Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher (Grades 1–3), The Calhoun School (NYC)
Engage with the Montessori philosophy in a dynamic, student-centered independent school—without needing to navigate an Indeed gate.
Job Title: Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher (Grades 1–3) Company: The Calhoun School Location: New York, NY (Upper West Side) Remote: No — must teach on-site Schedule: Full-time Salary: $70,000–$85,000 per year
Job Description:
Join a progressive educational community deeply committed to Montessori principles and social justice. You’ll develop interdisciplinary curriculum across language, math, cultural studies, and science, while fostering a classroom rooted in independence, critical thinking, and belonging
Link to apply or view more job details: Visit The Calhoun School’s official careers page and click on “Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher (Grades 1–3)” to see application details and benefits
Would You Take This Job?
Would leading a lower elementary Montessori classroom within a progressive, mission-driven independent school excite you? Or is the NYC commute or on-site requirement less appealing?
If you apply, ask whether the three-hour uninterrupted work cycle is protected - at one school I joined, daily pull-outs for specials cut it to 90 minutes and it changed everything for lower el. Also ask about the materials budget and whether there’s a full-time assistant; those two pieces make or break a 6-9 classroom.
Love that it’s on the UWS, but I’d ask about assistant hours and the materials budget — at one NYC independent I had an assistant only until 12:30 and a $400 budget, so I was DIY-ing bead bars at night, ugh. Also clarify lunch/recess and after-school coverage; I’ve lost all my prep to mandatory duty before. Do they cover those or is it teacher-led?
Biggest curveball for me in a similar Grades 1–3 role was standardized testing — ask if they run ‘ERB/CTP’ in third grade and whether you’ll be proctoring other classes; at my last NYC independent it meant nine mornings lost in May. If they keep it to one window and let you flex the schedule afterward, it’s workable.