Childpeace Montessori School is seeking a Classroom Guide to join our Metro Middle School Program beginning August 2025.

Work hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. during the school year, with occasional evening and weekend commitments. This position is salaried, exempt, and benefit-eligible (medical, dental, vision, and more).

The Middle School Guide has professional responsibility for establishing, maintaining, and directing MS classrooms in direct collaboration with other MS Guides, rooted in Montessori principles. The Guide is responsible for the well-being of the adolescents at school and for building supportive, appropriate relationships with parents and colleagues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum
The MS Guide is responsible for:
-Preparing the classroom environment, lesson planning, and record keeping.
-Being a generalist with interest in various subjects; modeling intellectual curiosity.
-Collaborating with other MS guides to enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum.
-Assessing each child’s academic progress through observation, review of work, and additional tools as needed.
-Supporting the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of each child.
-Providing systems that promote self-management.
-Regarding each child without prejudice or favoritism.
-Observing and detecting potential learning obstacles, being familiar with signs of learning disabilities, and seeking appropriate assessment and strategies.
-Maintaining confidentiality of each adolescent and family.
-Planning class activities such as field trips and volunteerism.
-Providing systems and support for student-led community outings.
-Preparing students for high school requirements.
-Being flexible and willing to guide in multiple subject areas, integrating personal strengths and interests.
-Integrating city excursions into the curricula.
-Building relationships with field experts to bring in additional adult guides.
-Collaborating with other guides and the Adolescent Program Director to plan and lead a 7–10 day Odyssey trip and a 5-day Spring Trip each year.

Care of the Environment
The Guide is responsible for:
-Maintaining cleanliness, order, and beauty in classrooms, storage, outdoor, and community spaces.
-Supporting adolescents’ responsibility for care and maintenance of the environment.
-Participating in communal upkeep alongside students.
-Modeling an orderly professional workspace and guiding students in maintaining their personal storage areas.

Classroom Management
Guide skills include:
-Giving clear, precise presentations to individuals, small, and large groups.
-Communicating and managing developmentally appropriate behavioral standards.
-Supporting behavioral self-regulation with positive phrasing.
-Offering tools and language for building peer relationships, collaboration, and conflict resolution.
-Managing a problem-solving process when needed.
-Providing clear boundaries for students.

Relationship with Parents
Expectations include:
-Using effective communication to build supportive, trusting relationships between home and school, always advocating for the student.
-Adhering to school policies and maintaining professional boundaries in all parent interactions.
-Organizing and participating in parent education events.
-Conducting two formal conferences per year, plus additional pre-conferences for new students/families, and being available for informal meetings as needed.
-Writing and distributing progress reports four times yearly to parents, the Program Director, and Head of School.
-Offering professional guidance on Montessori philosophy.
-Documenting significant parent communications and updating the Program Director as needed.
-Respecting family confidentiality.
-Revisiting the School Partnership Agreement during conferences as necessary.

Community Relations
Each Guide is expected to:
-Arrive at least ½ hour before and remain at least ½ hour after school hours.
-Project a positive and professional attitude while fulfilling responsibilities and implementing school policies.
-Communicate regularly with the Adolescent Program Director and Head of School via written reports or conversation.
-Address concerns or problems directly with appropriate personnel.
-Support and implement the Childpeace Staff Charter.
-Attend all scheduled staff and in-service meetings (minimum 2.5 hours/week after school).
-Be punctual for all scheduled meetings, events, and activities.
-Complete transitional paperwork and communications for students moving to high school.
-Participate in fundraising efforts.
-Foster relationships with alumni, parents, and students.
-Maintain a professional appearance.
-Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Professional Development
The Guide is expected to:
-Complete 24 hours of documented, relevant professional development each year.
-Join the professional organization AMI (membership paid by Childpeace).
-Seek educational materials and opportunities to expand expertise.
-Participate in staff meetings, peer observations, and cultivate respectful collegiality.
-Offer and receive constructive feedback from colleagues.
-Read and adhere to the Staff and Parent/Student Handbooks.
-Maintain a valid teaching credential, where possible.

Job Supervision
The Adolescent Program Director supervises this position, observes throughout the year, provides feedback, and helps set goals. The Director of Finance and Operations may assist with HR-related questions. The Program Director schedules evaluations in coordination with the Head of School, who makes final employment decisions. The Guide is expected to receive feedback with a professional demeanor.

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor’s degree or higher
AMI 12–18 Diploma preferred
M.Ed. or MAT preferred
Knowledge of adolescent developmental needs and tendencies
Experience with adolescent-age children preferred
Minimum of 2 years teaching experience required
Valid teaching license preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
Background Check / Enrollment in Central Background Registry
Food Handler Card
CPR/First Aid
Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
Completion of 24 hours of documented training each school year

GENERAL JOB EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Work collaboratively in a team environment.
Maintain punctual, regular attendance.
Prioritize the child’s experience.
Perform other reasonable duties as assigned.
Maintain professional appearance and demeanor.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Strong command of written and verbal communication, modeled for students.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret education resources, journals, and procedures.
Ability to write reports and correspondence clearly and effectively.
Ability to speak effectively with staff, parents, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to perform and model basic mathematical operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide) using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.

COMPUTER SKILLS
Proficient in logging into systems, using email, composing documents, entering data, creating presentations, downloading forms, using record-keeping software, and navigating the Google Suite (Mail, Calendar, Drive).

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and manage variables in unstandardized situations.
Ability to interpret instructions in written, oral, and diagram formats.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Frequent transitions between sitting, walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.
Ability to run to or with children as needed.
Frequent reaching and use of hands; lifting items under 10 pounds.
Ability to lift a child under 100 pounds or assist in moving furniture/materials.
Must have adequate vision (close, distance, peripheral) for child supervision.
Physical fitness to participate in walking outings and overnight trips (Odyssey and Spring Trip).

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Outdoor activity in various weather conditions.
Noise level varies from quiet to loud depending on student activity.
Participation in camping trips and regular neighborhood outings with students is required.