preschool teacher

assistant teacher

substitute teacher

child care teacher

teaching assistant

Guidepost Montessori

I’ve been working for Guidepost almost 2 years now. My HOS is great, my AHOS is great.

 There are moments of feeling the pressure and being stressed, but that is just what it feels like to work in a school and to work with children.

 I love the Montessori method. Guidepost is  sponsoring my certification which is something that I can take with me and have forever. They pay for new materials and basically almost anything you need in your classroom. Guidepost has money in the company. 

There is so much room to grow because Guidepost is a piece of Higher Ground Education who own all the way up until high school and the Montessori certification program. So if you ever wanted to move or if you got certified and wanted to do something else within the whole company there always room for that. 

I’ve had mentors on mentors, raises, promotions, been sent to different school, selected guided meetings and lots of support through breakdowns, performance reviews, and day to day life. When they find good people they don’t want to lose them. But it is hard to find GOOD people who fit the expectations and will meet the accountability factor of Guidepost. So being understaffed or minimally staffed is hard but it’s only because they don’t want to just put anyone in a classroom, give them a paycheck and call them a ‘guide’. 

They are very strategic about their process and care for the staff, parents and students. They have a mindset that Montessori is for every child, so reading the reviews about challenging children they just kept because of the money is not totally true. They try to come along side and support the families and children by strategically going through an extensive checklist before they decide that Guidepost is not the best fit for these families. The process takes a while sometimes. 

Work-life balance can be kind of hard, because you are working year round, but I take PTO as I see fit and I always put it in months ahead of time so there are never any issues when it comes up on the schedule. 
Ofc you get people who are sick suddenly and take off of or their child is sick so they have to take off, but again these are things that come with working at a school. 
I also am just very firm with my work-life balance and don’t believe in under compensating my life because Of work. Yes, I love my job but my life is strictly my life and I don’t feel guilty about stating it and being firm on it. You have times where you will have to do a few things outside of work, but if you plan it correctly there shouldn’t be much. I have many many friends who are public and private school teachers who do much more work than I do outside of work. You have to have your own boundaries when it comes to those kinds of things, like yes you have deadlines and expectations from your Heads of Schools, so meet what needs to be done in between that but also don’t give up your life for work. (Some people complain about that but are just really bad about balancing it themselves). 

Overall, I love working for Guidepost. If you push through the few hard times, they really do come out on top as far as pro’s compared to  many many other private and public schools. I’ve grown so much and have been provided so many opportunities in such a short time frame it’s amazing. 

I worked in the Children’s House classroom, and loved it, but there were definitely ongoing issues. Wonderful teachers and staff, good sense of community, but, RIDICULOUSLY understaffed. All staff (teachers, floaters, admin) are constantly having to stretch to play catch-up. Constantly, religiously recruiting new students and families. “Rolling admissions” with no cut-off day means new kids can show up in your class at any time, so it’s hard to get routines and expectations established with the current class before you might have to turn your attention to helping the new additions adjust. Although the admissions process was supposed to be a screening process, all about ensuring a “good fit” for new children, I did NOT get the sense that there was much actual respect for assessing a child’s readiness. As a teacher, this was so hard, because it meant there were often kids that required a wildly disproportionate amount of time and energy from teachers and staff, just to meet some basic classroom expectations. Not fair to the particular kids in question, who either had needs we simply weren’t able to meet in the current setup, or just weren’t a good fit, or needed extra support outside the school, or just weren’t ready for the type of school environment they were being hurried into with little or no previous preparation.

Also, the facilities and maintenance were not managed well. Issues with cleaning, constant plumbing problems, safety issues, and always running out of basic supplies (paper towels, soap, toilet paper, etc). Teachers and staff all pitched in to help out and make things work out in the end, but it added an unfair amount of extra stress to the job, always having to run errands and constantly work to stay ahead and prevent  serious accidents or panic situations that could have reasonably been managed by establishing a more transparent and consistent system.
Also, they offer free, paid, “on-site” training to become fully Montessori certified. This does NOT mean you will get any sort of in-person training on anything like basic classroom management, behavior management, basic childcare skills, licensing requirements or really any sort of orientation or understanding of the organization of the school, daily routines, etc. This also means that new hires are dropped into their roles with little understanding of their standing or direction, and this places an extra stress on current staff to get new staff up to speed or be left with inadequate support. Really sad because I saw a lot of potentially great teamwork opportunity, sabotaged by rushing to fill classrooms with as many kids as possible, and then rushing to hire the bare minimum amount of teachers and staff and losing or overworking really great people due to lack of adequate training and orientation processes, and unrealistic expectations.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at Guidepost was working with families and staff

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
One of the most stressful aspects of working at Guidepost Montessori is the lack of support from Regional Managers (RMs). Often, they work remotely, staying home without actively engaging with schools, which leaves school leaders without the necessary guidance and support. Instead of providing solutions or addressing systemic issues, the RMs tend to place the blame on school leaders when challenges arise, creating a cycle of frustration. This lack of accountability at the regional level adds unnecessary pressure on school leaders, who are already managing day-to-day operations and striving to meet the needs of students, staff, and families.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment at Guidepost Montessori can be highly stressful and toxic, primarily due to the lack of support from leadership. Regional Managers often fail to provide meaningful assistance, leaving school leaders to handle everything on their own. This creates a culture where leaders feel blamed for issues outside of their control, adding to the stress. Additionally, the workload is excessive, and there is little to no regard for work-life balance. Leaders are expected to be available at all times, leading to burnout and a feeling that personal well-being is not valued. This toxic combination of pressure, lack of support, and poor balance makes it a very challenging environment to thrive in.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day at Guidepost Montessori is fast-paced and demanding. As a school leader, I’m responsible for overseeing everything from daily operations to ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for students and staff. This involves managing staff schedules, addressing parent concerns, handling enrollment, and resolving any issues that arise with the facilities or classrooms. While trying to focus on the educational and developmental needs of students, much of the day is often consumed by administrative tasks and problem-solving without adequate support from upper management.

There’s also an expectation to be on call for any issues outside of regular working hours, which contributes to a lack of work-life balance. The constant juggling of responsibilities, paired with minimal support from Regional Managers, creates a high-pressure environment that requires quick thinking and resilience.

There's a lot to say about this company. It has good intentions (I think) in that they are trying to bring quality Montessori education to as many places as they can. The company is part of an ever bigger one called Higher Ground. In a short period they have grown a lot. That being said, in the time I worked there there was a change in the feel of the school. The pandemic also brought up certain aspects of their values that I do not identify with. There's a lot of support from the school admin team, but there seems to be a disconnection between the higher management and the school staff. With it being a year round school, there are no spring/summer/winter breaks. There are only a few holidays a year when the school is closed. So There is a general feeling of exhaustion all the time. There is PTO that can be used year round, though. Teachers are paid okay, I guess. The discounted tuition makes it worth it for many staff members that bring their children here. Assistants work hourly, but leads work on salary. This means they don't get overtime, which many times, they do work. There is also a lot of pressure on the school to always be at full capacity. Admissions are open all the time, so it becomes tricky to get the classrooms normalized with new children joining all the time. With the cost of tuition, I would expect smaller class numbers,  but there are so many children in these classrooms. It is extremely difficult for one lead to dedicate a lot of time to each child and provide the individualized work that many parents expect on a daily basis. Overall, there are great days when it all feels like a good job is being done. But there are others when people question whether all the stress and exhaustion are worth working there. Also, even though all the schools are the same "brand", there are big differences in how each one is administered. The turnover in some of them is ridiculous. Yet, they don't even attempt to fix the problems that seem to be repeating over and over in different campuses. 

I consider myself, at minimum, a dedicated and hard working individual to a fault. I enjoy my work. I have worked in many EDU paths and roles from leadership and beyond (in and out of the USA) and I have met so many amazing people within this company. However, I have never in my life been so sick, tired, and unhealthy. This company wants you to love work and nothing else. The calendar is year round and outside of Saturday and Sunday, the school closes 8 days per year total. Federal holidays are not counted as holidays and the school remains open and staff are expected to work. The school remains open 7am-6pm each day. You accrue PTO per pay period but can never take it because of staffing issues or because everyone else wants the same days off (everyone wanting Labor Day off because it's a public holiday). Pay is low especially lead or admin roles. Teachers average 38k. I haven't met an admin member who makes over 70k and I know one who makes 45k. For the amount of work, energy, time and love that goes into the day-to-day life and challenges, I can't imagine never excelling past my salary any further. I can barely save money with the economy and when I get home, often working open to close due to staffing issues, I have nothing left for myself and my life outside of work. 

This company's mission is beautiful and they have some of the best people I have ever met. But those people are leaving. We are all really, really tired and choosing life and breath over long office hours without something to show for it.

I wish the company would be open to hearing how to change the route they're taking and still find their mission. Enrollment and opening more schools is the only goal. Inclusion, accessibility and program quality goes out the window and leaves the staff on site feeling lost and unheard. The parents are paying 1.5-3k per month per child for tuition and that money isn't keeping the company afloat...

Overall my experience working in the school I worked at was fine. I loved the kids, their parents, and my co-workers. Working FOR Guidepost Montessori was a less than positive experience. The company itself is poorly run and they have shown that they do not care about individual schools, employees, or parental concerns. When they open new schools (and they are quickly opening LOTS of them), they aren't fully prepared and it has a negative effect on the employees. The premise of Guidepost is that they are a "transitioning" Montessori school. They don't take into concern the area the school is located in and how that will affect the hiring process. My school was even using substitutes from a childcare temp agency. They hire teachers that have no experience with Montessori and train them with a free two-week intensive course. I didn't have any Montessori experience, so it was really great training but I didn't get my training until 5 months after I started - which felt like an afterthought, so I didn't really know what I was doing for a while. They also hire Lead Teachers that don't have any Montessori experience - so this can result in 2 teachers in a Montessori class with barely any knowledge of what they're doing! Although to be fully transparent, my lead DID have more experience in childcare than I did. They take the exact same two-week intensive course but will be hired at a MUCH HIGHER PAY RATE with the assumption they will continue taking the extended self-paced studies that can take years to complete (because you can take them at your leisure). It didn't seem fair and was very insulting. When it was time for a review, we didn't have a Head of School. I wasn't given an actual review but I was given a .60 raise - from the regional manager (who I had never spoken to although she HAD visited the school). Again, insulting. I saw people in my school overworked and underpaid, doing jobs they weren't hired for and getting no help from the corporate level.

My experience at Guidepost Montessori was disappointing and challenging. While the organization presents itself as child-centered, many decisions by administration and upper leadership appeared primarily driven by enrollment and revenue goals, with limited consideration for employee well-being or long-term sustainability.

As an educator, I often felt undervalued and insufficiently supported. Concerns raised by staff were frequently not addressed in a meaningful way, and expectations sometimes felt unrealistic, contributing to a culture that left educators feeling stretched thin rather than supported.

As a working mother, the lack of flexibility and empathy was especially difficult. I was repeatedly placed in situations where balancing my responsibilities as a parent alongside my role as an educator felt discouraged, making it seem as though caregiving responsibilities were viewed as liabilities rather than realities.

My child attended the same campus where I worked, and over time I observed instances where she appeared to receive less attention and consideration than some other children in the program. I also witnessed similar concerns expressed by other staff members regarding the treatment of their children. While these experiences may not reflect every classroom or individual, the pattern was troubling and contributed significantly to my overall concerns.

In an educational setting, respect, fairness, and care for both students and educators are essential. Unfortunately, these values were not consistently reflected in my experience at Guidepost Montessori.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of this job was the connections I made with (most) of the kids. I also had a wonderful Head of School who has been one of the best supervisors I've had. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
This job made me into someone I didnt like. Our school was INCREDIBLY understaffed, thus I was being overworked and underpaid. My patience became so incredibly low. This company favors the opinions of the parents more than the wellbeing of their staff. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The environment is tense and chaotic. But I guess that's what you get with kids. The kids themselves, for the most part, were great. A few tough kids, one in particular is the main reason why I had to leave. The school knew he was an issue but the parents were giving them a lot of money so they just let the kid misbehave at the expense of my sanity. This could be a great an functional organization but their morals on the outside are different on the inside. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very strict to the schedule. 
As the assistant guide, I would manage the entire classroom while the lead guide worked 1 on 1 with the kids. While she was having a calm and intimate lesson, the assistant guides were left with managing the emotions and behaviors of the other kids, taking pictures for the parents, cleaning, setting up snack, and preparing for the next thing on the schedule. Taking the kids outside was nice during the summer but more difficult in the winter. Then, lunch and naptime. Lunch was chaos but one of the easier parts of the day. Naptime - while the lead guide captioned pictures for the parents, the assistant guides were left to console 15 kids to sleep. After naptime, we would combine with another classroom because we were so understaffed the guides didn't have time to close their classrooms as needed. So we were forced to put our kids in another class, despite them having conflicts with some of the other kids. Just a stressful mess.

I currently work as a Substitute Guide in the Children's House program at Guidepost Montessori Marietta, and it has been an incredibly positive and rewarding experience. A typical day involves supporting children ages 3–6, helping maintain a calm and prepared Montessori environment, assisting with lessons, and encouraging independence, confidence, and a love of learning. 

One of the things I appreciate most about working here is how much I have learned about child development, Montessori education, and creating meaningful relationships with children. The school truly focuses on helping each child grow at their own pace while fostering independence and respect. The management team is supportive, approachable, and always willing to provide guidance when needed. The workplace culture is welcoming, collaborative, and centered around what is best for the children. The staff members work together as a team and genuinely care about creating a positive learning environment.

The most challenging part of the job is adapting to different classroom routines and stepping into various roles as a substitute. However, this has helped me become more flexible, confident, and adaptable as an educator. The most enjoyable part of the job is building relationships with the children and watching them develop new skills and confidence every day. Seeing their excitement when they master a lesson or accomplish something independently is incredibly rewarding.

Guidepost Montessori Marietta is a wonderful place to work. The supportive staff, positive environment, and dedication to Montessori principles make it a great place for both professional growth and making a meaningful impact in children's lives.

This review will be all over the place because I’m still shocked by how bad things have gotten at the Foothill Ranch location and also at their parent company, Higher Ground.

Guidepost Foothill Ranchwas once a great school but they have taken a drastic turn for the worst. Turnover is high for guides but it is even worse for the admin! For most of the last 2 years there has been no Head of School at all. Those who have been hired have lasted 2-4 months at most, and none have been experienced or qualified. There are so many issues working here. The quality of education,  the care the students receive, and the safety concerns are alarming.

They are always open and you are expected to work every holiday. You are supposed to have vacation days but they make it difficult to take them. All staff is overworked and severely underpaid. There is no leadership and no one knows what is going on.

You can look up reports on the county website and see just how miserable things are here. I worry everyday about the kids in attendance. I love educating children but this is an absolute terrible place to work. I could no longer continue here though I loved the kids so much.

Our classroom had a monthly budget of $15 for materials! This didn’t cover any of our needs of course. The plumbing is always clogged. The roof has been leaking for at least 2 years and they just keep having their general maintenance guy patch it instead of hiring an actual roofing company. With all the leaking they have never once opened the walls or floors to let them dry out.

They are constantly out of ratio. They are shocked everyday when you tell them it’s time for you to take your lunch break. They never have anyone that can cover. New hires are untrained, have little to no experience, and clearly don’t want to be there.  They went from 130 students to 50 in 2 short years.

There is so much more about Higher Ground and their horrible business practices.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Preschool teacher 785 salaries reported	$44,288 per year
Assistant teacher 127 salaries reported	$19.71 per hour
Substitute teacher 81 salaries reported	$20.86 per hour
Child care teacher 5 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Teaching assistant 16 salaries reported	$22.34 per hour

Working at Guidepost Montessori: Company Overview and Reviews

Guidepost Montessori

Guidepost Montessori Ratings

Popular jobs at Guidepost Montessori

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected