Environmental Education Guide

Job Description

Job Description

Job Opportunity: Environmental Education Guide
Location: Washington, DC 
Department: Academics 
Application Deadline: Until filled 
Employment Type: Full-time
Expected Start Date of Position: August 10, 2026
Reports to: Principal
Compensation: Salary starts at $59,995 - $81,156 and will be commensurate with degree and years of experience 
FLSA Status: Exempt 

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School

Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School’s mission is to provide diverse families in Washington, DC, a public Montessori education designed to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.  

Founded in 2016, Breakthrough Montessori is a public charter school in Washington, DC. We will serve 388 students in PK3 through grade 6. At Breakthrough Montessori PCS, we believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Students of all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a personalized education. 

Our school is grounded in an institutional commitment to development, prevention, and community. We support human development through an uncompromising application of the time-tested Montessori instructional model. We support prevention through early learning, support and intervention, enabling us to quickly and effectively address learning challenges. Finally, we support the community through an intensive approach to family engagement. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is committed to equity in all areas of our school’s work. We are a supportive environment that seeks to employ a diverse staff reflective of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is a coaching school; all team members receive and give coaching to support professional growth.

Position Summary:

The Environmental & Physical Education Guide implements Breakthrough Montessori's environmental education, school gardening, and physical education programs for students in grades PK3–6. They are responsible for planning and teaching lessons in accordance with DC Science Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education's (OSSE) physical education standards, and the developmental needs of the students. 

The Guide is also responsible for supporting and implementing the vision of the Principal through effective curriculum design, cross-curricular collaboration, and stewardship of the school's outdoor learning environment and conservation infrastructure. This role ensures that environmental education and physical education align with Montessori values, meet DC Healthy Schools Act requirements, and foster strong communication with staff, families, and community partners.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The Environmental & Physical Education Guide is a 10-month position. Working hours are Mondays from 8:00am-4:30 pm and Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Plan, develop, and deliver engaging environmental education and gardening lessons for students in grades PK3–6, with intentional connections to nature and the scientific world.
• Align lesson content with DC Science Standards (with emphasis on Earth Sciences & Human Activity, Weather & Climate, Earth's Place in the Universe, Ecosystems, the Solar System, and Energy), the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Montessori Scope & Sequence, and Common Core State Standards as applicable to science literacy and observation.
• Plan and facilitate standards-based physical education instruction that meets DC Healthy Schools Amendment Act (2018) minimum requirements: 90 minutes per week for grades K–5, and 135 minutes per week for grade 6.
• For Pre-Kindergarten 3 and Pre-Kindergarten 4 students, support an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), including at least two 20-minute sessions of outdoor physical activity, in collaboration with Children's House Guides.
• Ensure at least 50% of physical education instruction time is devoted to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), per DC Healthy Schools Act requirements, and address the five OSSE PE standard strands (motor skills, movement concepts, health-enhancing fitness, personal and social behavior, and value of physical activity).
• Design differentiated curriculum that meets individualized student needs, including accommodations and modifications for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, and diverse learning needs.
• Support and facilitate Montessori Going Outs in Elementary classes centered on Environmental Education and Science.
• During inclement weather or indoor recess, facilitate in-class movement activities that require minimal space (e.g., yoga sequences, jumping and hopping patterns, body-weight exercises, movement games) while maintaining alignment with OSSE PE standards.
• Maintain a consistent lesson planning cycle; document plans and outcomes using Transparent Classroom and other school-designated platforms.

Learning Environment & Materials Management

• Organize, maintain, and replenish lesson spaces and instructional materials for environmental education; the majority of lessons occur in small groups and outdoors.
• Collaborate with the Operations Team and classroom Guides to steward the school's conservation infrastructure, including school garden maintenance and seasonal planting cycles, composting and recycling programs, the rainwater catchment system, the insect hotel, and the watershed system.
• Manage transitions between indoor and outdoor learning environments with appropriate safety protocols; plan indoor alternatives for inclement weather.
• Order and manage inventory of materials, ensuring items are available in advance of scheduled lessons and seasonal activities.

Collaboration, Community & Family Engagement

• Collaborate with the Principal and Montessori Coaches to create and maintain a schedule that ensures equitable student access to environmental education and physical education.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly all-staff faculty meetings, professional development sessions, biweekly level meetings, and relevant Child Study Meetings to support individualized student planning.
• Contribute to cross-curricular planning with classroom Guides, ensuring environmental education and PE content reinforce and extend classroom learning.
• Uphold Breakthrough's grace-and-courtesy practices and community standards during all lessons, transitions, and outdoor activities; observe and manage student behavior in alignment with the school's Montessori approach, partnering with classroom Guides and school leadership on students who need additional support.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships within the DC urban gardening and school garden community to enrich programming and source resources.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with students, families, classroom Guides, and school leadership regarding student progress, curriculum updates, and environmental education programming through newsletters, phone calls, and other communications as directed by Coaches and administration.
• Attend and contribute to school events outside regular school hours (including Teacher-Parent Conferences and Lesson Share Days) and provide a spirit of hospitality at school gatherings, public events, and ongoing family engagement events.

Assessment, Documentation & Additional Responsibilities

• In collaboration with classroom Guides and Montessori Coaches, plan, monitor, and evaluate student development and learning outcomes using observational data gathered during lessons, Transparent Classroom documentation, and formative and summative assessment data as appropriate.
• Use data to inform lesson planning, curriculum adjustments, and differentiation for diverse learners.
• Maintain accurate records of behavior incidents and minor injury reports per school protocol.
• Contribute to the school's compliance with Healthy Schools Act reporting requirements, including the annual OSSE School Health Profile submission.
• Contribute to schoolwide events and initiatives such as Field Day, Earth Day, and cross-grade projects, and perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or school leadership team to support the mission and smooth operation of the school.

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

• Have a firm commitment to upholding the school’s mission and anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.
• Commitment to upholding the confidentiality of students and parents.
• Proven ability to work as a member of a diverse team of educators .
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build meaningful relationships.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Openness to feedback, desire to continue development as a professional, and willingness to take responsibility for student outcomes.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience working with diverse populations of students, parents, and families. 
• Experience managing aftercare or enrichment programs.
• Montessori experience preferred. Without previous Montessori experience, demonstrate an eagerness to learn about the method and support its implementation.

Benefits: 

We provide employees with a robust leave policy that includes:

• Paid personal time off
• Paid COVID sick leave
• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday 

Breakthrough invests heavily in the professional development (PD) of our faculty through:

• An individual professional development budget of $250/year to pursue additional PD opportunities;
• Conference participation and 
• A Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license. 

Other benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision (Carefirst Blue Cross)
• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)
• AFLAC
  
• Long-term disability
  

For information on Breakthrough Montessori PCS, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at  

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment 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.