Lower Elementary Guide

About the school

This school is designed around a deeper purpose than academics alone: helping children grow into confident, capable people. The team believes early school experiences can shape whether a child keeps trying, avoids difficulty, or starts to doubt themselves. Instead of overlooking those early patterns, the school focuses on building resilience, independence, and healthy development from the beginning.

Montessori principles form the base of the program, but the approach goes beyond a traditional Montessori classroom. The school supports the whole child across academic, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, and psychological development. It values strong relationships with families and aims to create an environment where children learn to see themselves and the world with confidence.

Program environment

• A holistic setting that supports the full development of the child
• A growth-oriented culture centered on confidence and capability
• A community-based approach with close family collaboration
• An environment intentionally designed to help children become self-aware and independent

Program focus

• Strong academic foundations
• Emotional growth, mindset development, and belief formation in early childhood
• Holistic well-being, including movement, nutrition with whole organic food, and naturopathic wellness-informed support
• Connection with nature through outdoor learning and experiences beyond the classroom
• Leadership, responsibility, independence, and practical life skills

Role overview

This is an active teaching role, not a hands-off caregiving position. The guide is expected to shape how children respond to challenge through calm, intentional support in real classroom moments. A major part of the job is helping children build an early mindset that sees effort, mistakes, and difficulty as part of learning.

What you will do

• Support children in taking the next step on their own
• Avoid rescuing or over-assisting them too quickly
• Maintain clear, simple, and consistent expectations
• Guide children through frustration with steadiness
• Build independence gradually and deliberately
• Use everyday moments to strengthen resilience and self-belief

Who this role suits

The ideal candidate stays composed when children are struggling, notices the reasons behind behavior, and guides without becoming controlling. They offer warmth and care while still maintaining structure and accountability. This role is best suited to someone who believes confidence grows through experience, independence is developed over time, and early habits matter.

Not a fit for

• People who step in too quickly to solve every problem
• Those who depend on constant reassurance
• Anyone uncomfortable setting expectations
• Candidates who prefer a passive or loosely structured setting
• People who are not committed to personal growth

Requirements

• Montessori Diploma from AMI or MACTE
• Bachelor of Education preferred
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification
• Clear vulnerable sector screening and a clean criminal record
• Food Handler Certification is considered an advantage
• Strong knowledge of child development for ages 6–9 across cognitive, social, emotional, and psychological domains
• Ability to manage a classroom independently with professionalism and presence
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong judgment, planning ability, organization, and attention to detail
• Problem-solving, critical thinking, and sound decision-making skills
• Creative, positive, fun, and encouraging personality
• Comfort working collaboratively with a team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general digital tools
• Ability to learn new systems and technology quickly
• Understanding of how early experiences influence a child’s response to effort, challenge, and independence
• Ability to intentionally nurture confidence, resilience, and self-belief through the way challenge is handled
• Observant and responsive to classroom needs in real time
• Flexible enough to adapt while still keeping structure and consistency
• Genuine enjoyment of working with children and supporting their development
• Open-minded and committed to ongoing professional and personal growth
• Strong interest in children, development, health, and the outdoors
• Background in psychology, coaching, entrepreneurship, or related certifications is an asset

Additional requirements for successful candidates

• References
• Copies of certificates for the listed qualifications
• Clear vulnerable sector screening
• Standard First Aid/CPR certification, or proof of enrolment in the course

How to apply

Interested candidates were instructed to send a resume to the contact provided for Adrian at the Academy of Enlightened Minds in High Park/Roncesvalles, Toronto.

Location

High Park/Roncesvalles, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.