Primary Assistant - Light of Christ Montessori School at St. John Neumann

Description

St. John Neumann Catholic Church is dedicated to its vision of being a beacon of light that draws people home. We seek to create a place of worship and refuge, sharing the love of Christ with all, and building a community that is engaged, on mission, and glorifying to God.  St. John Neumann’s driving values are Faith Propelled, Generous Love, and Radical Hospitality. We seek to embody them as a staff and encourage them in and beyond the pews. 

Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School will have its inaugural class in the 2026-2027 school year. All new children and families who are part of this journey are encouraged to know the love of Christ and the freedom in following his will.   School staff has the important role of setting the tone and designing the cultural fabric of this new house of children. The guiding principles of the school are to help foster independence, faithfulness and concentration in children.

Ministerial Character

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin are canonically obedient to the Bishop and assist him in fulfilling his ministry and canonical obligations. Pastors, presidents, and principals serve as leaders of the schools to make Christ's mission present and enduring in the schools.  In order to fulfill Christ's mission, the school leaders employ suitable, chosen collaborators, sharing with them Christ's mission and entrusting to them various responsibilities.

Positions employed in this School help extend the ministry of the school leaders in particular ways as outlined in the job description. The employee in this position is closely connected to and assists the School leaders in the performance of their ministry and, therefore, engages in ministry for the Church.

Job Summary

The Primary Assistant collaborates with the lead guide to provide a warm, nurturing, and prepared Montessori environment. This position supports the guide with student observation and assistance, material making, administrative activities, and other duties as requested. This individual is flexible and adaptable to environments and tasks.

Essential Duties

When in a classroom, the Primary Assistant provides support to the classroom community to promote the well-being of the children and the group. They will observe the classroom and the children, relate their observations to the Guide, and help ensure that the goals of Catholic Montessori education at Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School are achieved.

The Primary Assistant is responsible for maintaining the rhythm of the classroom. This includes an awareness of the classroom’s unique routines and the needs of the children. This person maintains a calm presence and serves as a supportive adult in the room for children and adults to turn to.

• Supports and upholds the philosophy of Catholic education and the mission of the school
• Acts as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Catholic Church
• Supports and adheres to the Code of Conduct and policies and procedures of the school and Diocese
• Maintains confidentiality regarding school matters
• Communicates effectively with students, parents, and other professionals 
• Observes and assists individual students one on one or in small groups to support learning activities
• Observes students at all times, including lunch, recess, and routine movement
• Performs clerical tasks such as maintaining lesson data and notes, and prepares materials as indicated by the classroom guide 
• Meets staff development guidelines as set forth by the Diocese/local administration
• Demonstrates professionalism in conduct, demeanor, and work habits
• Maintains current and accurate records according to school policy
• Collaborates with peers to enhance the work environment and support instructional planning
• Demonstrates a willingness to respond to individual learning needs 
• Ability to work well with students, parents, and colleagues in an instructional setting
• Ability to follow directions and handle multiple tasks
• Possesses proficient technology skills

Requirements

  Education:

• College degree or equivalent
• AMI-Primary diploma is preferred
• CGS Level 1 Training Certificate is preferred

Experience:

• Montessori classroom or CGS experience is preferred.

Certifications and Training:

• Sufficient training to perform tasks assigned by the principal
• Must submit an Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) Application for Ministry within the first week of employment, participate in an EIM Basic abuse prevention training workshop within 30 days of submitting a complete Application for Ministry, and maintain EIM compliance during the entire term of employment.

Physical requirements:

• The ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to sit on the floor
• Ability to get up and down from the floor with ease