Lower Elementary Guide

ABOUT APOGEE SACRAMENTO:

Apogee Sacramento is a non-profit Christ-centered academy equipping young leaders with confidence, character, and competence to engage their callings and joyfully impact the world.

Currently serving Pre-K - 5th for the 2026 - 2027 program year (will grow each year to ultimately serve Pre-K - 12).

At Apogee Sacramento, our children learn in mixed-aged classrooms called studios with a flexible learning design that serves each child with their own differentiated learning plan as opposed to standardized, separated grade-levels. Inspired by Montessori and Reggio Emilia, and incorporating strengths from other educational approaches as well, our learning environment facilitates independent, focused and self-paced work as well as collaborative, exploratory learning. In place of letter grades, our learners will earn badges as they demonstrate mastery of core academic skills, character development, and other accomplishments. Throughout the year, our real-world project based learning will culminate in public exhibitions of learning as opposed to test scores and report cards.

In studios serving younger learners, there will be a focus on helping them build their basic literacy, math and other skills necessary to become an independent learner.

In all areas of Apogee life, our learners are empowered to take ownership of their education and growth. Our team works collaboratively to guide learners through a whole-child approach. We believe that to truly prepare our children to thrive in life, alongside academic excellence, their education must integrate social & emotional intelligence, character & leadership development, spiritual formation, real-world skills, physical health & nutrition, and guidance toward their unique purpose and contribution to the world.

To understand more fully about our program, read through our website at apogeesacramento.com, and watch the Virtual Info Session video.

AS A GUIDE YOU WILL:

• Build meaningful, supportive relationships with each child in the studio and provide tailored guidance and encouragement toward their joyful development
• Plan and prepare engaging, meaningful learning experiences that inspire a love of learning, engage children’s heads, hearts and hands, and guide students toward mastery of core skills and badge goals
• Help create and facilitate engaging real world-projects and challenges that integrate the application of concepts and core skills they are learning
• Lead thoughtful Socratic discussions that develop critical thinking, communication skills, and civil discourse
• Listen and ask good questions to empower learners to grow in self-responsibility, independence, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership
• Guide learners in whole-child development in addition to academic learning, as you lead with passion, energy and curiosity, modeling life-long learning, relationship with Jesus, strong character, emotional and relational health, and servant leadership
• Develop systems of observation and documentation to facilitate portfolio creation for each individual child (that contains samples of their learning process, work and projects, records of skills mastered and badges earned, etc.)
• Develop systems to effectively communicate with and integrate parents into their children’s learning process and contribution to the studio
• Help develop and implement systems of feedback among our team, parents and learners to promote excellence and creativity in our program

PREFERRED VALUES, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Deep love and respect for children as capable, valuable individuals with unique gifts and purpose
• Passionately Christ-Centered and Kingdom-minded
• Education and experience working with young children
• Montessori training and teaching experience in a mixed age setting
• Experience with project and interest based learning
• Classroom management experience, ability to create cohesion among a diverse group of children, attune to childrens’ individual and collective needs, and adapt plans accordingly to facilitate a joyful, connected learning environment
• Proficiency in teaching phonics based literacy and math fundamentals in engaging ways
• Experience working with children at various skill levels in a mixed - age learning environment
• Naturally sets a warm, open, and joyful tone
• Respectfully and enthusiastically collaborates with children and families
• Models healthy emotional skills and calmly and confidently helps children navigate social-emotional learning (E.g. self-regulation, conflict resolution, teamwork, problem solving, etc.)
• Experience practicing clear and compassionate limit setting
• A strong teamwork ethic, a genuine desire to collaborate with colleagues, and a commitment to professionalism
• A willingness to be coached and mentored
• A value for giving and receiving positive and constructive feedback
• Vulnerability and courage to try new things, make mistakes, and the ability to reflect
• An entrepreneurial mindset and desire to work hard, solve problems, and continually improve

POSITION DETAILS:

Schedule

Monday - Thursday role with some Friday prep time and team training days (will specify in advance)

Daily Program hours - 9:00am - 3:00pm (role would include some time before and after program hours)

Program year Sept 7th - June 8th, 2026

6 “Sprints” = 6 weeks (avg.) on 1 week off (2 weeks off for Christmas Break)

Position starting in August 2026

Pay

$20 - $33 / hr depending on training and experience

30-40 hrs/week

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $33.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• What experience and strengths do you have that you think makes you a great candidate for this position?
• Our learning academy is different than traditional school environments - what excites you about our model and approach to education?

Ability to Commute:

• Folsom, CA 95630 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Folsom, CA 95630: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $33