Preschool Lead Teacher

Montessori School of Silicon Valley; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Medical & dental insurance

Paid sick leave, PTO, and holidays

Staff tuition discounts

401K matching

Professional development opportunities

Montessori training opportunities

Supportive school community

Job summary

Cabrillo Montessori School in Santa Clara is seeking an experienced Montessori Early Primary Lead Guide / Preschool Lead Teacher for ages 2.5–4.5. You will lead the Sequoia Community classroom, shaping a warm, prepared environment that supports independence, language and social skills.

Work with a team of 3 teachers (1 Lead Guide, 2 assistants) to grow the program from 12 to 24 children, and provide hands-on experiences in gardening, cooking, art, practical life, science and STEM.

Qualifications

• Experience in Montessori early childhood settings with focus on independence, exploration, and child-led learning.
• Ability to create warm, peaceful, well-prepared classroom environments that support developmental milestones.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with families and teaching teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Early Primary Sequoia Community classroom for ages 2.5–4.5.
• Collaborate closely with a team of 3 teachers (1 Lead Guide, 2 Assistants) to plan and implement lessons.
• Foster hands-on learning experiences across gardening, cooking, art, practical life, science and STEM.

Skills

Montessori education

Classroom leadership

Team collaboration

Child development

Education

Montessori certification/training

Early childhood education degree

Job description

Montessori Early Primary Lead Guide / Preschool Lead Teacher – Ages 2.5–4.5

Are you an experienced early childhood educator who is passionate about Montessori education and ready to lead a classroom community? Join our team at Cabrillo Montessori School in Santa Clara! Our beautiful school is designed to support each child’s natural curiosity, growing independence, confidence, and love of learning.

At Cabrillo Montessori School, we believe in creating a warm and consistent environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to explore the world around them. Our fully implemented Montessori programs foster independence, creativity, problem-solving, and strong social connections while honoring each child’s individual pace of development.

Our Sequoia Community serves children ages 2.5–4.5 and provides a wonderful bridge between the toddler and traditional Primary years. This unique Early Primary environment supports children during an exciting stage of development as they build greater independence, strengthen language and social skills, and develop the confidence to become capable members of their classroom community. This is a new and growing classroom with a great opportunity to help build the classroom from 12 children to 24 children. Our Sequoia Community will serve 24 children with 3 teachers: 1 Lead Guide and 2 Assistant Teachers.

As the Early Primary Lead Guide, you will lead the classroom community while working closely with your teaching team to create a beautiful, engaging, and thoughtfully prepared Montessori environment.

We are looking for a caring and dedicated Lead Guide who:

• Has experience working with toddler and/or preschool-aged children
• Is passionate about Montessori education and child-led learning
• Enjoys creating a warm, peaceful, and engaging classroom environment
• Is confident leading and collaborating with a classroom teaching team
• Values strong, positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues
• Enjoys incorporating hands‑on experiences such as gardening, cooking, art, practical life, science, and STEM into the children’s day
• Is committed to continued professional growth and development as an educator

Why Join Cabrillo Montessori School?

• Competitive salaries
• Medical & dental insurance
• Paid sick leave, PTO, and holidays
• Tuition discounts for staff
• 401K matching and retirement plan
• Ongoing professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement
• Opportunities for continued Montessori training and professional growth
• A supportive school community that values collaboration, consistency, and high-quality Montessori education

If you are an early childhood educator who loves helping young children become confident, capable, and independent learners and are ready to take the lead in a supportive Montessori community, we’d love to hear from you!