Faculty

Qualifications

Planet Kids faculty consists of a group of qualified individuals who have come together due to their commitment to making a difference in the lives of young children. They recognize and value the benefits of early education and are aligned with the Montessori and Planet Kids philosophy.

All lead preschool/kindergarten teachers hold a Montessori certificate. Additionally many of our teachers have an AA or a BA in Early Childhood Education or equivalent. A Number of our teachers hold a MA in teaching and/or are Washington State Certified K-12. On average our lead teachers have 10-12 years experience in the field of early childhood education. Most of our Teacher’s Assistants have about 5 years of experience in the field of Early Education.

Our faculty is required to attend on-going training provided by Planet Kids.
Continuing education is encouraged and funded by Planet Kids to ensure the highest standards in Early Education.


Professionalism and Parent-Faculty Relationships

We highly value our faculty and require that they be treated as professionals. We consider parents and faculty as team members in the task of educating and caring for young children, therefore we expect that each individual is treated with utmost respect. Parents’ involvement is highly encouraged in working as a team. Volunteering, joining the parent club, supporting classroom and school-wide events, participating in fund raisers and informing teachers of changes in your child’s life that may require support, nurture positive relationships and send a clear message to the child; “I am valuable, I matter.” Discussing children’s behaviors in their presence is disrespectful to them and is discouraged. We strive to create an environment that is respectful, professional and supportive of team building. We appreciate your assistance in maintaining harmony and high standards that ultimately benefit the children.


Additional Staff Support

During the year and especially during the summer, Planet Kids Bellevue will hire local, responsible young people that meet the program requirement, to support our staff as assistants. This reflects our commitment to including and supporting all members of our community, as well as providing positive young role models for our children. They bring energy and joy to our program, and in exchange we provide training and guidance for them.


Interns

Planet Kids is an approved internship school. Montessori interns will often work at our facility under the supervision of our Montessori certified teachers.