Montessori Teacher

Montessori Preschool Teacher

Laurel Hill School – East Setauket, NY

Full-Time, On-Campus | 2026–2027 Academic Year

About Laurel Hill School
Laurel Hill School is a leading independent school on Long Island, serving students from infancy through Grade 8. Our ten-acre campus provides a dynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and character. We pride ourselves on a warm, inclusive community where teachers are deeply valued for their expertise, professionalism, and care.

Our Preschool serves children from six months through Pre-K 4 in a nurturing, play-based environment that prioritizes safety, attachment, and early developmental milestones.

Reporting Line: Preschool Director

Position Overview
This is a newly created position at Laurel Hill School, representing an exciting opportunity for an experienced Montessori educator to build and lead a new program from the ground up.

The Montessori Preschool Teacher will design, establish, and deliver an authentic Montessori program for children ages 3 through 6. The ideal candidate brings not only deep Montessori pedagogical expertise but the vision, initiative, and organizational skill to develop a new program — from environment preparation and material acquisition to curriculum design and family communication. This is a rare opportunity to shape something lasting within a well-established, mission-driven school community.

The Montessori Teacher will work closely with the Preschool Director and school leadership to ensure the program is fully integrated into the Preschool and reflects the values and standards of Laurel Hill School.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development

• Lead the setup and launch of Laurel Hill School's Montessori program, including classroom environment preparation, material selection, and curriculum framework.
• Develop program policies, daily rhythms, and routines consistent with Montessori principles and LHS standards.
• Collaborate with the Preschool Director to establish program benchmarks and a vision for long-term growth.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Plan and deliver authentic, child-led Montessori learning experiences across all developmental areas: practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, and cultural studies.
• Prepare and maintain a carefully organized, beautiful Montessori environment that invites independence, concentration, and exploration.
• Observe each child closely and use observations to guide individualized lesson presentations and track developmental progress.
• Submit written lesson and activity plans as required by administration.

Assessment & Communication

• Maintain detailed developmental records for each child using Montessori-aligned observation and documentation practices.
• Communicate proactively and warmly with families regarding each child's progress, daily experiences, and program philosophy.
• Document all parent communications and submit to administration as required.

Collaboration & School Life

• Work collaboratively with co-teachers, the Preschool Director, and school leadership to integrate the Montessori program into the broader Preschool Division.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences, Back-to-School Night, school performances, staff meetings, and professional development.
• Serve as an ambassador for Montessori education within the LHS community, helping families and colleagues understand and embrace the approach.

Qualifications

• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) or American Montessori Society (AMS) certification at the Early Childhood (3–6) level required.
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum three years of Montessori classroom experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience launching or significantly developing a Montessori program preferred.
• Strong understanding of child development and the Montessori philosophy as it applies to ages 3–6.
• Exceptional organizational skills and the initiative to build systems, environments, and routines from scratch.
• Enthusiasm for working with young children and their families in a collaborative school community.
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, reflective practice, and continual growth.

Conditions of Employment

• Submission of a copy of Montessori certification, teaching certification, and official transcripts required prior to first day.
• Submission of initial lesson and activity plans required prior to first day, as directed by administration.
• Background check and fingerprinting required prior to hire, in accordance with NYS requirements.
• Completion of Mandated Reporter training required before beginning work with children.
• All LHS employees are mandated reporters under New York State law. This role requires full compliance with the school's child safety and safeguarding policies.

What We Offer

• Salary: $46,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, paid bi-weekly.
• Access to LHS's full benefits package, including health coverage and 100% tuition remission for enrolled children of employees.
• The rare opportunity to build and lead a new Montessori program within a thriving, established independent school community.

Schedule

• Full-time, on-campus position running September 2026 through June 2027, in alignment with the Laurel Hill School academic calendar.
• Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit an application via the link below. Please include a resume and a brief cover letter describing your Montessori experience and your vision for building this program at Laurel Hill School.

https://airtable.com/appn9OkUiuu4RDZEE/pagXYdyXFwdmKdYt9/form

Only applications submitted here will be considered.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $4,600.00 - $6,000.00 per month

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you applied via the application form in the job description? Only these applications will be considered

Work Location: In person

Salary : $46,000 - $60,000