Job Title: Lower Elementary Lead Guide
School: St. Vrain Community Montessori School
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Type: Full-time, school-year position
Start Date: 2025–26 school year
Salary: Not listed
Requirements:
AMI or AMS Elementary Montessori certification (required)
Bachelor’s degree
Experience working with children ages 6–9 preferred
Strong commitment to Montessori philosophy and whole-child development
Willingness to collaborate with a growing public Montessori school community
Responsibilities:
Lead a Lower Elementary classroom (ages 6–9)
Deliver a fully implemented Montessori curriculum aligned with state standards
Foster independence, curiosity, and social-emotional growth
Collaborate with families, colleagues, and school leadership
Contribute to the school’s mission as a public charter Montessori program
This is a rare opportunity to lead a Lower Elementary Montessori classroom in a public charter setting. You get to work with like-minded educators, but you’ll also need certification, patience, and a deep love for guiding independent learners.
I’d ask for the salary range and the annual classroom materials budget up front; when I took a Lower El role without asking, I later learned our budget was $600 for the year and it really limited the environment. Also confirm you’ll have an uninterrupted 3-hour work cycle and whether there’s an assistant for the full morning - those two details make or break 6-9.
I’d want the salary range (and where it sits on their charter scale), class size with assistant hours, and the annual materials/PD budget. I once took a Lower El role at $43k with a half-time assistant and $700 for the year — does anyone know what St. Vrain offers?
Salary not listed is a red flag; I took a Lower El at $45k with 26 kids and a part-time assistant — never again. Ask if the AMI/AMS requirement includes PD funding and the annual materials budget; mine was $700 and I spent $1.8k out of pocket . With a 2025–26 start, you’ve got time to negotiate relocation help for Longmont too.
When I stepped into a 6–9 classroom, the make-or-break was student support: ask how many IEPs/504s are in the cohort and what “push-in minutes” are scheduled. I once had seven IEPs with no push-in and spent my prep on behavior plans — I was toast by October. If they can show protected prep time and who covers carline/duty, plus whether they’re in PERA or a 403(b), that’s a good sign; maybe @StVrain folks can clarify the “protected prep time” piece.
. With a 2025–26 start, you’ve got time to negotiate relocation help for Longmont too.