MIDDLE SCHOOL HUMANITIES GUIDE (GRADES 7 & 8) 

Appointment: Full Time (2024-2025 School Year)

Reports to: Head of School

Work Environment:

The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School, founded in 1963, is a coeducational independent Montessori school for students aged 18 months through 8th Grade. We offer small classes taught by a distinguished faculty and a rich program of academics, athletics, and the arts. The school operates on a beautiful 14-acre campus in Pepper Pike, Ohio, a suburb on the east side of Cleveland. The Ratner Montessori School has won high regard in the Cleveland community for being exceptionally responsive to the individual needs of each student and for valuing diversity and inclusion to a superlative degree.

Job Description:

The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School, an independent Montessori school for toddlers through eighth grade, seeks an engaging and dynamic humanities teacher for its middle school programs (grades 7-8). The ideal candidate is passionate about working with and empowering adolescents, embraces the Montessori method of teaching, and is committed to a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to education that supports the academic, emotional and personal growth of each student. Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree as a minimum and would ideally be Montessori certified from a MACTE accredited program. Applicants who do not hold a MACTE accredited Montessori credential at the Secondary level must be willing to start training after the first year. Experience in teaching language arts and/or history at the middle school level is preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Middle School teaching team, assist in establishing and maintaining an authentic Montessori culture of learning that promotes self-directed work and normalization.
• Student advisor with a group of at least 5 students 
• Lead a Literature Group with socratic seminar
• Lead Humanities and Occupations quarter long projects (history and science based project learning)
• Help design and teach Peace Studies units
• Lead students in community projects and microeconomy (small business) events by working side by side
• Assist in establishing and maintaining classroom expectations that are appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of the students.
• Guiding children through the conflict resolution process when necessary, fostering their independence in maneuvering the process.
• Supporting authentic Montessori lessons with the Montessori materials according to guidelines established by AMS.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining open lines of communication by conducting conferences with parents, students, head of school, and teachers.
• Participate in writing progress reports and parent-teacher conferences.
• Participate in professional learning in social-emotional skills and academics.
• Attend and actively participate in all required professional learning and events including work with Social Emotional Learning, Academics, and DEIA programs
• Maintain all professional certi?cations necessary
• Agree to support the mission and philosophy of The Ratner Montessori School and to perform the duties in a professional manner and in compliance with any rules, regulations, and requirements established by the School, as set forth in the Employee Handbook.

Required Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have at least 3-5 years of classroom experience. 
• Ideal candidates will be familiar with the basic principles that guide the Montessori Adolescent 12-18 years of age.
• Experience working with a diverse population of learners
• Preferred Humanities background (strong Language Arts experience)
• Creative thinking to design humanities and occupation projects and connect to other areas of learning
• Strong team member; willing to collaborate, create and communicate well with the teaching team.
• Modeling good community standards, attitude and contribution
• Strong problem solving skills
• Experience with holistic approach to classroom management
• Ideal candidates will be familiar with the basic principles that guide the Montessori philosophy:
• Every child is an individual and progresses at his or her own pace.
• The dignity of every child is respected and protected.
• Grace and courtesy are integral parts of the curriculum and should be modeled by adults.
• Students are not punished, humiliated, or shamed to reduce negative behaviors.

Salary

Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience.

Please send resume and letter of introduction via email to:

Christina Freno, Adolescent Team Lead: cfreno@theratnerschool.org

The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all personnel and applicants for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; national origin; handicap or disability; sexual orientation; or status as a veteran, Vietnam era, or special disabled veteran.