Montessori Director
Cadence Education · Atlanta, GA · 1 mo ago
OTHR$75k–$95k/yrFull-time
Key Responsibilities
- Academic Program Leadership
- Direct all MTEI programs across Infant & Toddler, Early Childhood, and Elementary levels, ensuring alignment with AMS and MACTE standards.
- Oversee curriculum quality, syllabi development, Canvas LMS implementation, and course materials for both in-person and online instruction.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate 1099 instructors and field consultants; conduct regular 11s, faculty meetings, and annual evaluations.
- Manage the practicum program for all levels — including field visit scheduling, field consultant mentoring, report review, and practicum site oversight.
- Support adult learners through mentorship, office hours, individual academic plans, and timely resolution of concerns.
- Direct all MTEI programs across Infant & Toddler, Early Childhood, and Elementary levels, ensuring alignment with AMS and MACTE standards.
- Accreditation & Compliance
- Maintain MACTE accreditation and AMS affiliation across all programs, including annual reports, self-studies, and on-site visits.
- Manage state authorizations through GNPEC (Georgia) and the Nebraska state process; stay current on all state and federal requirements.
- Serve as MTEI’s representative to MACTE and attend AMS meetings and trainings.
- Maintain and update the Adult Learner Handbook, Faculty Handbook, and all enrollment and program documents per accreditation guidelines.
- Enrollment & Program Growth
- Lead the full enrollment cycle inquiry follow-up, facility tours, Open Houses (4x annually), application review, interviews, and onboarding.
- Drive enrollment strategy for all programs and both cohort locations in partnership with admin support.
- Manage graduation and credentialing processes file audits, AMS/MACTE submissions, credential signing and mailing, and graduation ceremonies.
- Faculty Development
- Mentor faculty in course design and adult instruction, offering guidance rooted in adult learning theory and Montessori philosophy.
- Collaborate with level coordinators to conduct structured 11 meetings at key course milestones — course preparation, mid-course check-ins, and closing debriefs.
- Collect faculty feedback at the end of the course and provide timely, actionable guidance for continuous improvement.
- Plan and facilitate annual faculty meetings and professional development trainings in both in-person and online formats.
- Serve as the primary faculty resource for course-related questions and professional development pathways in alignment with AMS and MACTE standards.
- Monitor faculty compliance with AMS and MACTE mandatory professional development requirements and maintain accurate records.
- Operations & Finance
- Establish and manage the annual MTEI budget in partnership with Cadence finance; conduct monthly P&L review.
- Oversee facilities for both the Atlanta and Nebraska locations — supplies, maintenance, vendor relationships, and environmental design.
- Manage billing and invoicing oversight in partnership with administrative support staff (SCW, faculty invoices, scholarship tracking).
- Maintain MTEI’s annual academic calendar and all operational processes from enrollment through graduation.
- Professional Development & Mastermind
- Lead the Montessori Mastermind platform, including course development, BFTS/GAPDS-approved content, quarterly workshops, and website management.
- Cultivate ongoing professional development for MTEI faculty and model a culture of continuous learning.
- Serve as a key contributor to Cadence’s Education Team, collaborating on curriculum initiatives, professional development days (PDD), and school-facing resources.
- Represent MTEI at Cadence conferences and contribute to company-wide initiatives as a subject matter expert in Montessori education.
- Marketing & External Presence
- Oversee MTEI’s marketing presence including newsletters, social media, flyers, local events, and website updates in collaboration with Cadence’s marketing team.
- Cultivate external partnerships with Montessori organizations (AMS, MACTE, DECAL, GAEYC, NAEYC, MAG, MPG) and community school directors.
Qualifications
- AMS credential (Early Childhood or Infant & Toddler) - active and in good standing.
- Familiarity with MACTE accreditation standards and demonstrated experience working within or alongside an accredited teacher education program.
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Education, Montessori, or a related field strongly preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in Montessori education, including at least 5 years of lead teaching in a Montessori environment and teacher education experience.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in a school, program, or organizational setting — including staff supervision, operational oversight, and strategic planning.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and confidence representing MTEI externally with accreditors, partner organizations, and the public.
- Proficiency with online learning platforms (Canvas or similar LMS) and standard productivity tools. Demonstrate adaptability to new and emerging instructional technologies.
- Knowledge of adult learning theory (andragogy) and ability to apply evidence-based principles to program and course design.
- Ability to travel up to 20%.
- Occasional weekend and weeknight work to attend courses, observe faculty, and support Adult Learners.
- Prior experience as a director or administrator of a MACTE-accredited teacher education program.
- Experience with GNPEC or comparable state authorization processes.
- Familiarity with SCW, or similar billing/enrollment systems.
- Experience presenting at professional conferences or facilitating large-group professional development.
- Experience in existing relationships within the national Montessori community (AMS, MACTE, regional associations).
Skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with online learning platforms (Canvas or similar LMS) and standard productivity tools.
- Adaptability to new and emerging instructional technologies.
- Knowledge of adult learning theory (andragogy) and ability to apply evidence-based principles to program and course design.
- Ability to design, develop, and facilitate courses and professional learning workshops for adult learners.
- Experience with curriculum sequencing, rubric development, and instructional scaffolding.
- Stays current with emerging research in education, adult learning, and Montessori practice; able to critically evaluate and integrate relevant findings into program development and instructional decision-making.
- Experience with Articulate Storyline or similar tools.
- Experience in online course development.
- Experience with GNPEC or comparable state authorization processes.
- Experience with SCW or similar billing/enrollment systems.
- Experience in presenting at professional conferences or facilitating large-group professional development.
- Experience in building and maintaining strong relationships with Montessori organizations and community school directors.
- Experience in representing MTEI at Cadence conferences and contributing to company-wide initiatives as a subject matter expert in Montessori education.
Benefits
Competitive compensation
Yearly Salary Range $75,000 - $95,000
On demand pay with UKG Wallet
50% childcare tuition discount
401(k) with employer match
Comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees, including
Paid time off that increases with seniority
Medical, dental, vision options available
Additional life, disability, and retirement plans
Tuition reimbursement
Company-paid life insurance
Paid holidays
401K
Pet insurance
Paid CDA