Montessori Guide; ages 4

Workplace type: On-site

Job type: Full-time

Description:

Acton Academy Columbus is hiring a credentialed Montessori guide to lead our Spark Studio, a primary classroom for children ages 4.5 to 7 in Dublin, Ohio (northwest Columbus).

Spark is built on the Montessori tradition: a carefully prepared environment, a long uninterrupted work period, and a deep trust that children will choose meaningful work when the materials and the freedom are right. We're looking for a trained guide who can hold that environment with calm and precision. You'll give clear, unhurried lessons, protect concentration when it appears, and step back so the child can do it for themselves.

You won't stand at the front of the room. You'll observe, present, and get out of the way.

• Prepare and maintain a complete Montessori environment across practical life, sensorial, language, math, and culture
• Give individual and small-group lessons, and track each child's progression so the next lesson comes at the right moment
• Protect the uninterrupted work period
• Observe daily and keep clear records that guide your presentations
• Model grace and courtesy, and hold the studio's ground rules with warmth and consistency
• Partner with parents through regular communication, observation notes, and learner-led conferences
• Plan, debrief, and grow alongside our other Spark guides

• A Montessori credential for the 3–6 / Early Childhood level (AMI, AMS, or MACTE-accredited), or currently completing one
• Experience guiding a Children's House or primary classroom; you know the materials and the albums well
• A patient observer who keeps careful records and uses them
• At home with mixed ages, self-chosen work, and long stretches without an adult at the center
• Familiarity with Reggio Emilia is a plus; we blend the two thoughtfully in Spark
• Clear communication with parents, colleagues, and leadership
• A bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field is a plus

• On-site in Dublin, Ohio
• Pay: $46,000 - $48,000 annual salary

We're an independent microschool of about 60 learners in Dublin, Ohio. Our learners, who we call Eagles, take ownership of their education through hands-on quests, Socratic discussions, and real-world challenges. No grades, no tests, no worksheets. In Spark, our youngest learners work in a blended Montessori-and-Reggio environment; we believe the two traditions sharpen each other. Our guides have real autonomy, a small and tight-knit team, and protected time and budget for their own growth.