Montessori Instructional Coach

Lakeland Montessori Public Schools has an opening for a Montessori Instructional Coach.

All of our classrooms, age 3-15, are included in our Accredited School status through the American Montessori Society (AMS) and through Cognia/AdvancED. We are in our 20th year of operation and are committed to serving as a model public Montessori school to help fully implemented public Montessori education become a reality for more children across the nation. 

We currently have over a thousand students on our waitlist, however, our employee’s children receive preference for enrollment. Our employees are also provided with 10 paid days of leave,  $12,000.00 per year towards the choice of health benefits or a cash payout, and an excellent retirement plan. Our retirement contribution for last year was 12% of employee pay--with no matching requirement. 

Please complete our Career Application on our website.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount

• Health insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Professional development assistance

• Retirement plan

• Tuition reimbursement

Montessori Instructional Coach Job Description Responsibilities

Under direction and in collaboration with the Principal, the Lakeland Montessori Montessori Instructional Coach supports the implementation of a fully equipped AMS accredited Montessori environment for PreK3 through 8th grade. The Montessori Instructional Coach cultivates an environment that fosters the success of all students by facilitating the development, 

communication, implementation, and evaluation of a shared vision of excellence in teaching and learning which is firmly grounded in Montessori philosophy. They provide educational guidance to staff and students to ensure smooth daily operations. 

SCHEDULE/SALARY

11 month (216 working days)/Most Recently Adopted PCSB Teacher Salary Schedule ($48,700 - $64,072 for 190 working days), prorated for 11 months.  

Hours are 8 am - 4 pm**

**This position earns 20 half days to use for appointments, etc. Additional early leave is not available for this position.

Required evening programs:  Four Parent Class Meetings (Aug., Sept., Jan., Apr.); Historical Timeline/Wax Museum (Feb.); Secondary Dance (Apr.) , Secondary Graduation (May)

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

Early Childhood MACTE Certification

State of Florida Professional Educator’s License

Minimum 5 years Montessori Lead Teaching Experience

Educational leadership experience preferred

Evidence of the ability to effectively facilitate an Early Childhood classroom (albums, progress reports, parent/teacher communication, lesson plans, student goal-setting, digital evidence of classroom set up)

Evidence of the ability to create and facilitate parent education, in-person and virtual

Evidence of excellent written and verbal communication skills

Evidence of excellent time management skills

Evidence of excellent organizational skills

Evidence of a flexible mindset and the ability to manage stress and self care

Willingness and ability to:

• Serve as an Early Childhood lead teacher if a current EC lead teacher leaves the school until an EC MACTE certified lead teacher is secured 
• easily learn and use various types of software
• juggle multiple tasks and roles
• plan efficient and effective meeting agendas with action plans and follow up notes
• seek out information/question when uncertain
• interact with the public and represent the school in a polished, warm, and friendly manner
• lead others/interact as both a colleague and a coach

TRAINING REQUIRED (if not already completed):

NCMPS Coaching Training (in-person training, rather than online training, if available)

Elementary and Secondary Montessori Overview through a MACTE accredited program

Developmental Environment Rating Scale (DERS)

Minnesota Executive Functioning Skills (MEFS)

Redirecting Children’s Behavior Train the Trainer

ROLES:

1. Curriculum Coordinator
2. Human Resources
3. Guidance Process 
4. Parent Engagement/Relationships/Education
5. Member of Parent Concern Process Team

• CURRICULUM COORDINATOR ROLE:

• Classroom Materials/Inventory-This position collaborates with the team coordinators at each level responsible to ensure classroom inventory is consistently available for the curriculum to be implemented

• If any of the items in this section are done through delegation to EC staff, then checklists should be implemented to ensure it is happening
• Ensures that all materials required to implement the Early Childhood, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary curriculum and the AMS Early Childhood and Elementary Core Materials and Activities are ordered and available in good repair in each classroom
• Approves classroom purchases using the Faculty Purchasing Guidelines 

• Organization

Ensures that the environment in all classrooms is maintained, including but not limited to:

• Classrooms and storage rooms remain clean and uncluttered according to Management Manual and shelving labels.
• All cabinets are maintained according to the labeled inventory on the doors.
• Prepared environment - ensure that the pictures on the shelves are accurate and are easily located on the shelves for bi-monthly classroom walkthroughs 
• Ensures materials are in order and good repair. Missing pieces are replaced or ordered within a week.
• At the end of each school year, meet with the lead teachers to review their completed  classroom inventory (based on the AMS inventory lists  and completion of the end of year procedures
• Prepares and maintains an environment that is conducive to having weekly visitors for Admission

• Curriculum

Leads and completes the coordination and development of accurate Montessori Compass Lessons, Recordkeeping, Observation, and Reports in all classrooms. 

• Reviews all EC, LE and UE lessons plans and provides feedback to teachers weekly 
• Each quarter, reviews the progress of every Kindergartener, Third Grader and Sixth Grader towards completion of the End of Cycle Expectations for each developmental level. All K’s, 3rd graders and 6th graders other than ESE students, should complete all the End of Cycle Expectations by the end of their third cycle year. The End of Cycle Expectations are incorporated into Montessori Compass as the quarterly report card.
• Leads the planning and implementation of the 3 year plan for all classrooms. 

• Reviews initial submission of all report card comments for compliance with the TAG. After review, share with the  Principal for final approval.
• Reviews Montessori Compass curriculum alignment
• Plans meeting agendas for bi-monthly meetings with EC and Elementary Team Coordinators and weekly meetings with Secondary classroom staff with action plans and follow-up accountability with a goal to communicate and align curriculum. Facilitates all staff understanding and use of the NCMPS Assessment Playbook items

• Essential Elements Rubric (this is the version currently in use by our Governing Board)
• Observing Work Engagement 
• Observing in the Prepared Environment 
• Teacher, Assistant, and Executive Appraisal Instruments (see hard copy)
• Whole School and Teacher Reflective Practice Inventories (see hard copy)
• Transition Skills Checklists for Primary to Lower Elementary (see hard copy)

• Requires EC, Elementary and Secondary staff implementation of their Teacher Assessment Guidelines (updated each summer)

• HUMAN RESOURCES ROLE:

1. Facilitation of implementation of coaching items related to all classrooms and staff in the Management Manual

• Completes bi-monthly classroom walk throughs and meets with lead teachers to review
• Completes Developmental Environment Rating Scale (EC and Elementary) every other month and meets with lead teachers to review

1. Professional Development for all Levels

• Coaching staff and faculty to ensure that all elements of the school are designed and implemented to meet the Essential Elements Rubric Satisfactory and/or Exemplary items.
• Surveys classroom teaching staff for PD needs
• Chooses PD curriculum by the end of February each year/communicates with the Principal about the need for space and who will implement it. 
• Becomes a trainer for Redirecting Children’s Behavior so that Redirecting Children’s Behavior professional development for staff and parents can be provided annually
• Montessori Instructional Coach ensures that classroom staff are adhering to the Management Manual and  classroom schedules (schedule is in the TAG). If there are issues that arise, the Montessori Instructional Coach initiates resolving the issues with the Principal in consultation with the school’s consultants.
• Assists in interviewing, hiring,  orienting, onboarding, and coaching all new teachers and assistants using New Employee Orientation Google Classroom.
• Works with the Leadership Team to review topics and curriculum.  The end result will be teachers and assistants who are aligned in philosophy, practice, and approach to the child, the classroom, the parents and the Administration.
• Sample Topics:  
• Appropriate work cycles.
• Choosing work in the classroom-age differentiation
• Establishing ground rules for socializing and playing in the classroom, answering what is acceptable
• Ensures enrollment and completion of NCMPS assistant training for any new assistant teachers and the on-site sub. NCMPS assistant teacher certification to be completed within 8 weeks of the first day of school.

1. Works with the Dean of Students to run the school in the temporary absence of the Principal

• GUIDANCE ROLE:

• Related forms are linked inside the TAGs
• Works with teachers, children, and parents in the classrooms when problems/situations arise.
• Ensures all Cooperative Plan Meetings are held by the teachers and updates the Cooperative Plan Meeting spreadsheet throughout the school year
• Completes Baseline, Formative and Summative assessment results document and meets with the Principal to review after each state assessment administration
• Any student that is in danger of retention (see EC TAG) must be communicated with the Principal and School Psychologist by January of each year.
• Coordinate with the classroom teachers and the School Psychologist to implement Child Study Process for any students that the teachers identify as having behavior and academic needs, including speech, and attend all Child Study, IEP, EP meetings
• When students visit during the admissions process, work with the student during the visit and fill out the paperwork with notes and assessments to determine if the student is a fit for the program. 
• Completes any items assigned to Montessori Instructional Coach on the Student Enrollment/Withdrawal Checklists
• Implements and holds Attendance Plan meetings as outlined in the TAGs.

• PARENT ENGAGEMENT/RELATIONSHIPS/EDUCATION ROLE:

• Assists in planning, facilitating and ensuring implementation of all items on the Academic Calendars--Montessori Instructional Coach to email a proposed academic calendars for the next school year to Principal by June 5th of each school year)

• New Children and Family Orientation

• Assists with prep for Orientations

• Coordinates (including ordering of refreshments with School Secretary), preps and runs New Family Gathering in August, sending an invite and agenda to all new families three weeks in advance and sends reminder one week prior to the Gathering

• Coordinates (including ordering of refreshments with School Secretary), Preps and runs New Family monthly check-ins, sending reminders to all new families 

• Connects EC new families with established families through the Buddy Families program as soon as a new EC family is accepted.

• Maintains the  Ambassador Parent list

• For the first two weeks of school, assist EC classrooms with arrival process (explain culture of separation at the car versus in the front office)

• Montessori Instructional Coach will coordinate EC staff to run two Journey Programs per school year, that mirror the structure and content of Lake Mary Montessori Journeys

• Journey example invitation 

• Journey guidelines 

• Coordinates with the Principal to understand the content and structure of the Journey.

• Coordinates with the School Secretary to purchase refreshments and to ensure every new family enrolled for the next school year attends the Spring Journey. 

• Tracks attendance at the Journey

• The week prior to each Journey Program, leads and completes the effort to carefully prepare a classroom for the visit.  

• Sequences all materials, ensures all pictures match the shelves exactly, adds new lessons.

• Involves all EC classroom staff participating in the Journey for best use of talent.

• Ends the Journey with the nesting box lessons.

• Class Meetings

• At least three weeks prior to each meeting, reviews the topics with Principal 

• Ensures that the Class meeting invitation for every class meeting is sent out at least two weeks prior to the meeting

• Ensures all environments are prepared for the Class Meetings. 

• Coordinates with the teacher(s) before and during all of the class meetings.

• Tuesday morning visits

• Facilitates all aspects of these, including maintaining guidelines for parents and staff as specified in Tuesday Classroom Visit procedures

• Tuesday Classroom Visit Procedures

• Parent Communication through Montessori Compass

• Montessori Instructional Coach is responsible for ensuring that all classrooms upload classroom pictures, record lessons and send communication to parents through Montessori Compass every week. 

• PARENT CONCERN PROCESS ROLE:

Member of Parent Concern Process Admin Team as needed/requested by Principal

All other duties as assigned