Resource Room (Self-Contained Classroom) Assistant

Job Opportunity: Resource Room (Self-Contained Classroom) Assistant

Location: Washington, DC 

Department: Student Support 

Application Deadline: Until filled 

Employment Type: Full-time 

Expected Start Date of Position: August 11, 2025 

Reports to: Special Education Coordinator 

Compensation: Salary starts at $39,000- $59,049 and will be commensurate with degree and years of experience   

FLSA Status: Exempt 

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School 

Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School’s mission is to provide diverse families in Washington, DC, a public Montessori education designed to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.  

Founded in 2016, Breakthrough Montessori is a public charter school in Washington, DC. We serve 388 students in PK3 through grade 6. At Breakthrough Montessori PCS, we believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Students of all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a personalized education. 

Our school is grounded in an institutional commitment to development, prevention, and community. We support human development through an uncompromising application of the time-tested Montessori instructional model. We support prevention through early learning, support and intervention, enabling us to quickly and effectively address learning challenges. Finally, we support the community through an intensive approach to family engagement. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is committed to equity in all areas of our school’s work. We are a supportive environment that seeks to employ a diverse staff reflective of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is a coaching school; all team members receive and give coaching to support professional growth.

Position Summary: 

As part of our continuum of services for students with disabilities, Breakthrough Montessori provides a self-contained classroom known within our school community as the Resource Room. The Resource Room is a structured and supportive learning environment designed for students who require significant levels of specialized instruction and support. This setting is grounded in our commitment to academic, social, and emotional success for all learners and includes strategies to integrate students within both the Resource Room and their general education classrooms when appropriate.

The Resource Room Assistant plays a critical role in supporting the Resource Room Guide in meeting the instructional, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of students with disabilities. This includes supporting individualized education goals both within the Resource Room and in community or general education settings.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

The Resource Room Assistant
is a 10-month position. Typical working hours are Mondays from 8:00am-4:30 pm and Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm. Responsibilities include the following:

• Provide small group and/or individualized instruction to students with disabilities in accordance with their IEPs and the Resource Room Guide’s lesson plans.


• Maintain a variety of records, including but not limited to, charting of goals and objectives for all students in the Resource Room, Breakthrough Montessori benchmark assessments and behavior intervention documentation based on IEP requirements.


•  Assist Resource Room Guide and service providers in assessing the continued needs of students.


• Maintain a prepared learning environment in accordance with the developmental and curricular guidelines set by the Resource Room Guide. This includes following a daily and weekly cleaning and sanitizing schedule to uphold the standards of the Montessori Resource Room.


• Assist students with physical needs and personal care, including feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene.


• Participate in staff development training programs, staff meetings, and special events as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned.


• Assist students in developing appropriate social behaviors, personal hygiene, and self-help skills, including toileting, changing diapers, and handling soiled clothing, as required by the position.


• Escort students to and from designated locations as directed, and monitor their safety in various educational and community-based settings.


• Ensure the health and safety of students by following established practices and procedures. Maintain a safe, orderly, and clean learning environment.


• Participate in in-person professional learning opportunities.


• Prompt and regular in-person attendance is required.


• Maintain the confidentiality of student and family information.

Required Competencies and Qualifications: 

• Strong commitment to upholding the school’s mission and anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.


• Dedication to maintaining the confidentiality of students and families.


• Proven ability to collaborate effectively as part of a diverse team of educators.


• Demonstrates patience, punctuality, and responsibility.


• Team player with experience working in instructional teams.


• Excellent communication skills.


• Creative, energetic, and nurturing personality.


• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.


• Punctual and reliable with attention to detail.

Education and Experience: 

• Experience working with diverse populations of students, parents, and families.


• Associate’s Degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.


• Previous experience working with young children facing behavioral and academic challenges.


• Experience in a Montessori setting is preferred.


• Familiarity with working with families from diverse backgrounds.
  

Benefits: 

We provide employees with a robust leave policy that includes:

• Paid personal time off


• Paid COVID sick leave


• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)


• Paid bereavement leave


• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday 

Breakthrough invests heavily in the professional development (PD) of our faculty through:

• A weekly early release schedule with professional development and collaborative planning time from 1:30-4:30 pm every Monday;


• An individual professional development budget of $250/year to pursue additional PD opportunities;


• Conference participation and 


• A Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license. 

Other benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision


• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)

For information on Breakthrough Montessori PCS, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.breakthroughmontessori.org. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.