Lead Teacher - Lower Elementary

About the role

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 provides an instructional program delivered with both Montessori and an anti‑bias/anti‑racist pedagogy, 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 grounded in the Montessori method of education.

Responsibilities

• Provides instruction that supports the development of the cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual growth of the child.
• Uses the School Curriculum, Montessori Albums, State Standards and current research‑based instructional practices to develop interdisciplinary units of instruction that meet both group and individual student needs.
• Maintains an ongoing dialogue with specialty teachers and coordinates curriculum integration and implementation with these teachers.
• Works with students of various abilities assigned to the classroom, including those with learning differences as diagnosed; may participate in meetings, training, and planning cooperatives to fully meet each child’s needs.
• Uses various assessment tools/strategies such as the Missouri Assessment Program, NWEA, observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc., to help make instructional decisions for individual students.
• Creates and communicates weekly learning plans for all students.
• Prepares an environment that meets the sensitive period/plane of development of the children; ensures furnishings and materials are complete and correspond to the needs of the group.
• Maintains a clear, orderly, and attractive Montessori environment, including the care and maintenance of classroom materials and equipment.
• Communicates needs for the classroom in accordance with school policy, i.e., maintaining inventory of classroom materials and any additional materials needed.
• Creates an environment that demonstrates rapport with, respect and kindness for all students as well as between students; models and teaches conflict resolution and problem‑solving strategies in the classroom.
• Is responsible for the safety of the children left in his/her 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.
• Manages classroom field trip and supplies budget ensuring all resources are used in support of educating students and the school’s mission.
• Communicates with gentleness and respect, at all times, to students and in a professional, positive manner to parents and colleagues.
• 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 regarding their child’s specific needs.
• Provides 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Performs self‑assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth.
• Actively participates 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.
• Maintains teaching skills and participates in professional development activities (