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Position Overview

The City Garden Montessori School Lead Guide understands and promotes the school’s mission, vision, objectives, and policies both within and outside the school community. The Lead Guide is responsible for providing an instructional program in a multi-aged (3 to 5 year olds) classroom, delivered with both Montessori and an anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.

The Lead Guide reports to the School Principal and works in partnership with their assistant guide, other instructional staff, and parents to nurture the comprehensive development of all children in the school grounded in the Montessori method of education.

Responsibilities

The Montessori Guide’s responsibilities include creating lesson plans and curricula focused on developing social, physical, intellectual, and emotional skills, assessing children’s individual needs, and communicating with parents as required. They will lead a classroom team which includes a dedicated Assistant Guide, as well as any additional staff assigned to support students. They should be able to create a nurturing, stimulating classroom where every child feels included.

A successful Montessori Guide is a lifelong learner who inspires a love for learning in your students, and is able to accept failure, learn from their mistakes, and embrace creativity and independence.

Planning, Preparation and Instruction

• Makes use of the resources such as Montessori Albums, State Standards and current research based instructional practices, to develop lesson plans, independent learning exercises, curricula, and methods that cater to the needs of the individual child
• Monitoring and assessing student progress and writing up reports
• Responsible for maintaining an on-going dialogue with specialty teachers and coordinating curriculum integration and implementation
• Understanding and implementing ABAR principles
• Work with students of various abilities assigned to the classroom, including those with learning differences as diagnosed; participating in meetings, training, and planning cooperatives to fully meet each child’s needs
• Use various assessment tools/strategies as applicable such as iReady, observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc. to help make instructional decisions for individual students
• Create and communicate weekly learning plans for all students
• Plans and coordinates classroom field trips and classroom supplies budget; ensuring all resources are used in support of educating students and the school’s mission
• Assists in the development of and participates in school functions, including but not limited to Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations and the Family Field Day

Classroom Environment/Management

• Establishing rapport and building relationships with students based on trust
• Preparing an environment in which the furnishings and materials are complete, available and in working condition, and correspond to the needs of the group
• Creating and maintaining a safe, clean, stimulating classroom where all children feel safe and valued
• Maintaining a clear, orderly, and attractive Montessori environment, including the care and maintenance of classroom materials and equipment
• Communicating needs for the classroom in accordance with school norms, i.e., maintaining inventory of classroom materials and any additional materials needed
• Setting an excellent example for students and instilling good values in them like honesty, accountability, understanding, tolerance, respect, love, and kindness
• Observing, guiding, supervising, and assessing children while they learn in the classroom environment
• Responsible for the safety of the children left in their charge until dismissed to a responsible adult
• Ensures that the physical environment adheres to all health and safety regulations as required by the State of Missouri and City Garden policy

Communication

• Updating records on the school information system (SIS), Transparent Classroom, and handling various other administrative tasks
• Responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school’s program, develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family
• Establishes a positive relationship with parents and guardians and maintains regular communication with parents and guardians with regard to their child’s specific needs
• Plans for parent and guardian conferences, meetings and communication throughout the school year in accordance with school policy
• Responds to parent and guardian concerns in a timely manner
• The Lead Guide communicates to parents and guardians and others in the school community about the classroom and curriculum
• Develops and participates in parent and guardian programs that help develop an understanding of the Montessori Curriculum
• Completes required report cards/ progress reports in accordance with school policy

Professional Responsibility

City Garden believes all employees must take an active role in their development as professionals and in developing City Garden as an institution of learning. Lead Guides will:

• Perform self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth
• Actively participate in a regular evaluation process including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the guide and/or in conjunction with the school principal
• Maintain their teaching skills and participates in professional development activities (both within the school community and attendance at conferences, workshops, etc.)
• Participate in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc.
• It is expected that Lead Guides attend all scheduled meetings and professional days as appropriate to their level, and participates and shares information from professional development activities with colleagues to benefit the learning community
• Obtain and maintain certifications in Montessori and DESE as appropriate for the grade level and subject area, develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family

Other Related Duties

• Takes an active role in developing City Garden as an institution of learning
• Participates in staff meetings, school events, and conferences
• Overseeing a classroom team consisting of the Lead Guide, the Assistant Guide, and any support staff assigned to the classroom; which includes training, supervision, and providing feedback.
• Keeps information confidential
• Is professional and positive in all dealings with students and parents
• Participates in school functions when requested by the Principal, including but not limited to Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations and the Family Field Day
• Responsible for reading the employee handbook and adhering to the guidelines and policies as established in the employee handbook

Compensation

$45,000 to $62,000 per year, dependent on State Certification, Montessori Certification, Education and Experience, as well as benefits including:

• Generous Paid Time-off (Fall, Winter and Spring breaks, holidays, and additional days)
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Pre-Tax savings for family health premium costs
• Retirement Plan
• Enrollment preference to City Garden Montessori for K-8 children residing in MO
• Discount tuition for our Preschool program

Ideal Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Teaching, Education, or a related discipline
• Teaching experience, preferably in a public school or urban setting
• Certification in one or both of the following: Montessori Certification from AMI/AMS or other highly regarded Montessori certifying authority; Early Childhood Teaching Certification with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
• *Please note: if you only have one of these, we still encourage you to apply! We can help you get certified.
• Experience in working collaboratively and providing direction to assistant teacher and other classroom support staff
• Deeply grounded in racial equity and have strong alignment with anti-bias, anti-racism values, and be able to lead from this place

Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We’re eager to meet with passionate teachers who believe in our mission.