Lead Guide – Lower Elementary for the 2023-24 School Year

City Garden Montessori School (City Garden) is the only Montessori charter school in Missouri, and we are one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to educating children in a diverse, public school environment.

City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.

At City Garden we are redefining education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.

City Garden is a non-traditional, small school district. And yet, we’re more than just a school. We are a community-centered and people-centered environment in an exciting point in our growth and expansion.

City Garden is seeking an educator with a passion for academically rigorous, individualized, experiential education in a diverse public school setting to fulfill the position of Lead Lower Elementary Guide. The Lead Guide will be responsible for leading a multi-grade – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd – classroom, and will work with an Assistant Guide.

We are seeking candidates who are outstanding, innovative teachers and are interested in growing with our unique model of education. An ideal candidate will have Montessori certification and Missouri state certification.

• For those who have a state certification in Elementary Education, but are lacking Montessori elementary certification, City Garden will sponsor the right candidate in obtaining that certification. Applicants must also be willing to commit to additional coursework/ study during summers and during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic sessions.
• For those who have Montessori Elementary certification from AMI/AMS or other highly regarded Montessori certifying authority, but are lacking the foundation work necessary for Missouri certification in Elementary Education, City Garden will sponsor the right candidate in obtaining that certification.

The candidate must be committed to growing in a school environment that is committed to anti-bias/anti-racism values and practices with a vision to create a more equitable world through education. We are also seeking a candidate who is interested in making City Garden their vocational "home" for many years.

The full job description may be downloaded HERE.

Minimum Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in Education, or a related discipline
● 2+ years classroom experience
● Certification in at least one of the following:
o Montessori Elementary Certification from AMI/AMS or other highly regarded Montessori certifying authority
o Elementary Education Teaching Certification with a state Department of Education

Preferred Qualifications
● 3+ years of teaching experience in a public school or urban setting
● Certification in both of the following:
o Montessori Elementary Certification from AMI/AMS or other highly regarded Montessori certifying authority
o Elementary Education Teaching Certification with a state Department of Education
● Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically
● Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses
● Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners

● Developing lesson plans, independent learning exercises, curricula, and methods that cater to the needs of the individual child while they learn
● Implementing ABAR principles
● Using various assessment tools/strategies to help make instructional decisions for individual students (such as the Missouri Assessment Program, NWEA, iReady, observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc.)
● Creating and communicating weekly learning plans for all students
● Planning and coordinating classroom field trips supplies budget, and ensuring all resources are used in support of educating students and the school’s mission
● Completing report cards and progress reports
● Manage a classroom team of 1-2 adults, including coaching, supervision and input during the assistant guide’s performance evaluation
● Assisting in the development of and participates in school functions, including but not limited to Parent and Guardian Conferences, Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations and the Family Field Day
● Obtaining and maintaining certifications in Montessori and DESE as appropriate for the grade level and subject area.