Upper elementary lead director/directress, Montessori School of Champaign-Urban

Classroom Teacher

Jul 12

Written By Jo Magliocco

School: Montessori School of Champaign-Urban

Location: Savoy, IL

Job Title: Upper elementary lead director/directress

Description: Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana

Job Title: Upper Elementary Teacher

Reports To: Elementary Program Director, Head of School

Expectations for position

Promotes the vision of the school-- “to be a thriving community that is passionate about learning, discovery, and making a positive impact in the world.”

Promotes the mission of the school-- “The Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana stimulates the natural curiosity of children through hands-on prepared environments to be self-directed, compassionate, innovative thinkers.”

Bachelor's degree or higher

Experience and/or formal training in the field of teaching and education.

Strong classroom management skills.

Demonstrates positive and professional language and behavior.

Is punctual and ready to greet children when they arrive as well as engaged with the students for the duration of the school day. As a small school, we rely heavily on our staff to be on time and at work each day.

To lead with the Montessori philosophy at all times when interacting with our school community. On-the-job training in Montessori philosophy and pedagogy will be provided if required by the employee.

If not already Montessori Elementary 2 certified, new staff may be required to complete an off-site Montessori Elementary 2 certification program.

Lead teachers are expected to be present and engaged in employment duties from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday beginning the first week of August and ending the third week of May. Summer employment opportunities in June and July are available but optional.

Summary of Teaching Position

A Montessori teacher works in a Montessori classroom led by a lead teacher trained in Montessori philosophy and pedagogy. The candidate would plan and lead activities and lessons for students as well as manage the classroom environment. Teachers help to provide a warm, nurturing, and safe environment where self-directed learning is facilitated, independence encouraged, and individuality respected. Montessori teachers help meet the emotional, physical, intellectual and social needs of both the individual and the group.

Teachers in a Montessori classroom work together to create lesson plans, daily schedules, activities, special projects, and off-campus experiences. They report directly to the Elementary Program Director. Teachers may also be expected to lead at least one afternoon “specials” class such as Drama, Foreign Language, Art, and/or Physical Education (to be determined with the Elementary Program Director, depending on experience, skills, or interest).

The successful candidate must love and respect children, exhibit leadership qualities, have a sense of humor, be friendly and work cooperatively with teams, must be self motivated and have the personality to motivate others, and must be able to set priorities and meet deadlines. This position requires a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations with a continual need for tact and diplomacy while maintaining the ability to adapt to a wide variety of personalities. Must demonstrate good judgment as well as excellent decision-making and conflict resolution skills. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks.

Essential duties

● Implements the American Montessori Society (AMS) 4th-6th grade curriculum set forth by the Elementary Program Director.

● Works with upper elementary team teachers to allot and assign responsibility for daily lessons and activities. Subjects include mathematics, language, geography, science, history, health, and social/emotional development.

● Assists other upper elementary team members with developing and implementing projects, programs, and field trips.

● Participates in weekly planning meetings with upper elementary team members and Elementary Program Director.

● Assumes responsibility for the safety and physical well-being of the children at all times.

● Adheres to professional standards as an educator for the purpose of maintaining quality and excellence.

● Follows all policies and procedures of the school as written in the employee and parent handbooks and confidentiality agreement.

● Helps to prepare and maintain a classroom environment in which the furnishings and materials create an imaginative, nurturing, learning environment and correspond to the needs of the group.

● Provides for the learning needs of the individual children on a daily basis. Includes differentiation for students with special learning needs.

● Creates classroom materials as needed.

● Helps to maintain current, accurate, individual progress notes and student records on a weekly basis.

● Keeps weekly observational notes of student academic and social/emotional behavior.

● Communicates with parents in person or digitally regarding children’s specific needs.

● Reports all accidents or unusual situations to families and writes dated reports to be sent home.

● Attends and participates in monthly staff meetings which occur the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM.

● Assumes responsibility for the care and maintenance of the classroom and teaching materials (dusting, straightening, wiping surfaces, sweeping, vacuuming).

● Leads students in taking responsibility for care of the school environment and keeping all areas clean and tidy.

● Protects the calm, peaceful, and imaginative working atmosphere of the class at all times.

● Supervises children in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips at all times.

● Greets children and assists them in and out of their cars safely during the morning and afternoon car line.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk or otherwise ambulate. The position regularly requires the candidate to stand and sit on the floor. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid outdoor conditions and will be exposed to daily outdoor weather conditions within a range of 15 to 99 degrees fahrenheit. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Compensation

The Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana offers:

10-month salaried contract. Starting at $35,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Opportunity for hourly summer employment (optional)

Paid personal time off

Generous vacation and bereavement policies

15 paid holiday days

Tuition reduction for qualified child(ren)

Health insurance plan offerings

Life and disability insurance starting after 30 days of employment

SEP IRA offerings starting the 3rd year of employment

Professional development offerings