Basic computer literacy, including the ability to prepare typed reports and documentation

• Fluent spoken and written English for daily communication with children, families, and colleagues

COMPENSATION

$25.00-$27.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications. The upper end of this range is reserved for candidates with substantial, directly relevant professional experience leading toddler classrooms in licensed early childhood settings.

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave in accordance with Washington State law, and paid time off that begins accruing after one year of employment.

MONTESSORI CERTIFICATION

Montessori certification is not required to apply. If you are not already certified, Language Garden will enroll you in a Montessori certification program and pay the cost of the training. In exchange, you will be asked to sign a two-year employment agreement with the school, with the two years beginning when you complete the training. The training is completed online and outside of scheduled work hours. Candidates who already hold a Montessori credential are not subject to this requirement.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your resume through Indeed. In your application, briefly confirm that you have read and can meet the schedule, co-teaching, personal care, experience, and reporting structure conditions described above.

Work Location: In person, Bellevue, WA 98007

Pay: $25.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• licensed childcare: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Bellevue, WA 98007 (Required)

Work Location: In person