Employment Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in working at Southern Montessori School.
Currently, there is one position vacant
Reception Teacher
| POSITION TITLE | Reception |
| APPOINTMENT | 1.0 FTE Contract position Commencing Term 3 2025 – concluding December 2025 Commencing January 2025 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am to 4.30pm) |
| REPORTING | All staff are responsible to the Principal |
| WORKING RELATIONSHIP | The successful applicant will participate in a mentoring program which includes instructional coaching |
| ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT | As per Award classification held, and the Southern Montessori School Enterprise Agreement |
| PROBATION | Subject to satisfactory 3-month probationary period |
THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY
Southern Montessori School is an independent, non-denominational ELC to Year 9 school. We follow the Montessori philosophy and implement a Montessori curriculum alongside the Australian Curriculum. Maria Montessori’s view of education was child centered. It was her intention to develop a method of education that allows children to develop their potential in a non-competitive, nurturing and carefully prepared environment, free of rewards and punishments.
At Southern Montessori School, we balance academic excellence with a focus on the holistic development of each child, fostering self-discipline, independence and initiative, enabling our children to flourish now and in their future.
The following information should be read in conjunction with the Staff Handbook.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
- South Australian Teacher’s Registration
- Working with Children Check
- Mandatory Notification Training
- First Aid qualification
- Protective Practices Training
- Montessori experience is considered favourably
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:
PREPARED ENVIRONMENT
- Create a safe, healthy, clean, and organised learning environment conducive to learning through the application of Montessori principles and practices
- Demonstrate excellent classroom administration and record keeping skills
- Develop the ability to plan and direct the teaching assistant’s time in class to support and enhance student learning and wellbeing
LEARNING AND TEACHING
- Create a positive, nurturing, and appropriately challenging learning environment that supports the development of student agency, self-regulation, and resiliency
- Invest in building mutually respectful relationships with all children and families
- Develop a safe and supportive environment that actively promotes the wellbeing of all students
- Demonstrate effective Montessori teaching practice, which facilitates personalised learning and fosters engagement, choice, and independence
- Hold high expectations of each student and communicate this by only accepting work that is commensurate with each student’s personal best
- Implement humanistic intervention strategies so as to guide and direct student behaviour in order to assist them to become self-managing, responsible and caring members of the school and wider community
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure consistency across and between classes
CURRICULUM
- Plan, implement and evaluate a high-quality Montessori program that simultaneously addresses all areas of learning as required by State and Commonwealth curriculum guidelines
- Prepare and submit unit plans in line with school expectations
- Contribute to the development of a challenging, inspiring, and engaging Reception Curriculum
- Develop well-structured and carefully sequenced lessons within differentiated learning programs which meet the needs of all students
ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING
- Maintain accurate and timely records of student progress and achievement
- Develop and implement appropriate evaluation and assessment strategies and procedures, including the use of observation as a tool to monitor learning
- Provide continuous, meaningful feedback to students to promote learning and agency
- Write reports and lead Learning Conversations in line with the school’s requirements
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Uphold the school’s vision, mission, philosophy, and values and act at all times to ensure that the school’s reputation is maintained
- Comply with all school policies and procedures
- Attend relevant meetings and functions, including staff meetings, staff professional learning, and others as required
- Commit to enhancing personal and professional development by attending workshops, conferences, first aid courses, and relevant in-service training as required by the school
- Satisfactorily complete the Montessori Philosophy Workshops as a minimum requirement
- Maintain confidentiality of all information related to the Centre’s children, their parents, and staff
- Be an active and enthusiastic participant in the life of the school
COMMUNICATION
- Establish and maintain effective communication with colleagues
- Engage in appropriate communication with parents as required
- Contribute, as appropriate, articles for the newsletter and other publications
HEALTH AND SAFETY
- Comply with the school’s WHS policies and procedures and safety regulations
- Take reasonable care to protect your own safety in the workplace and avoid adversely affecting the health, safety, and welfare of any other person through any action or omission or through neglect or misconduct at work
- Address any emergency or hazard and report actions taken to the Principal or Business Manager
Teachers may be required on occasions to undertake other duties in addition to those described.
EXTENT OF AUTHORITY
The Teacher has:
- Freedom to act and use initiative within established guidelines and Montessori principles
- Authority to direct students, classroom assistant, and classroom volunteers within established guidelines
- Responsibility for the day-to-day running of the classroom within the constraints of the school’s stated philosophy, policies and procedures
- No authority to incur expenses outside of the prescribed guidelines laid by the school’s Board of Management and without the permission of the Principal
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply for this position, please submit the following:
- Cover Letter (one page)
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- Names and Contact details of three referees
Applications should be emailed to the Principal;
Ms Heather McInerney
Email: careers@southernmontessori.sa.edu.au.
Applications close: 3:00 pm Friday 28th March and will be reviewed and advanced as they are received. Candidates are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience.
Click here for the position description in PDF form.
Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
