Lead Primary Guide

American Montessori Society Inc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 39,778 - 56,653; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Dental plan

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Holidays

Retirement plan

Professional development

Housing benefit in SF Park Merced area

Professional coaching

Job summary

Montessori Children’s Center (MCC) in San Francisco seeks a Lead Guide focused on ages 3 to 6 to shape a nurturing, hands-on Montessori learning environment.

You will inspire independence and creativity, lead classroom teams, and collaborate with families, while upholding Montessori principles and a supportive school culture.

The role includes developing enrichment activities, maintaining a safe, organized space, and partnering with the Director and staff to support every child’s growth.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of teaching experience in a licensed Montessori center or preschool, with at least 1 year as Lead Guide.
• Bachelor-level coursework or degree in early childhood education or child development preferred.
• MACTE-accredited 3-6 Montessori credential required or strongly preferred.
• Certifications in CPR and First Aid are required or highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Implement Montessori curriculum with developmentally appropriate materials and practices.
• Observe each child daily to tailor presentations and planning to their readiness.
• Foster independence, concentration, and respect within the classroom community.
• Lead age-appropriate afternoon enrichment in nature, art, music, and movement.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and inviting Montessori environment.
• Supervise children actively in classroom and outdoor spaces.
• Collaborate with assistant teachers and the Director to support families.

Education

Bachelor's degree in ECE / Child Development

MACTE 3-6 Montessori credential

12 semester units in ECE/Child Development

CPR and First Aid certifications

Job description

Who are we?

Montessori Children’s Center (MCC) in San Francisco has been a leader in Montessori education since 1976. We are dedicated to helping children feel that they belong in the world and that the world belongs to them.

Who do we serve?

We are a classical Montessori school for children aged 2 to 6 where families feel supported, teachers are well cared for, and where the learning environment extends from the classroom to nature.

How do we serve our teachers?

We deeply value the experience, care, and dedication that educators bring to a thriving school community. We recognize that teaching is both joyful and demanding, and we believe that all teachers deserve ongoing appreciation and support.

That support includes generous paid time off. Our 2026-2027 academic calendar includes two weeks of winter break, one week of spring break, two weeks of summer break, mandated closures, and all federal holidays, in addition to sick and emergency leave. We also believe that great educators never stop learning, so we offer opportunities for both personal and professional development, as well as pathways for career advancement.

To help sustain a healthy work-life balance, MCC integrates wellness into the workday. Staff have access to wellness amenities within the school, designated wellness days, and an external benefit for professional coaching. Our goal is to create a workplace where teachers feel respected, nurtured and ready to grow.

About the role:

The Lead Guide, with a Primary age focus, will play a vital role in shaping a nurturing and enriching learning environment for children aged 3 to 6. They will inspire young minds through hands‑on exploration and a love of learning, guided by authentic Montessori principles. This position offers the opportunity to create meaningful relationships with children, families, and a supportive team, all while fostering each child’s independence, creativity, and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Montessori Curriculum and Individualized Teaching

• Implement Montessori curriculum using developmentally appropriate materials, presentations, and teaching practices.
• Observe each child daily to understand their developmental readiness, interests, strengths, and areas for growth.
• Use observations to guide individualized Montessori presentations, classroom planning, and support for each child’s continued development.
• Foster independence, concentration, intrinsic motivation, grace and courtesy, and respect for others.
• Respect each child’s individual pace and protect uninterrupted Montessori work cycles.
• Facilitate developmentally appropriate group activities and opportunities for positive social interaction.
• Develop and lead thoughtful afternoon enrichment programming that complements the Montessori curriculum and supports children’s creativity, physical development, curiosity, and connection to the natural world. Plan and facilitate age‑appropriate experiences in nature education, gardening, art, music, movement, and related areas, using the children’s interests and developmental needs to guide the program.

Classroom Environment and Organization

• Prepare and maintain a beautiful, orderly, safe, and developmentally appropriate Montessori environment.
• Prepare the classroom environment daily and ensure materials are complete, accessible, and ready for use.
• Maintain consistent classroom systems, routines, and expectations.
• Prepare and organize classroom materials to support children’s learning.
• Maintain organized classroom storage, supplies, and inventory.
• Identify materials or classroom items requiring repair, replacement, or replenishment.
• Create and maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming classroom environment.

Child Supervision, Care, and Safety

• Provide responsive care and support that meets the individual needs of each child.
• Actively supervise children in the classroom and outdoor spaces during work periods, transitions, meals, outdoor play, and rest periods.
• Support children with self‑care, toileting, hygiene, meals, rest, and transitions as needed.
• Ensure the safety and well‑being of all children and follow school policies, licensing requirements, and health and safety procedures.

Observation, Documentation, and Recordkeeping

• Maintain objective and accurate documentation of children’s development, classroom experiences, and relevant incidents.
• Complete weekly child observations and required progress documentation.
• Maintain required child and classroom records in accordance with school policies and licensing requirements.
• Use documentation to support curriculum planning, individualized instruction, family communication, and conferences.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Model professionalism, collaboration, and Montessori best practices in all interactions.
• Mentor, guide, and collaborate with assistant teachers to support consistent classroom practices.
• Provide clear direction and constructive feedback while remaining receptive to feedback from others.
• Lead by example and contribute actively to a positive, respectful, and supportive team culture.
• Communicate respectfully and collaboratively with the Director, teaching team, families, and other members of the school community.
• Participate actively in team meetings, planning conversations, and schoolwide initiatives.
• Maintain clear, timely, and professional communication with the full school team through in‑person conversations and the school’s designated electronic communication channels. Use platforms such as Slack effectively to share updates, respond to messages, coordinate responsibilities, and ensure relevant information is communicated consistently across the team.

Family Partnership

• Partner with families through respectful, proactive, and ongoing communication regarding their child’s progress, experiences, and development.
• Use Illumine daily to document relevant classroom updates, including meals, rest, toileting, activities, and other information required by school policy, and to maintain timely communication with families.
• Provide regular verbal updates and weekly written reports through Illumine regarding each child’s experiences, progress, and development.
• Participate in parent conferences and other family meetings as needed.
• Collaborate with families and school leadership to support each child’s development and classroom experience.

Professional Development and School Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing training, professional development, and Montessori learning opportunities.
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, sound judgment, and respect for confidentiality.
• Follow all school policies, procedures, licensing requirements, and professional expectations.
• Support classroom and school operations as needed.

Physical and Operational Requirements

• Work at a child’s level for extended periods of time, including sitting, kneeling, bending, and moving throughout indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Perform opening, closing, and classroom duties, including preparing snacks, sweeping, sanitizing tables, washing dishes, setting up and putting away nap cots, stocking supplies, and organizing classroom materials.
• Complete other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor based on classroom and school needs.

Minimum qualifications:

• 2+ years of teaching experience in a licensed Montessori childcare center or preschool preferred, at least 1 year as a Lead Guide required.
• A minimum of 12 semester units in early childhood education or child development, with core units in Child/Human Growth Development, Child, Family and Community and Programs Curriculum from a college or university accredited by regional institutions, e.g. the Western Association of Schools and Colleges - WASC.
• A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field is preferred.
• MACTE-accredited 3-6 Montessori credential from an AMI, AMS, or IMC/CGMS‑affiliated training program.
• Certifications in CPR and First Aid.
• Clear background check (criminal history, fingerprinting through CA DOJ, FBI, and Child Abuse Central Index).
• Completion of Mandated Reporter Training within 90 days of employment.
• Completion of health screening, including a tuberculosis (TB) test, prior to employment.

Compensation and benefits:

• Starting at $35 per hour or higher, with pay determined by experience and qualifications.
• Health and dental plan, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, retirement savings plan, and professional development opportunities.
• Discounted housing benefit in the Parkmerced neighborhood of San Francisco.
• Access to professional coaching benefit.
• Regular compensation reviews with the goal of proactive increases as the school grows