Montessori Guide

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Classroom Guide - Children’s House, Elementary, or Junior High
Status: Full-Time Salaried - 10-month teaching position
Salary Range: $48,000 to $80,000 DOQ with a competitive benefits package (see below)
FLSA Category: Exempt
Reports to: Head of School

Note: At this time there is not an active opening for this role but we always welcome qualified candidates to apply to be considered should a position open.

School Overview
At Lake Country School, we are more than educators—we are stewards of childhood curiosity, independence, and lifelong learning. Rooted deeply in authentic Montessori principles, our school fosters an environment where children are trusted, empowered, and supported to follow their interests and develop critical thinking, creativity, and confidence. We support children in being themselves, learning about their identities, and understanding others' identities, building a just and inclusive community.

Lake Country School (LCS) is a 50-year-old accredited, independent school that is a nationally recognized leader in Montessori education, with strong adherence to AMI standards. We support our faculty and staff with competitive salaries and benefits, as well as regular, ongoing professional development, check-ins, and reviews.

What truly distinguishes Lake Country School is its location and our one-of-a-kind learning environments. Our Urban Campus is nestled in the vibrant Kingfield Neighborhood in South Minneapolis, a mile from the chain of lakes and a few miles from downtown Minneapolis, with access to high-quality parks, museums, universities/colleges, and businesses in the Twin Cities. Inside the school, classrooms are warm and welcoming, with an abundance of natural light and well-resourced with a full complement of materials.

Our Rural Campus, the Land School, is a 160-acre property in Dunn County, Wisconsin where students immerse themselves in exploration, discovery, and practical work on the land during day trips and overnights. From caring for animals and tending gardens to developing practical life skills and stewarding the earth, this extraordinary setting enriches our curriculum and invites faculty to expand their influence beyond the classroom.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and is valued and respected for who they are. Led by our Equity, Diversity, and Justice (EDJ) Advisor, Anti-Bias Anti-Racist practices are woven into the curriculum and environment to help children understand their identities and grow into compassionate, critical thinkers who care about fairness for all.

If you are a Montessori-trained educator who believes in honoring each child’s potential, fostering curiosity and resilience, and building joyful, inclusive learning communities, we invite you to bring your passion to Lake Country School. Together, we’ll support the next generation of thinkers, creators, and stewards of the world.

Position Overview
The Classroom Guide is the educational leader of the classroom with the primary responsibility of creating and maintaining an authentic Montessori learning environment and offering presentations and guidance to support children’s developmental needs in accordance with Montessori training and ongoing professional growth, including the integration of anti-bias, anti-racist, culturally responsive, and social-emotional practices. The Guide is also responsible for communicating and providing professional guidance to individual families regarding their child’s holistic growth and development, with regular connections throughout the year, two conferences, and written educational reports.

Employee Benefits and Professional Development
LCS offers a robust employee benefits package, including: health, dental, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, 5% no-match-required 403 (b) employer contribution, 100% employer-covered MN Paid Leave premium, free before- and after-school care for staff children, sponsorship and training, and travel and study grants.

Funds are allocated annually for professional development for all faculty. Faculty also participate in whole-school learning opportunities, trainings, and workshops. Sponsorships are also available for those interested in completing AMI Montessori training.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• AMI Diploma
• Experience implementing equity, justice, and inclusion practices in educational settings, including anti-bias and anti-racist approaches
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, and basic digital skills

Additional Characteristics of an Ideal Candidate

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Montessori Guide
• Positive attitude, problem solver, honest, and compassionate communicator
• Enjoys and is skilled at building relationships with children, families, and colleagues
• Driven to do high-quality work
• Interested in collaborating with colleagues
• Warm and welcoming with children while being clear, confident, and firm when needed
• Demonstrates self-awareness about identity, bias, and power, and engages in ongoing reflection and growth
• Experience supporting neurodiverse learners in inclusive classroom environments
• Enjoys nature and connecting with the natural world
• Welcomes feedback and wants to develop, learn, and improve professionally
• Interested in hearing and understanding different and new perspectives
• Speaks a second language (Spanish or French preferred)
• Humility, a sense of humor, and a warm and nurturing personality

We strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized communities to apply, including educators of color, multilingual educators, and educators with diverse lived experiences. We are committed to building a faculty that reflects the diversity of our students and the broader Twin Cities community.