Director of Early Education

Overview

Greenspring Montessori School is seeking a Director of Early Education (DEE). The Director of Early Education is a member of Greenspring Montessori School’s administrative team, reporting directly to the Head of School. The Director of Early Education provides support, guidance, inspiration, and continuing education to our staff, families and other constituents in Montessori philosophy and best practices, as well as current child development theory.

The DEE should live by, and be a consistent role model of, Greenspring Montessori’s values of Love, Integrity, Community, Lifelong Learning, and Education for Peace.

Greenspring Montessori School has been offering a Montessori education to students since 1962. Nestled on a 7-acre property that was originally a dairy farm, students ages 18 months through grade 8 thrive in our newly renovated buildings, state-of-the-art Montessori classrooms, and rich outdoor learning environments.

At Greenspring Montessori School, we value life experiences, strong and positive character, and integrity, alongside professional training. We welcome and celebrate people of diverse backgrounds, histories, perspectives, identities, cultures, religions, and races. Our learning environment is strengthened and enriched through a community that reflects the nuances and beauty of an intricate and complex world.

We are guided by our Professional Values here at Greenspring, and we are searching for self-motivated, collaborative, coachable individuals with a passion for learning and growing within our community. Personal values around a reverence for human dignity and a commitment to social justice, honoring the spirit of each child, and a love of nature and our environment are strong indicators of a potential fit for our school.

Faculty Development

• Establish a professional rapport with all faculty members
• Support the spiritual preparation of the adult
• Assist the faculty program in the Toddler and Children’s House levels in its need to:
  • Be deeply grounded and act from the Montessori method and pedagogy in all aspects of their work
  • Create inviting, well-designed & beautiful Montessori classrooms with a full range and use of Montessori curriculum and materials
  • Consistently self-reflect, deepening their understanding of Montessori practice
  • Develop a curriculum that draws directly upon Montessori philosophy
  • Develop themselves, as Montessori guides, to their fullest abilities
  • Develop and consistently use effective internal systems for lesson planning, tracking, and reporting
  • Hold Montessori lessons and the growth and development of concentration and independence as sacred
  • Provide families with a satisfactory quantity and quality of honest and kind communication
  • Support cooperative and effective Program Level Teams
  • Actively pursue professional development
  • Observe, know, understand, and behold the students
  • Learn from and inspire one another
  • Celebrate successes and growth, as well as reflect upon and coach challenges and shortcomings
• Nurture and mentor Guides, supporting their success and development
  • Serve as a resource providing advice and guidance
  • Observe frequently in the classroom settings, offer timely written and oral feedback and support towards best Montessori practices in all classrooms
  • Identify areas of struggle and work with the Head of School to identify opportunities for growth, and if/when necessary, create and implement Professional Support Plans to support the needed growth
  • Regularly review planning, observation notes, and record keeping
  • Support Guides in developing the leadership skills necessary to nurture and support their classroom Partner’s development and growth
  • Ensure that Guides are offering their Partners ongoing feedback and are engaged in team reflection and goal setting meetings.
  • Set and review progress of annual SMART goals within Greenspring’s GROW Portfolio framework with Guides and support them in achieving those goals. Conduct mid-year check-ins and end-of-year wrap-up meetings

• Establish a professional rapport with Greenspring families
• Support, cultivate, and lead families in:
  • A clear understanding…