Kindergarten Lead Teacher

About Sankofa Montessori

Are you looking to make history, join a values-driven community, a community that invests in YOU, and a community that will provide you with what you need to do what you love? Then look no further than Sankofa Montessori, Metro-Atlanta's K-6 tuition free Public Montessori Charter School.

Our vision is to design more purposeful futures. We achieve our vision by providing a culturally responsive, child- and family-centered Montessori education so we can develop in all of our students the knowledge, skill, and agency to have a life of purpose.

Start Date: July 2024

Location: 5881 Phillips Drive, Forest Park, GA, 30297

Role Summary and Information

• Lead a peaceful, orderly, rich, nurturing classroom
• Foster relationships with families to enable open and responsive communication about student growth and needs
• Full-time role
• Assist with periodic school events outside of the normal schedule
• Measures of success for position to include student academic growth, family satisfaction, observation feedback, performance evaluations, and related indicators
• Meaningful professional development
• Reports to Instructional leadership
• Provides direction to Montessori Teaching Assistant who is formally evaluated by a school leader
• Key relationships: Students and Families, Teachers, support staff

Requirements

Planning and Instruction

• Preparing the environment: Plan and implement high-quality instruction for daily individual student lessons in alignment with the Montessori method and other school plans
• Submit individual student lesson plans weekly for review and incorporate feedback into planning
• Regularly observe students to inform instruction
• Record daily observation notes and collect assessment data as needed
• Prepare Montessori works and literacy materials and organize the classroom
• Create and implement remediation plans using the Response to Intervention and Instruction model from observational, academic, and behavioral data
• Teach children of diverse needs in an inclusive environment; implement appropriate IEP goals with support from special education staff.
• Participate in Child Study process, including presenting data and implementing plans.

Classroom Culture

• Foster habits of excellence, including order and grace & courtesy, through schoolwide and classroom-level practices and rituals, such as connecting before redirecting, using a warm and firm tone, matching children with works in the environment, tending the heart of virtue through presenting beautiful literature, and sharing responsibility for all our children
• Be a model of character for students
• Supervise students within the classroom and outside of the classroom: on the playground, during bathroom breaks, at lunchtime and on field trips

Family Communication

• Lead classroom family communication and meetings
• Prepare monthly progress reports and quarterly report cards to share what students are doing in class

Professional Development and Relationships

• Observe and provide feedback at least twice per term to peers/Montessori Teaching Assistant
• Lead formal check-in with Montessori Fellow at least weekly
• Conduct informal conversations with Montessori Fellow and collaborative activities daily
• Participate in formal check-in with assigned academic support team member at least biweekly
• Engage in teacher meetings, team planning, professional development, and data reviews
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

For this position, we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• Bachelor's degree (required)
• Two or more years of effective teaching experience in a high needs public school environment
• Hold an Elementary I or Elementary I-II Montessori credential from a MACTE-accredited institution (nice to have)
• Willingness to enroll in MACTE accredited training if candidate does not have Montessori credential (required)
• Knowledge of Montessori curriculum content and children’s developmental needs, a plus
• Willing to serve all children, regardless of background or needs, in an inclusive and supportive setting
• Skills in instructional practices and classroom management for student achievement
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Warm and firm demeanor
• Work collaboratively with a growth mindset. Give and receive feedback in a spirit of craftsmanship.
• Strong learning orientation and desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
• Can complete physical demands of the role (including standing and walking for extended periods of time and lifting heavy objects up to 40 Ibs)
• Unwavering commitment to Sankofa Montessori’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of Sankofa Montessori students, families, and staff
• Successful background check results required

Benefits

COMPENSATION

• Sankofa Montessori’s compensation philosophy is to pay competitively for the PK-12 charter market to ensure equity across our institution. The starting salary for this role is $45,000-$60,000 annually, based on years of experience and degree held. Sankofa Montessori is committed to internal pay equity throughout our organization. Because of this, we do not negotiate salary offers outside our salary bands.
• We offer contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) in accordance with Georgia state law, as well as an additional, optional 403(b) retirement account.
• Sankofa Montessori also offers competitively-priced health benefits.

Supports:

• A dedicated coach with a track record of success with students
• A daily planning period and weekly student early release for teacher collaboration, student work analysis, and peer professional development.
• Materials needed to be successful in your classroom, including teacher/student supplies/laptops, etc.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Sankofa Montessori provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.