Children's House Lead Guide

Cornerstone Montessori School and Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School

Job Title: Children’s House Lead Guide
Reports To: Head of School
Approved By: Board of Directors

SUMMARY
Plans and develops, under the guidance of Administration, instructional materials, lessons, and other activities to support Cornerstone Montessori School and Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School’s goals and objectives in accordance with the mission statements for each school. The Lead Guide is responsible for planning, organizing, and providing learning experiences for the children in an authentic Montessori environment. The Lead Guide evaluates the needs and abilities of children and determines methods and techniques to best present and provide instruction to children across all subject areas. The Lead Guide assures children show continuous improvement in learning basics and essential skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Instructional Activities

• Plans and implements a program of instruction that adheres to the Montessori philosophy, as defined by the Association Montessori Internationale, and the mission of the school.
• Implements instructional activities that contribute to a climate where children are actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences and assists children towards self-directed learning and normalization.
• Ensures that child growth and achievement is continuous and appropriate for age group, subject area, and/or program classification.
• Recognizes learning opportunities; observes and notes observations; modifies, plans and implements instructional resources rooted in observation, including lesson plans to meet the needs of the children with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
• Maintains effective and efficient record keeping procedures, including but not limited to prompt attendance entries, lesson records, and progress reporting.
• Prepares and maintains the classroom environment and ensures materials are complete and in good repair and maintained in accordance with Montessori’s principles of beauty, order, and simplicity.
• Maintains appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance and appropriate use of conference, meeting, and planning time.
• Facilitates community engagement opportunities as part of the child’s school experience.
• Monitors and evaluates child performance goals, under the guidance of the Head of School.
• Works with the special education team, including special education paraprofessionals, under the guidance of the case manager to coordinate the educational needs of the child.
• Participates in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings for Special Education children.
• Has awareness of Special Education children’s IEP goals and prepares general education content to support achievement of these goals.
• Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with children, parents, peers, and community.
• Collaborates with the Trained Assistant and Aide to support the activities of the classroom.

Classroom Management

• Establishes reasonable rules of classroom behavior and follows Cornerstone’s discipline guidelines and policies for children not adhering to behavior expectations.
• Supports classroom team members in their implementation of Cornerstone’s discipline guidelines.
• Establishes and supports a dependable procedure for conflict resolution in the classroom and other school environments.
• Takes measures to prevent accidents and protect children, staff, equipment, materials, and the facility. Stays current on CPR and First Aid and all other trainings required by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Curriculum Planning and Development

• Works within the framework of his/her Montessori training.
• Researches and stays current in subject matter, knowledge, and learning theory and is willing to share this information with other staff members.
• Coordinates activities with the teaching faculty and in connection with the classroom environment.
• Collaborates with peers to enhance the instructional environment.
• Attends all staff meetings regularly throughout the year.

Child Information and Evaluations

• Follows Cornerstone’s policies and procedures for child evaluation and record keeping, meeting all due dates as required; includes the administration of standardized tests.
• Respects the confidentiality of records and information regarding children, parents, families, and staff in accordance with accepted professional standards and state and federal laws.
• Evaluates each child’s growth through scientific observation (as defined in Montessori 3-6 Diploma Course and approved as a Parent Aware tool), school-chosen assessments, and other methods as required by the school.
• Regularly communicates with trained assistant, aide, other team members, and substitutes around child progress (including their observations) and supports them in serving children’s needs and addressing learning goals as a collaborative team.
• Writes an end of the year report for each child. These reports are clear, accurate, and reflect both the child’s strengths and areas for growth.

Public/Parent Relations

• Works to develop close and effective relationships with parents, including opportunities to discuss and understand the child’s individual progress; encourages them to bond with both the class and larger school community.
• Contacts parents whenever there is an unusual concern regarding the experience of a child in the classroom. It is important to address such concerns directly and in a timely manner and to make the Head of School aware of the concerns.
• Participates in and attends school events, including but not limited to open houses, parentteacher conferences, Parent Partnerships, and other school events, which may occur on weeknights and weekends.
• Communicates and interacts in an appropriate manner with other staff, committee members, administration, children, parents and members of the community.
• Writes articles for the monthly school newsletter as requested.
• Ensures new families feel welcome and involved by assisting new families in their transition into the school community through effective and personal communication.
• Leads and participates in parent education workshops. The goal of these is to inspire, enrich, and impart knowledge; in short, to more fully explain the Montessori method in its various manifestations.
• Works with our school authorizer, University of St. Thomas, to build positive working relationships and encourage further outreach opportunities.
  • Supports the school and its leadership.
  • Participates in the admission process, speaking from time to time with prospective families—at the request of Administration.

Professional Growth

• Continued professional growth through attendance at workshops, seminars, conferences, including the annual AMI refresher course, in-service opportunities and/or coursework or other educational opportunities to increase knowledge of ways to support each child’s optimal growth, to maintain licensure, and in service of overall job performance and responsibilities.
• Attends staff, Individual Education Plan, and committee meetings as required.
• Participates actively in regular meetings with MCM Primary Mentor.
• Maintains current Minnesota Department of Education license and works with administration through the re-licensure process. Completes the required licensure
  paperwork within the required timelines.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assesses the needs of the class and prepares requests for materials, furnishing, and supplies within the framework of the budgeting process; updates inventory lists and submits to administration.
• Leads the classroom team in establishing a collaborative environment for children and adults to thrive.
• Manages and supports the trained assistant and other adults who work in the classroom.
• Prepares the trained assistant and classroom team for filling in during the Lead Guide’s absence. Makes accessible records, observation notes, and lesson plans for the trained assistant’s use and trains team members to oversee the daily routine without the Lead Guide’s direction.
• Is aware of the school policies and attends school events as required by the school policies.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This position requires subject matter expertise in educational programs, and curriculum and instructional strategies. Previous experience teaching in a Montessori setting is preferred; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skill in instructional principles, methods, and techniques of Montessori program as adhered to and defined by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
• Skill in collaborating with teaching specialists and Administrators to modify and implement instructional resources, including lesson plans to meet the needs of the children with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
• Ability to use a variety of electronic skills and utilize web-based applications.
• Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.
• Skill in classroom management.
• Skill in handling child discipline.
• Ability to organize and coordinate activities.
• Ability to serve as a role model and treat children as individuals in a professional and respectful manner.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multicultural, diverse socioeconomic setting.
• Commitment to fulfill the mission of the school and actively collaborate with staff and parents in this effort.
• Skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, with children, parents, and other professionals on a regular basis.
• Ability to fully participate as a team member in a professional learning community and as a team leader in the classroom community.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• AMI 3-6 Diploma
• Current State of Minnesota Teaching License for K-6 or Birth-3
• Required DHS certifications
• First Aid and CPR certification

Work Schedule
Lead Guides are expected to be at school for an 8-hour shift between 7:30am and 4:30pm, with a half hour break each day; exact hours will be determined in conjunction with the Head of School. Lead Guides may not take their break during the 3-hour morning work cycle, but may step out for 10 to 15 minutes, if necessary, during the morning work cycle. Additional events, meetings, and activities may be required outside the work day.

To Apply

Please email a resume and cover letter to Alyssa Schwartz, Head of School: alyssa@mtcm.org.