Founding Partner/Lead Teacher

Meadowsweet Montessori Inc.

Date Posted: 12/10/2024

Location: Binghamton Area, New York

Salary/Wage: $50,000 - $60,000 a year (As the leader of your own school, you in partnership with your co-head of school will manage your school’s budget and set your salary. Schools strive to offer salaries at or above the typical teacher salary for a local market with commensurate experience. We plan to offer medical, dental, vision, and 401k benefits based on the needs and interests of the first school staff, including you!)

Job Type: Full-time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Description:

Heather Frost of Meadowsweet Montessori, an emerging Wildflower School, is working on founding a Montessori Primary and Toddler program in the Binghamton, NY area. Meadowsweet Montessori is seeking a Montessori 0-3 Guide OR 3 - 6 Guide OR applicant with administrative experience with an interested in Montessori training, who would co-found and co-lead the school. The target school opening date is anticipated for Fall of 2025.

Responsibilities:

Essential Responsibilities

In collaboration with the school’s Co-Leader, the responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

As a Co-Founder:

Create a Wildflower school in the Greater Binghamton, NY community rooted in authentic and enduring relationships with children, families, stakeholders, and community members
Participate in the facilities process and renovation for a school site
Design a school website and marketing plan
Engage with the community in community conversations, outreach, and recruitment efforts
Hire and onboard staff
Willingness to learn and grow new skills as needed to take on Roles and Responsibilities as a partner

As a Lead Guide:

Leads an enriching and liberatory Montessori Toddler environment (or co-leads a Primary environment) that lives into the school mission and vision, the community’s needs, and New York State Licencing Regulations
Supports all learners by employing inclusive, anti-racist teaching practices
Supports families in adopting aligned practices at home, as desired

As a Teacher Leader:

Leads with cultural humility and actively works to disrupt oppressive systems and practices
Operates in alignment with sound human resource and compliance practices
Utilizes leadership and administrative skills to operate and communicate with transparency to all stakeholders, including the school’s Board of Directors
Plans and leads staff professional development and family engagement programming
Manages inclusive admissions and enrollment processes

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree
Montessori Assistants to Infancy Credential OR Montessori Primary Certification OR Enrolled in a Montessori Training Program
Experience as a Montessori Lead Guide (Preferred but not Mandatory)
Would Consider an Applicant with Administrative Experience and Interest in Enrolling in a Montessori Training Program

Minimum Education Level: Highschool Graduate or GED

Preferred Education Level: Master's Degree

Application Instructions:

If you would like to explore co-founding a Wildflower school in the Greater Binghamton, NY area, please first email Heather Frost at heather@meadowsweetmontessori.org and then complete the Discovery Materials/Self Reflection and Google Form to indicate your interest (you will be asked to upload your Self Reflection and resume). Members of the Global Majority are strongly encouraged to inquire.

Additional Information:

Preferred Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills

A deep commitment to authentic Montessori - Your expertise will position you to be a highly effective facilitator of children’s learning and to extend the values of Montessori to include the adults within your school community.

Entrepreneurial leadership - Your default mode is “yes.” You are flexible, open-minded, see opportunity in obstacles, and are energized by using creativity and resourcefulness to create solutions to problems.

Commitment to serving diverse and multifaceted communities - You are eager to increase access to Montessori to racially and socioeconomically diverse communities and are deeply committed to supporting the development of intersectional communities.

Generosity of spirit - You live with kindness, work gently with others, practice gratitude, and lead with love. You seek advice openly and are comfortable working in a non-hierarchical organization.

Willingness to work hard - You have the aptitude, stamina, time, and appetite to raise yourself to the challenge of starting and leading your own school. You will not be alone, but you will be busy.

A desire to learn and grow - You are eager to stretch beyond your current experience, to develop new skills and expertise and to more deeply explore your purpose and potential.