Lead Teacher

Job Description

As Lead Teacher, you will lead a classroom of up to 20 children ages three through five within a network of high quality, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities. You will plan, prepare, and deliver instructional activities that facilitate active Montessori learning experiences. You will create learning opportunities that support the cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical development of every child. You will build relationships and communicate regularly with families to support each child’s development. In this role, you will support two assistant teachers or teachers in residence and report directly to the Head of School.

You share our passion for the Montessori method and have honed your skills as an early childhood practitioner with expertise in child development, strong communication skills, and experience working with students and families from diverse backgrounds in low-income communities. Above all, you demonstrate passion for our mission to expand access to high quality preschool in underserved communities.

*Relocation support is available for this role.

 

LOCATIONS, START DATES, TRAINING, AND COMPENSATION

• Our existing schools are concentrated in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area with one school in western Washington. We anticipate opening a number of new schools in partnership with local community organizations during the 2022-2023 school year. Our new schools are likely to be in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, central and eastern Washington state, the greater Miami metro area, the Orlando metro area, the Houston metro area, and the Dallas metro area. On the application, please only select locations you are willing to work in and for which you meet the criteria for Lead Teacher so we can match you with the right school sites and the appropriate interview team.
• We are hiring for Lead Teachers who can start now (in Washington) as well as those who can start in all locations in late June/early July 2022.
  • Please indicate your preferred start date(s) and availability on the application.
  • Our new preschools are likely to open in the fall of 2022; some may open in early winter. Regardless of school launch date, teachers joining Bezos Academy to launch a new school will start their jobs in late June/early July 2022 to attend training and prepare a joyful learning environment for children.
• You will attend a summer training focused on the Bezos Academy academic model and grounding in the Montessori method. By attending initial training and engaging in ongoing professional development, you will earn, at no cost to you, a MACTE-accredited Primary Montessori certificate if you do not already have one.
• Starting salary for this role is $52,000 – $89,000 per year depending on experience, qualifications, and location.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two or more years of experience as a lead teacher or guide, teaching children from infancy through third grade with strong outcomes
• Ability to meet all credentialing criteria for lead early childhood teachers in one of the following states:
  • Florida: please see here for a summary of credentialing criteria.
  • Texas: age 18 with a high school diploma (note Bezos Academy requires a Bachelor’s)
  • Washington: the equivalent of 30 college quarter credits in Early Childhood Education OR hold a valid Washington State Teaching Certificate with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Special Education
• Ability to meet all additional training and eligibility requirements of Florida, Texas, or Washington, including clearing background checks, tuberculosis tests, and so on, with required documentation of your eligibility and training completion submitted to each state’s respective child care regulatory agency prior to start of employment
• Experience monitoring and maintaining accurate records on the progress of individual students
• Demonstrated personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and experience working across lines of difference

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Primary diploma from an AMI, AMS, or other MACTE-accredited institute
• Experience teaching or guiding students in a child-led learning environment (i.e., Montessori, Reggio, etc.)
• Experience working with children and families in low-income areas

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, prepare, and deliver instructional activities that facilitate active Montessori learning experiences
• Use the Bezos Academy curriculum and current research-based instructional practices to develop integrated units of instruction that meet both the group and individual needs of students
• Prepare and maintain a clean, orderly, and attractive Montessori environment with the instructional resources needed to meet the development needs of every child in the classroom
• Create an environment that demonstrates rapport with and respect and kindness for, all students as well as between students
• Use Bezos Academy assessment tools/strategies such as observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc. to help make instructional decisions for individual students
• Monitor and maintain accurate records on the progress of individual students; use school-approved screening and evaluation tools
• Use relevant, approved technology to support instruction
• Communicate necessary information regularly to students, colleagues, and families regarding student progress and student needs
• Establish a positive relationship with families and students, providing regular communication with families about their children
• Maintain teaching skills and participate in professional development activities
• Engage in on-going self-assessment and refinement of practice as well as in collaborative professional growth
• Participate in collegial activities and meetings designed to make the entire school a productive professional learning community
• Support the learning and development of assistant teachers

Please click here for a full job description.