Director of Montessori Education and Programming

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 ready to expand into a schoolwide instructional-support, administrative, and program-development role.

The Director works collaboratively with the Head of School and teaching teams to support classroom environments aligned with Montessori philosophy and best practices. This role supports program growth and quality 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 reports directly to the Head of School. This is an administrative and instructional-support position, 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 formally supervise 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 Head of School’s direction.

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 Montessori support, collaborative reflection, and program development.
• Offer 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 regarding curriculum implementation, communication, classroom practices, and Montessori best practices.
• Support teachers in responding to individual student needs through observation, collaborative problem-solving, and developmentally appropriate classroom strategies.
• Support 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 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 program observations.
• Assist with professional-development activities that strengthen instructional quality, collaboration, communication, and consistency across classrooms.
• Participate in recruitment and interviews as a Montessori subject-matter resource.
• Assist with Montessori orientation and onboarding for newly hired teachers. Final hiring and employment decisions remain with the Head of School.
• Model and encourage a professional 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 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, 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 required records remain organized, current, confidential, and consistent with applicable requirements.
• Support assigned processes related to program quality, student documentation, professional development, and licensing preparation.
• Support school communications, digital platforms, and social media 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 Head of School’s responsibility.

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 consistent communication that strengthens relationships among the school, classroom teams, and families.

Support to the Head of School

• Provide Montessori expertise, resources, and administrative support to the Head of School, as requested, in areas including Montessori programming, classroom resources, student needs, family engagement, professional development, administrative processes, and schoolwide program planning.
• Communicate classroom, student, documentation, or program needs to the Head of School and provide appropriate follow-up.
• Carry out assigned educational and administrative projects under the Head of School’s direction.
• 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 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 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 navigating digital communication tools, document and spreadsheet platforms, electronic records, school-management systems, websites, and social media.
• A collaborative, service-oriented mindset and 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, compassionate, organized, and approachable Montessori educator who values collaboration, builds trust, respects the child, and supports a consistent, authentic Montessori experience throughout the 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

$50,000 - $65,000 per year

Benefits:

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

• Work Location: In person