Primary Lead Guide at SunGarden Montessori School

Position Title: Primary Guide Classification: Full-time, 10 months, exempt, benefits Hours: 40 hrs/week, Monday-Friday Location: Onsite Annual Salary: $50,000 - $55,000/ yr, DOE Reports to: Head of School ABOUT SUNGARDEN: SunGarden Montessori School is dedicated to the education of the whole child within purposeful, respectful environments based upon the insights and inspiration of Dr. Maria Montessori. POSITION SUMMARY The Primary Guide is responsible for preparing and maintaining a beautiful, orderly Montessori environment that supports the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of children ages 3 to 6. The Guide fosters independence, concentration, and a love of learning by presenting lessons and offering individualized support in accordance with Montessori principles. We are looking to hire as soon as possible, preferably an experienced 3- 6 Guide. PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS: Teaching and Child Guidance Delivers lessons in practical life, sensorial, language, and mathematics, and enrich the curriculum with cultural presentations and discussions. Observes each child’s progress and follow up with tailored lessons and support to meet their developmental needs. Maintains a peaceful, respectful classroom environment where children feel physically and emotionally secure and can work independently without unnecessary disruption. Ensures materials and furnishings are clean, in stock, and developmentally appropriate; guide children in maintaining the space's order. Planning and Record Keeping Devotes approximately two weeks before the school year and a few days after school ends to preparing, organizing the environment, and collaborating with colleagues. Maintains accurate records of lessons presented, observations, and each child’s progress; submits reports to the administrator as scheduled or requested. Provides biannual written progress reports and conduct parent conferences twice per year. Maintains regular communication with parents about their child’s development and submits email and newsletter updates as requested. Collaboration and Supervision Supervises and guides the classroom assistant to ensure consistency with Montessori principles and optimal support for the children. Meets 1:1 with the assistant regularly to prepare, plan, and provide feedback and guidance. Meets 1:1 with the Head of School regularly. Participates actively in team collaboration, sharing observations, questions, and insights with colleagues and the administrator. Communicates classroom needs and any concerns about children, families, or staff to the administrator in a timely and professional manner. Community Engagement and Professional Development Attends all staff meetings and in-service days; attends board meetings as requested. Attends school events, including parent education evenings and community gatherings. Observes in at least two other classrooms (internally or externally) each year to support ongoing growth and alignment. Professional Development: Completes a minimum of 15 hours of documented training each school year. 8 hours in Child Development (CD) and 1 hour in Health, Safety, and Nutrition (HSN). All staff members must submit documentation to Oregon Registry Online. Health & Safety Ensures children are supervised at all times. Responds promptly to accidents or injuries, including timely completion of written reports and immediate parent notification. Bears responsibility for the physical and emotional well-being of all children in their care. Interprets the education program, the philosophy, policies, and procedures of the school to parents and other interested persons in a professional manner. Abides by the policies of SunGarden Montessori School and conducts themselves in a professional manner. Adheres to AMI guidelines and standards for the purpose of maintaining the quality and excellence of the Montessori experience for the children. Serves as a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect (1-855-503-7233). QUALIFICATIONS Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field. Certification from AMI (preferred), AMS, or another MACTE-accredited Montessori program. Prior experience in a Montessori environment and with children ages 3 to 6. Knowledge of child development and an understanding of the needs of children ages 3 to 6. Excellent communication, organizational and prioritization skills; ability to manage unpredictable workflow and flexibility to respond thoughtfully and in a timely manner. Ability to work collaboratively in a small school community. Ability to read, write, speak, and understand verbal and written English. Proficient in Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite. Pass a criminal background check. Preferred, but not required: Bilingual in English and Spanish. CERTIFICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE Present or complete within 30 days of hire - Enrollment in the Central Background Registry (CBR) Food Handler Certification Pediatric and Adult CPR/First Aid and EpiPen training Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN) Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety (INCCHS) Foundations for Learning (FFL) WORK ENVIRONMENT Indoor/outdoor work in a variety of weather conditions. Normal noise levels range from quiet to loud during typical activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Ability to frequently move between standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, and crawling. Must be able to quickly move to or with a child as needed. Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds; occasionally lift children up to 75 pounds for safety and care. Vision requirements include close, distance, and peripheral vision necessary for supervision and safety. BENEFITS 8 days of PTO, plus an additional 2 days of PTO designated for professional development $200 of professional development funds; additional funds may be available in consultation with and upon approval by the Head of School 9 paid holidays per year (whenever any of the following falls on a weekday: Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day.) Opportunity to participate in group health insurance (currently with Providence), effective after 30 days Absence of less than 1 hour at the beginning or end of your work day for a doctor’s appointment once a month does not count towards your PTO, but needs to be communicated and be approved by the Head of School Opportunity to participate in Oregon Saves IRA (available to employees after one full calendar year of employment) Participation in our Employee Assistance Program SunGarden Montessori will provide a laptop for your use as a Lead Guide 16 prep days per year for Guides Paid time off for all closures (including inclement weather) A 50% tuition discount for employee’s children enrolled at SunGarden. HOW TO APPLY Please reply to this ad by submitting a resume and cover letter (1-page max) addressed to Regina Feldman, Head of School with the subject line [Last Name, Primary Lead Guide Job Application]. The cover letter should include why you are interested in working at SunGarden and how your skills and experience have prepared you for this position. SunGarden will request three professional references for the final candidate. Position open until filled. SunGarden Montessori School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.