Director of Education, Greenspring Montessori School
School: Greenspring Montessori School
Location: Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Job Title: Director of Education
Description: Greenspring Montessori School is seeking a Director of Education (DE). The Director of Education is a member of Greenspring Montessori School’s administrative team, reporting directly to the Head of School. The Director of Education provides support, guidance, inspiration, and continuing education to our staff, families and other constituents in Montessori philosophy and best practices, as well as current child development theory. The DE should live by, and be a consistent role model of, Greenspring Montessori’s values of Love, Integrity, Community, Lifelong Learning, and Education for Peace.
ABOUT GREENSPRING MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Greenspring Montessori School has been offering a Montessori education to students since 1962. Nestled on a 7-acre property that was originally a dairy farm, students ages 18 months through grade 8 thrive in our newly renovated buildings, state-of-the-art Montessori classrooms, and rich outdoor learning environments.
At Greenspring Montessori School, we value life experiences, strong and positive character, and integrity, alongside professional training. We welcome and celebrate people of diverse backgrounds, histories, perspectives, identities, cultures, religions, and races. Our learning environment is strengthened and enriched through a community that reflects the nuances and beauty of an intricate and complex world.
We are guided by our Professional Values here at Greenspring, and we are searching for self-motivated, collaborative, coachable individuals with a passion for learning and growing within our community. Personal values around a reverence for human dignity and a commitment to social justice, honoring the spirit of each child, and a love of nature and our environment are strong indicators of a potential fit for our school.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Faculty Development
Establish a professional rapport with all faculty members
Support the spiritual preparation of the adult
Assist the faculty in their need to:
Be deeply grounded and act from the Montessori method and pedagogy in all aspects of their work
Create inviting, well-designed & beautiful Montessori classrooms with a full range and use of Montessori curriculum and materials
Consistently self-reflect, deepening their understanding of Montessori practice
Develop a curriculum that draws directly upon Montessori philosophy
Develop themselves, as Montessori guides, to their fullest abilities
Develop and consistently use effective internal systems for lesson planning, tracking, and reporting
Hold Montessori lessons and the growth and development of concentration and independence as sacred
Provide families with a satisfactory quantity and quality of honest and kind communication
Support cooperative and effective Program Level Teams
Actively pursue professional development
Observe, know, understand, and behold the students
Learn from and inspire one another
Celebrate successes and growth, as well as reflect upon and coach challenges and shortcomings
Nurture and mentor Guides, supporting their success and development
Serve as a resource providing advice and guidance
Observe frequently in the classroom settings, offer timely written and oral feedback and support towards best Montessori practices in all classrooms
Identify areas of struggle and work with the Head of School to identify opportunities for growth, and if/when necessary, create and implement Professional Support Plans to support the needed growth
Regularly review planning, observation notes, and record keeping
Support Guides in developing the leadership skills necessary to nurture and support their classroom Partner’s development and growth
Ensure that Guides are offering their Partners ongoing feedback and are engaged in team reflection and goal setting meetings.
Set and review progress of annual SMART goals within Greenspring’s GROW Portfolio framework with Guides and support them in achieving those goals. Conduct mid-year check-ins and end-of-year wrap-up meetings
Family Relationships
Establish a professional rapport with Greenspring families
Support, cultivate, and lead families in:
A clear understanding of the Montessori Method
Principles and tools to implement Montessori in the home
A strong sense of partnership between the school and parents
An honest and clear understanding of their child as a learner
Be available to parents to discuss Montessori philosophy and answer questions, and facilitate healthy, open dialogue between families and guides
Student Support
Work in close collaboration with the Director of Student Support to best meet the needs of both classroom Guides and students who present with challenges and monitor progress
Coordinate various screenings and benchmark assessments
Collaborate before, during, and after family meetings
Other Educational Responsibilities
Serve as a liaison between constituents of the school, both internal and external, and the school’s administration and/or Head of School, as appropriate, in order to address questions, concerns, or issues
Coordinate assessment, progress report, and conferencing process
Review and offer edits for progress reports before they go home
Establish continuity and clarity among the programs (can include vertical alignment, benchmarks & curriculum guides) for both Academics and Service Work.
Support families with concerns in partnering with Guides to address their concerns and support the student
Support the Director of Admissions in working with new families
Work closely with the Director of Marketing to offer outreach to families for events, parent education articles, and additional opportunities
Support the Head of School, providing partnership, support, and counsel
Work closely with the Head of School to support the onboarding of new staff
Attend and contribute to the bi-weekly Team Leader Meetings
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Administrators are required to complete the following professional development requirements annually:
Visit another school community during the fiscal year.
Develop a relationship with another individual in your role or a similar role and meet at least once during the year, providing a resource for both school communities
Complete regular in-house observations of each classroom for 30-60 minutes each
Take a seminar, workshop, or attend a conference on a topic supporting your professional growth and development in a topic that relates directly to your role
Read a book to support professional growth
Engage fully in Greenspring’s Professional Development framework (GROW portfolios), setting and reviewing goals with the Head of School
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Administrators are required to:
Attend at least two community events per year, engaging with families during the majority of the event
COMPETENCIES
Impeccable written communication – mastery of grammar and spelling is essential
Exceptional speaking and interpersonal skills
Strong understanding of de-escalation techniques and ability to self-regulate and offer regulation – even when others are upset
Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively
Willingness to work hard and as part of a team for a common goal
Profound and complete understanding of, and passion for, the Montessori philosophy and method
Deep understanding of and competency in Montessori pedagogy – particularly for students six and under
The successful candidate will be warm, energetic, positive, and articulate with a tireless work ethic
Proven record of building strong partnerships with all stakeholders, including students, families, colleagues and supervisors
Must have a proven track record as a powerful and inspiring mentor
Willingness and openness to both receive and offer coaching. Specifically,
Accepts coaching graciously and with an open mind
Implements coaching received in a timely fashion and in the manner in which it was intended
If applicable, offers regular coaching to direct reports and follows up accordingly, this can include stepping into classroom settings to model best practices
Strong computer skills and ability to learn new platforms
Understanding of Microsoft Office and Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets)
Ability to learn student information system (Blackbaud)
Genuine interest in serving Greenspring Montessori School to help it be the best it can be
POSITION DETAILS
This is a year-round, full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm, but hours often go beyond these limits. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Required:
A minimum of one high-quality MACTE-approved Montessori certification in either Toddler or Children’s House
Mastery of Montessori teaching and practice; minimum 6 years teaching experience
Supervisory experience a plus
Bachelor’s degree
Preferred:
More than one MACTE-approved Montessori certification
Master’s Degree in Education
Authorization to work in the United States is a pre-condition of employment at Greenspring Montessori School.
Please upload your resume and cover letter via our online application.
Contact Method: Apply online https://greenspringmontessori.org/employment/director-of-early-education/
