Cassie Coppess

In this role, I lead a classroom of 24 children ages 2.5 to 6 in individual and group enrichment activities. I also trained and managed two full time assistants who helped maintain the daily routine and organization in the classroom. Using a program called Transparent Classroom, I kept records of each child’s progress through the Montessori lessons and materials, as well as facilitating frequent communication with parents.

As a substitute at Montessori East, it was my pleasure to get to know each different environment and age level (toddler through upper elementary) in this school that was new to me. I adapted my own approach to fit each individual class and Lead Guide's preferences and needs. I got to know parents and children and other assistants and flowed from one role to the next as needed, happily performing duties ranging from cleaning to supervising outdoor play to engaging with students individually and in group settings. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work in the administrative office as needed, maintaining communications at the front desk and helping to manage the daily routine for the school as a whole.

Here, I had the pleasure of establishing a new classroom for the primary (2.5-6 years) age group within an established Montessori school. This was challenging in that I had the responsibility of forming a class culture among brand new students as a brand new teacher myself. I am proud to say that we built an environment that was loving, deeply enriching, and educational. It was fulfilling to see my students become engaged students who loved to help one another, socialized happily, and learned so much throughout my time with them. It was also my responsibility to maintain detailed records of each of their lessons, and keep consistent communication with parents. I ensured that the classroom was clean, organized, and fully equipped with all the necessities of a Montessori primary environment.

It was my great fortune to work as full-time assistant who helped alongside a trained and experienced Montessori Lead Guide for one year in the flourishing environment she had established. My responsibilities included fully cleaning and sanitizing the classroom each day and throughout the work cycles, managing the daily routine and assisting children in their work and maintaining peace among the students. I also prepared snacks each day and assisted the children in setting the tables for their lunch, as well as cleaning up together after. I supervised their naptime and ensured that each child had a peaceful rest or sleep in their afternoons at school.

As the assistant in this toddler environment, I worked with children ages 18 months through 3 years, facilitating in their daily routine as they changed shoes, began work in the Montessori environment, learned to clean up after themselves, changed clothes, potty trained, and ate snacks and lunches at school. I also managed and supervised nap for a classroom full of toddlers. My duties included deep cleaning the classroom daily and ensuring that materials were refreshed and refilled each day in preparation for the next. I worked alongside an experienced Montessori guide and learned so much from her in this year.