Elementary Classroom Guide - Upper Elementary
UPDATE: This job post has been updated to specify that an AMS Elementary Diploma is also an adequate credential under "Required Qualifications"
Elementary Classroom Guide - Upper Elementary
Title: Elementary Classroom Guide - Upper Elementary (9-12 year olds)
Closing Date: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled
Position Begins: August 15, 2024 (teacher preparation days before school starts)
Status: Full Time Salaried - 10 month teaching position
Salary: DOQ with competitive benefits package
FLSA Category: Exempt
Reports to: Head of School
School Overview
Lake Country School (LCS) is a compassionate and joyful community of children, adolescents, families, and faculty and staff that learn and grow together year after year. LCS is an independent school with a 45+ year history that is a nationally recognized leader in Montessori education. The school is guided by its mission and its core values of Montessori pedagogy, peace education, stewardship, and love of work. LCS supports its faculty and staff with competitive salaries and benefits. Additionally, faculty and staff are backed by LCS’ strong adherence to Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) standards, beautiful, simple, and rich learning environments with a full complement of materials, and a commitment to professional development.
LCS is truly one of a kind learning experience with two campuses—one urban and one rural. Its urban campus is nestled into the vibrant Kingfield Neighborhood in South Minneapolis—a mile from the chain of lakes and a few miles from downtown Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Metro Area hosts access to high quality parks, museums, universities/colleges, and businesses. Its rural campus is a 160 acre farm property east of the Twin Cities, 75 miles into western Wisconsin. The rural campus provides an incredible environment for deep, rich, and meaningful learning opportunities on the land during day trips and overnights.
Position Overview
The Elementary Guide is the educational leader of the classroom with the primary responsibility of creating and maintaining an authentic Montessori learning environment and offering presentations and guidance to support the developmental needs of children according to Montessori training. The Elementary Guide is also responsible for communicating and giving professional guidance to individual families regarding their child’s holistic growth and development, with regular connections throughout the year, two conferences, and a detailed written report annually.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Prepare and maintain a high quality Montessori learning environment for optimal growth and development—academic, social, physical, and emotional (in classroom, hallway, and commons area)
- Guide and assess students through the AMI Elementary curriculum
- Plan presentations for the children and keep accurate records of presentations, classroom observations, and notes for conferences
- Facilitate a partnership and collaboration with the classroom assistant
- Implement a “going out” program
- Communicate with colleagues, student support team, and Head of School as needed regarding children in the classroom
- Help to plan, implement, and participate with all elementary special events and overnight experiences (orientations, open houses, etc)
- Set professional goals annually and plan and complete annual professional development that supports those goals
- Manage their classrooms consumable budget throughout the year in coordination with the accountant and submit requests for their non-consumable budget to the Head of School annually
- Support the school and its mission, vision, and values
Required Qualifications
- AMI or AMS Elementary Diploma
- Interest in and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Strong communication skills
Additional Characteristics of an Ideal Candidate
- Minimum of 3 years experience as a Montessori Guide at the Elementary Level
- Positive attitude, problem solver, honest and compassionate communicator
- Enjoys and is skilled at building relationships with children, families, and colleagues
- Driven to do high quality work
- Interested in collaborating with colleagues
- Warm and welcoming with children while being clear, confident, and firm when needed
- Approaches differences with curiosity and acceptance
- Experience and interest in equity, justice, and inclusion, as well as anti-racist, anti-biased education
- Loves nature and connecting with the natural world
- Welcomes feedback and wants to develop, learn, and improve professionally
- Interested in hearing and understanding different and new perspectives
- Speaks a second language (Spanish or French preferred)
- Humility, a sense of humor, and a warm and nurturing personality
We encourage people to apply who have lived, worked, had educational experiences, or attended schools, specifically HBCUs or other BIPOC focused schools, where there is substantial diversity. We value collaboration, building community, interdependence with nature, and creative thinking and problem solving.
Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for all positions as Lake Country School is committed to its faculty and staff reflecting the diversity of the Twin Cities area.
Please submit a letter of interest, professional resume, and two professional references to:
Applications will be accepted until a successful candidate is selected.