Lead Guide – Primary

Teaching Montessori in a public school CAN be a transformative experience.

 How do we know?

We are City Garden Montessori, a public charter school in the city of St. Louis, Missouri where Every child belongs and grows. City Garden is redefining what’s possible in public education — through purposeful classrooms where dedicated guides nurture each child’s natural curiosity, and an inclusive community where every learner is truly seen, supported, and celebrated.

​Children are guided in a prepared Montessori environment where they can grow in:

• Independence
• Confidence
• Curiosity
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Care for community
• A lifelong love of learning

This is our story.

This is where YOU become the next chapter of the story.

City Garden Montessori is seeking passionate educators to help us nurture the whole child, embrace diversity, and inspire academic excellence. Are you looking for a place where your teaching means something more:  where you can work in a supportive, collaborative setting that values you and what you bring as an educator; where you will shape young minds in a stimulating Montessori environment; where you are surrounded by a community that is committed to racial equity and social justice?

Let us show you what the future of education, and your career in public education, CAN be.  The annual salary range for these positions is $45,200 to $62,000, based on teaching certification, education, and experience. We offer a robust list of paid benefits which includes medical, dental and vision insurance, and contributions to public school teacher retirement pension program.

Interested? Our job openings and a full description of  the responsibilities are posted HERE.

- 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.

** This is a condensed version of responsibilities. A full job description may be accessed during the application process.**

- 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
- 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
- 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