About us
Hawaii Montessori is a non-profit preschool in Kailua Kona, HI. We are professional and engaging, and our goal is to educate children for life by providing a nurturing, prepared environment where children, parents, and staff joyfully develop their esteem, discipline, independence, motivation, and community responsibilities to their fullest potential.
We are looking for a Lead Primary Teacher to start in August 2026 who is experienced, flexible, collaborative, and a great communicator who takes initiative. Our Primary program serves students aged 2 to 6 years old.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Benefits: We provide competitive wages with health care benefits, paid leave, paid vacation, paid holidays, and employee child tuition discounts.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
ECE Teachers for Group Child Care Centers for the State of Hawai’i must meet one of the following qualifications (Education, Credits, Experience):
- Degree in Childhood Development or Early Childhood Education from an accredited College or University and 6 months of experience working in an Early Childhood Program or
- CDA or approved post-secondary credential and 1 year supervised teaching experience working in an Early Childhood Program; or
- 60 Credits in a Degree Program, Certificated in Early Childhood (16 credits), and 1 year of supervised teaching experience working in an Early Childhood Program or
- Bachelor in Elementary Education from an accredited College or University, 6 credits in approved ECE and/or CD courses (may be part of Bachelor’s Degree), and 6 months experience working in an Early Childhood Program or
- Bachelor in any field from an accredited College or University, 12 credits in approved ECE and/or CD courses (may be part of Bachelor's degree), and 6 months experience working in an Early Childhood Program
ECE Teachers for the State of Hawai’i must be registered with PATCH / Department of Human Services (DHS) Early Childhood Registry and be assigned a Caregiver ID. DHS Early Childhood Registry reviews the applications and verifies that the Teacher meets one of the education and experience requirements as stated above. A job offer is conditional upon the qualification requirements being accepted by DHS Early Childhood Registry.
- Current Physical & TB Clearance
- CPR & First Aid Certification Card – Infant/Toddler
- Current Finger Print & Criminal History Background Check
- PATCH Registry Certificate Minimum CDA Certification
- All requirements shall be kept updated
Preferred Qualification Requirements:
- Montessori Teaching Credential from AMS, AMI, or MACTE accredited institution.
- Or currently enrolled in a Montessori teacher training coursework from a MACTE-accredited institution.
- At least one full year of verifiable experience working as a lead teacher in a licensed group care setting.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
To create a model of Education for a lifetime: Responsible for program and personnel administration in the classroom; to plan, implement, and assess the children’s individual and community needs, the prepared Montessori environment, the Montessori curriculum, and enhance the overall quality of learning; to maintain a learning environment that is consistent with the school mission, vision, and values; to participate fully and professionally as a member of the faculty.
To direct an effective prepared environment, serve as a role model, and act as a catalyst between children and the prepared environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Classroom Program Planning, Development, and Administration.
- Preparation of the Environment.
- Parent Education Program.
- Personnel Administration
- TEAM leadership: promote active communication and collaboration between Classroom Teachers, Parents, and Students.
Planning:
- Prepare curriculum, seeking input from the Director and other faculty when beneficial.
- Plan and conduct both individual and small-group lessons.
- Keep student records and portfolios for all students
- Collaborate in setting and implementing yearly program goals and objectives that are consistent with our vision, mission, and values.
Students and families:
- Manage the classroom, including schedules, activities, field trips, and student behavior.
- Supervise lunch and recess.
- Hold conferences with families of individual students twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring.
- Write reports or letters of recommendation for graduating or transferring students as requested.
- Correspond with families.
Other responsibilities:
- Attend monthly staff meetings, annual evaluations and goal setting, Teacher Workdays, and school functions (e.g., fundraising activities, student performances, etc.).
- Write a monthly newsletter
- Be an active advocate for quality childcare.
How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and resume to admin@hawaiimontessori.org. Please include at least three professional references.