
Join our Early Education team at the Institute for the Redesign of Learning (IRL) in beautiful South Pasadena 🌿🏫, where your work will truly matter every single day.
This is more than a teaching position — it’s an opportunity to be part of an intentional, mission-driven organization 💛 dedicated to helping young children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
As an Associate Teacher, you will play a vital role in supporting the whole child — nurturing development across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth 🌈✨ — so that every student can build the foundation to become a confident, caring, and capable learner.
Salary Range: $17.90 – $21.27/hour
Pay is based on relevant experience, education, credentials/certifications, and bilingual language use (50% of the time).
At IRL, we invest in our people just as much as we invest in our students 🤝💡
To be considered, you’ll need:
(or ability to complete within 6 months of hire — Reggio experience is a plus!) 🌱
Access to a mobile phone and basic internet 📱🌐
Proof of required immunizations (TB Test, MMR, DTap) 💉
Clearance through FBI, DOJ, and CCL background checks 🔍
This role is active and hands-on in a dynamic school environment. Employees may experience moderate-to-loud noise levels 🔊 and occasional emotionally challenging situations. Physical requirements include standing, walking, bending, lifting classroom materials 📦, and supporting student physical management as trained through PRO-ACT, CPI, or similar behavioral intervention systems 🧑🤝🧑.
If you are passionate about early childhood education and want to grow your career in a supportive, mission-focused organization, we encourage you to apply today and help shape the future—one child at a time 💛👶✨
ABOUT IRL
The Institute for the Redesign of Learning (IRL) is a multi-service, community-based Special Education, mental health, job development, and training facility for special needs children, students, and adults. IRL began in 1974 when its founder, Nancy J. Lavelle, Ph.D., created the Almansor Education Center located in a church on Almansor Street in Alhambra, California. With the belief that every student has the ability to “take charge” of their own learning process, Dr. Lavelle established a unique environment and individualized curriculum and created appropriate support and enrichment services designed to turn student and client learning failures into learning successes. Now over forty years later, the Institute for the Redesign of Learning offers six programs designed to provide a continuum of care for individuals with Special Needs, ages infants through adults, serving children, students, and clients throughout the greater Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley communities.
The Institute for the Redesign of Learning is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, national origin, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring, and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above-listed items.
The Institute for the Redesign of Learning’s story began in 1974 when its founder, Dr. Nancy J. Lavelle, created the Almansor Education Center with four students in classroom space located in a church on Almansor Street in Alhambra. With a belief that every student has the ability to “take charge” of their own learning process, Dr. Lavelle established a unique environment, flexible curriculum and appropriate support services so that these students could thrive.
Now over forty years later, the Almansor Center, under the umbrella of the Institute, offers five programs that are designed to provide a continuum of care for individuals with special needs and annually serves over 3,700 children, students and clients throughout the greater Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley communities. These programs include: Almansor Early Childhood Education Services, Almansor Community Outreach Services, the Almansor Academy (a Non-Public Special Education Day School), Almansor Mental Health Services and Almansor Transition and Adult Services/Employment Services. The Institute’s newest undertaking is the Westmoreland Academy (a Non-Public Special Education Day School for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders) located in Pasadena.
Our mission is simple: to empower individuals with special needs to take charge of their own learning and lives, making it possible for them to be competent, caring and contributing members of society; and to provide learning opportunities for families and professionals to support those efforts.
As a team of a committed students/clients, parents and caregivers, professional and support staff, board members and community supporters, we are working together in a profound endeavor that has supported the success of thousands of individuals with special needs throughout the course of over four decades—a mission we look forward to continuing for decades to come.
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