This is the dream job for the right person, not the right résumé. If you've ever worked with a child who struggled and thought "I know exactly what this kid needs, and it's not what a typical classroom gives them," keep reading. We welcome applicants from all kinds of backgrounds — 1:1 support staff, OTs, SLPs, art teachers, yoga teachers, therapists, tutors, camp counselors — anyone with real, hands-on experience working with neurodivergent kids.
Lead Teacher: 2026-27 School Year
Employment Type: Part time, Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm
Location: On site· Bryn Mawr, PA (Philadelphia area)
Salary: $15 – $16 (USD) based on years of experience and specialized training
Team: Faculty
Reports to & collaborates closely with Founder / Executive Director, Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher team.
Start Date: September 2026
This role has no specific closing date. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
About Fáilte Academy
Fáilte (fall-cha) is the Gaelic word for welcome and joy, and that's our promise. Fáilte Academy is a small nonprofit microschool in Bryn Mawr serving up to 15 neurodivergent, twice-exceptional, and creative children in grades 1–6, many of whom haven't belonged in other schools or have experienced school trauma. Our work is grounded in Dr. Stanley Greenspan's Floortime model and blends Waldorf-inspired philosophy with modern, evidence-based literacy instruction. We don't use grades, tests, or forced participation. Children are invited to learn and they do. Fáilte is recognized by the Vela Education Fund and featured in Main Line Parent.
Fáilte Academy is not an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program and does not use ABA-based methods. Our practice is relationship-based and developmental: we follow each child's lead, prioritize genuine connection and emotional regulation, and do not use compliance-based or reinforcement-schedule approaches to shape behavior.
What This Work Actually Asks of You
We want you to know exactly what this job is before you apply, not after.
Many of our students carry real trauma from earlier school experiences, and many have a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance / Persistent Drive for Autonomy) profile, where ordinary requests can trigger a fight, flight, or shutdown response. On a given day, that might look like a child removing their clothes because their body is overwhelmed, a child throwing something across the room because a demand felt like too much, or a child working hard to disrupt the whole group because they didn't get what they wanted. There are days when the lesson plan doesn't happen at all, because staying calm and present while a child cannot is the most important work we do.
And then there are the other days: a child who hasn't trusted an adult in years choosing to sit next to you, a reader who couldn't sit still in September finishing their first chapter book by spring, a room full of kids working quietly on something they chose for themselves. Both kinds of days are real, and neither cancels the other out.
You don't do this alone. We are a tight-knit, four-adult team, and we co-regulate and problem-solve together, the same way we ask our students to. As the assistant teacher, you're never the only adult figuring out a hard moment, the rest of the teaching team is right there with you. If the hard days sound like more than you want to take on, this isn't the right role, and that's a completely fine answer. If they sound like the work you got into this field to do, keep reading.
Position Summary
Fáilte Academy seeks an Assistant Teacher to join a four-adult teaching team — the founder, lead teacher, assistant teacher, and you — sharing a single mixed-age classroom of 1-15 students in grades 1–6. You'll work five days a week, 9–2, supporting instruction and regulation across literacy, math, history, science, handwork, art, music, movement, and outdoor time. This role leans more into in-the-moment, one-on-one and small-group work with kids than curriculum design and lessons. You'll be a steady, familiar presence students can count on every day, working under the direction of the lead teacher and founder while bringing your own warmth and calm to the child in front of you.
You'll be the right person for this job if
- Special needs experience. You have real, hands-on experience with neurodivergent children: as a classroom aide, paraprofessional, camp counselor, nanny, or in a clinical or therapeutic setting.
- Alternative Education Mindset. You're genuinely comfortable with unconventional education: no grades, no tests, no forced participation, either because you've worked in a setting like this before, or because you've thought hard about why traditional schooling doesn't work for the kids you care about.
- Self Regulation. You know your own nervous system well enough to stay calm and grounded when a child cannot. You can be the steady adult in a moment that's escalating, without escalating yourself.
- You see a struggling child where others see a defiant one. You understand that “won't” almost always means “can't right now”.
- You believe connection comes before curriculum, and that children learn best when they feel safe and respected.
- You can commit to a consistent, reliable schedule, our students count on the same faces every day
- No degree is required for this role, we're hiring for experience and temperament, not credentials
Responsibilities
- Support daily instruction across literacy, math, history, science, handwork, art, music, movement, and outdoor time, under the direction of the lead teacher and founder
- Work one-on-one and in small groups with students on activities laid out by teachers
- Apply Dr. Stanley Greenspan's Floortime model to follow each child's lead, support emotional regulation, and invite engagement instead of demanding it
- Help hold a calm, predictable daily rhythm, including transitions, movement breaks, and outdoor time
- Build authentic, trusting relationships with every student in the cohort
- Prepare materials and help maintain the classroom environment
- Contribute observations to the lead teacher and founder to support narrative progress reports and family communication
- Participate in team planning and student support meetings
- Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned by the founder or lead teacher
Preferred experience
Any combination of the following is welcome. We hire for fit, not for a checklist.
- Training in Dr. Stanley Greenspan's Floortime model
- PA Instructional certificate (Elementary or Special Education)
- Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, LETRS, or other Science of Reading training
- Waldorf teacher training or experience
- Background as an OT, SLP, behavior specialist, or related-services provider transitioning into teaching
- Mixed-age or microschool experience
- Skill with handwork, music, art, baking, or outdoor education
What You'll Benefit From
- $15–$18/hour
- Paid sick days
- Paid school holidays
- A small cohort of students within a four-adult teaching team — you'll get to know every child
- Ongoing mentorship and coaching from a Floortime Specialist founder and an experienced lead teacher
- The supplies and support you need to do this work well
- Room to grow with a 501(c)(3) microschool as it expands, including toward a full time position over time
As a small nonprofit, Fáilte Academy does not currently offer health insurance or retirement benefits. We are transparent about that up front so candidates can make informed decisions.
Required Clearances
PA Act 34, Act 151, and FBI Act 114 child abuse clearances current or obtainable before start date. Mandated reporter training completed before start.
Application Process
To apply, email [email protected] with:
- Your résumé
- A few paragraphs (not a formal cover letter) telling us about a child you supported through a hard moment — what you did, what you learned, and what you'd do differently next time
If shortlisted, the process runs in three steps: a short call to confirm the basics, a 30-minute Zoom conversation with the founder, and a half-day working visit in the classroom. This gives us a chance to see how you work with our kids, and you a chance to see whether Fáilte is the right fit for you.
Reference checks and offer follow.
Fáilte Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from non-traditional teaching backgrounds are warmly encouraged to apply.
Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to obtain required PA child abuse clearances before your start date? (PA Act 34, Act 151, and FBI Act 114 clearances)
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- work with children with special needs in any capacity: 1 year (Required)
- alternative education (homeschool, micro/hybrid/cyber, etc): 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 (Required)
Work Location: In person
