Director of Montessori Education and Programming
Westshore Montessori School
Westlake, Ohio
Westshore Montessori School is seeking a dedicated and experienced Montessorian to serve as our Director of Montessori Education and Programming. This position is well suited for an experienced Montessori teacher who is ready to expand into a schoolwide instructional-support, administrative, and program-development role.
The successful candidate will be deeply committed to authentic Montessori practice, collaborative teacher support, child development, inclusive education, and strong family partnerships.
The Director of Montessori Education and Programming works collaboratively with the Head of School and teaching teams to support classroom environments that align with Montessori philosophy and best practices. This role supports the continued growth and quality of our programs by serving as a Montessori resource to teachers, strengthening shared curriculum practices, supporting children with diverse learning needs, coordinating assigned educational and administrative systems, and fostering a collaborative, child-centered school culture.
Reporting Structure
The Director of Montessori Education and Programming reports directly to the Head of School. This is an administrative and instructional-support position and is not a supervisory role. All teachers and classroom staff report directly to the Head of School.
The Director may provide Montessori guidance, instructional resources, administrative coordination, and practical classroom support but does not serve as the formal supervisor of teaching staff.
The Head of School retains final authority for school operations, staffing, employee supervision, performance management, licensing compliance, and all employment decisions. The Director carries out assigned educational and administrative responsibilities under the direction of the Head of School.
Position Details
- Full-time, year-round position
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Anticipated start date: August 2026
- Interviews begin July 27, 2026
Key Responsibilities - Montessori Education and Classroom Support
- Support the school’s educational vision while upholding authentic Montessori principles, practices, and standards.
- Serve as a day-to-day instructional resource to teaching staff by offering Montessori guidance, collaborative problem-solving, and practical classroom support.
- Support teachers in developing classroom environments that reflect essential Montessori elements, including multi-age groupings, uninterrupted work cycles, prepared environments, independence, respect, and purposeful work.
- Conduct non-evaluative classroom observations for the purposes of Montessori support, collaborative reflection, and program development.
- Offer teachers supportive feedback, practical resources, and guidance related to Montessori practice, child development, classroom organization, child guidance, and the prepared environment.
- Provide collaborative, non-evaluative mentorship and instructional support to faculty regarding curriculum implementation, communication, classroom practices, and Montessori best practices.
- Support teachers in understanding and responding to individual student needs through observation, collaborative problem-solving, and developmentally appropriate classroom strategies.
- Support teachers in maintaining calm, respectful, consistent, and developmentally appropriate classroom communities.
- Support student assessments, developmental observations, individualized planning, and appropriate strategies for children with varied learning and developmental needs.
- Develop shared resources and provide instructional support that promote program quality, alignment across classrooms, and awareness of applicable childcare, health, safety, and licensing requirements.
- Provide classroom coverage and support as needed to maintain continuity of care, appropriate staffing, and program operations.
Professional Development and Staff Support
- Help identify and coordinate schoolwide professional-development opportunities based on curriculum needs, teacher requests, and general program observations.
- Assist with planning and preparing professional-development activities that strengthen instructional quality, collaboration, communication, and consistency across classrooms.
- Participate in the recruitment and interview process as a Montessori subject-matter resource.
- Assist with the Montessori orientation and onboarding of newly hired teachers. Final hiring and employment decisions remain with the Head of School.
- Model and encourage a professional school culture rooted in collaboration, mutual respect, consistency, shared learning, and service to children and families.
- Communicate classroom and program needs to the Head of School and provide appropriate information and follow-up.
Administrative, Records, and Compliance Responsibilities
- Coordinate assigned educational and administrative systems, including program documentation, classroom resources, student records, training records, and licensing-related materials.
- Assist with maintaining accurate, organized, current, and confidential student records, including enrollment documentation, health records, developmental information, assessments, classroom observations, individualized plans, and other required records.
- Assist with tracking Montessori credentials, required professional-development documentation, staff training records, and licensing-related documentation as directed by the Head of School.
- Assist with the administrative maintenance of staff compliance files, including credentials, training documentation, medical statements, background-check documentation, and other required licensing records, while maintaining confidentiality.
- Identify incomplete documentation and coordinate routine follow-up to help ensure that required records remain organized, current, confidential, and consistent with applicable requirements.
- Support assigned administrative processes related to program quality, classroom resources, student documentation, professional development, and licensing preparation.
- Support school communications, digital platforms, and social media efforts as needed to strengthen family engagement and community outreach.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality when handling student, staff, family, and school information.
Administrative access to staff records is for recordkeeping and compliance support only. Formal evaluations, disciplinary records, performance management, and employment decisions remain the responsibility of the Head of School.
Family and Community Engagement
- Provide teachers with resources and support for classroom-family communications that are accurate, professional, timely, respectful, and consistent with school expectations.
- Serve as an additional Montessori and child-development resource during parent conferences, developmental discussions, and other classroom-related matters when requested.
- Partner with teachers and families to support each child’s academic, social, emotional, and developmental growth.
- Participate in family communication, conferences, school tours, workshops, and community-engagement activities.
- Support thoughtful and consistent communication that strengthens relationships among the school, classroom teams, and families.
Support to the Head of School
- Provide Montessori expertise, information, resources, and administrative support to the Head of School, as requested, in areas including Montessori programming, classroom resources, student needs, family engagement, professional-development opportunities, administrative processes, and schoolwide program planning.
- Communicate classroom, student, documentation, or program needs to the Head of School and provide appropriate information and follow-up.
- Carry out assigned educational and administrative projects under the direction of the Head of School.
- Complete additional educational, administrative, classroom, and program-support responsibilities as assigned by the Head of School.
Qualifications
- Montessori Early Childhood credential or diploma for ages 3–6 required. Credentials from AMS, AMI, or another MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher education program are accepted.
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Special Education, or a related field.
- Minimum of three to five years of successful Montessori teaching experience required.
- Prior experience with Montessori mentorship, curriculum coordination, program development, adult learning, administrative systems, or instructional support preferred.
- Strong Montessori educators who are ready to expand their impact beyond a single classroom are encouraged to apply.
- Strong understanding of Montessori philosophy, child development, classroom observation, curriculum implementation, and the prepared environment.
- Demonstrated excellence in classroom management, child guidance, organization, and maintaining calm, respectful, and productive Montessori learning environments.
- Experience with or knowledge of Infant and Toddler Montessori environments preferred; willingness to pursue additional training in Montessori practice for children ages 18 months to 3 years is valued.
- Knowledge of special education, intervention strategies, differentiated support, and inclusive classroom practices.
- Strong written and verbal communication, organization, problem-solving, judgment, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to provide thoughtful guidance and constructive feedback professionally, respectfully, and clearly.
- Ability to organize detailed records, manage administrative processes, maintain confidentiality, and follow through consistently.
- Comfort using technology and the ability to navigate digital communication tools, document and spreadsheet platforms, electronic records, school-management systems, websites, and social media.
- A collaborative and service-oriented mindset, with the ability to build trust, communicate clearly, share expertise, and support colleagues professionally.
- Familiarity with current Ohio childcare licensing rules, Ohio Department of Children and Youth requirements, health and safety practices, and school operational systems preferred.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a confident and compassionate Montessori educator who values collaboration, contributes to a strong team-oriented culture, and supports colleagues through a service-oriented approach.
This individual respects the child, builds trusting relationships with teachers, and provides thoughtful Montessori guidance and practical classroom support. The successful candidate will be comfortable providing collaborative, non-evaluative mentorship to faculty, coordinating educational and administrative systems, supporting families, maintaining detailed records, and assisting children with varied developmental and learning needs.
The ideal Director is organized, approachable, dependable, comfortable with technology, and committed to helping maintain a strong, consistent, and authentic Montessori experience throughout the school.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
Work Location: In person
