Teacher Aide (Apprentice Guide)

Are you early in your career as an educator, or seriously considering making the leap into education, and eager to learn how education could actually be done? Do you see young people as capable individuals with their own paths, and want to be part of a team that takes that seriously? Are you coachable, organized, and excited to grow and willing to put in the work of learning a craft before owning it fully?

If yes, then you are at the right place.

At Acton Academy Silicon Valley, our single measure of success is whether every learner leaves more capable and confident on their own hero's journey. As a Teacher Aide (Apprentice Guide), you are an apprentice in one of the most important crafts there is: helping young people learn how to learn, how to lead themselves, and how to become the best version of who they are.

You'll work alongside a Lead Guide in one of our studios, supporting the learner experience day-to-day while learning the our school's learner driven methodology from the inside. Over time, as you demonstrate skill, judgment, and readiness, you'll take on more ownership, with a clear path to becoming a Lead Guide yourself.

Successful Teacher Aides are not just warm and hardworking. They are humble, organized, observant, and highly coachable. They receive feedback professionally, apply it quickly, and bring visible improvement to their work over time. They show up prepared, follow through on what they commit to, and treat the work of supporting a studio as a real profession worth doing well.

The strongest Teacher Aides also bring something harder to teach: presence, curiosity, and the ability to genuinely connect with young people. They make learners feel both supported and challenged. They earn trust quickly with kids and adults alike, and they contribute to a studio culture that is engaging, purposeful, and deeply human.

In practice, that means you will:

• Support the Lead Guide in running the studio, executing on plans, maintaining systems, and making the day-to-day experience excellent for learners.
• Learn by doing: actively observe, ask good questions, and take on increasing responsibility as you grow. You'll be trained in Socratic facilitation, goal-setting, studio management, and the broader Acton approach.
• Keep the spotlight on learners: step back, resist the urge to lecture or rescue, and trust the process. Ask questions instead of giving answers.
• Hold the line on standards : reinforce studio norms, help learners stay accountable to their commitments, and model the kind of grounded, thoughtful adulthood that families want their children around.
• Build real relationships : know each learner well, observe closely, and partner with the Lead Guide to personalize support so each child is honored as an individual.
• Model mindset and character : show learners what growth mindset, kindness, courage, collaboration, and resilience actually look like in a working adult.
• Own your growth : receive feedback professionally, apply it consistently, and treat every week as a chance to get sharper. Your development is your responsibility, and we'll invest in it alongside you.
• Contribute to the team : support planning and prep, keep materials and spaces in order, and do your part to make the studio run smoothly.

The details of the work will evolve as you grow into it. What never changes is the purpose: empowering young heroes to discover who they are, where their gifts lie, and how they will use them to make the world better and pursue their calling.

We're currently seeking Teacher Aides (Apprentice Guides) to support our Lead Guides across:

• Mixed-age K-1 classroom (Montessori or Reggio background is a plus, but not required)
• Mixed-age 2nd-3rd classroom
• Mixed-age 4th-5th classroom
• Mixed-age 6th-8th classroom

Experience working with children in an educational, coaching, or mentoring setting is helpful but not required. A teaching credential is not required. What matters most is that you are genuinely excited about this kind of education and ready to learn.

Skills and Qualities We're Seeking:

• Coachability : The most important trait for this role. You can receive direct feedback without defensiveness, apply it effectively, and show visible improvement in the quality, clarity, and completeness of your work over time.
• Humility and a learning posture : You understand that doing this work well is a craft, and you're ready to put in the reps before you run your own studio.
• Organization and follow-through : You manage your responsibilities, meet deadlines, keep materials and plans in order, and bring work to a ready-to-use standard without needing to be chased.
• Attention to detail : You notice what is unclear, incomplete, or likely to cause confusion in execution, and address it before it becomes a problem for learners or teammates.
• Ability to work within systems : You can follow shared templates, expectations, and feedback processes with accuracy and consistency.
• Clear communication : You communicate clearly and professionally in writing and in person with leadership, teammates, learners, and families.
• Presence, warmth, and connection : You build trust naturally with young people and contribute to a studio environment that feels safe, engaging, respectful, and full of life.
• Curiosity and love of learning : You model genuine interest in ideas, growth, and discovery, and bring energy that helps learners become more engaged themselves.
• High standards with heart : You hold firm expectations while remaining deeply encouraging, respectful, and steady with young people.
• Ownership and accountability : You take responsibility for your work, communicate early when support is needed, and follow through without needing constant oversight.
• Team orientation and professionalism : You work in alignment with leadership, contribute to a healthy team culture, and can be trusted to operate with maturity, consistency, and discretion.

Compensation:

• $25–$35 per hour , depending on experience and fit. The Teacher Aide (Apprentice Guide) role is an intentional apprenticeship pathway — strong performers have a clear path to growing into a Lead Guide position over time, should they want it.