Lead Teacher - Upper Elementary

City Garden Montessori • St. Louis, MO

6d • Onsite

About The Position

City Garden Charter School is seeking an educator to lead a multi-grade elementary classroom and work with an Assistant Guide. The position focuses on academically rigorous, individualized, experiential education in a diverse public school setting, using the Montessori approach. The successful candidate will support the school’s anti-bias and anti-racist values and its vision of creating a more equitable world through education. City Garden is looking for someone interested in growing with its educational model and making the school their vocational home for many years.

Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree and either Montessori certification from AMI/AMS or another highly regarded Montessori certifying authority, or Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education certification in the applicable subject and grade level. City Garden may sponsor the right candidate to obtain the complementary certification. The candidate must be willing to undertake additional coursework or study during summers and the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic sessions.

The school schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The work year runs from the date of hire through the end of May and includes professional development, parent-teacher conferences, and preparatory work. Salary ranges from $42,000 to $54,000, based on education, teaching certification, and years of teaching experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Montessori certification from AMI/AMS or another highly regarded Montessori certifying authority, or Missouri DESE certification in the applicable subject and grade level.
• At least three years of elementary-grade classroom experience; public or urban setting experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-bias/anti-racist principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exemplary organizational skills.
• Willingness to commit to additional coursework or study during summers and the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic sessions.

Nice To Haves

• Training in systemic racism, dismantling racism, and addressing privilege, with a firm grasp of anti-bias/anti-racism language and frameworks.
• Elementary classroom experience in a public or urban setting.
• Both Montessori certification and Missouri state certification; the school may sponsor the right candidate to obtain the certification they lack.

Responsibilities

• Develop lesson plans, independent learning exercises, curricula, and methods tailored to individual children’s learning needs.
• Implement anti-bias and anti-racist principles.
• Use assessment tools and strategies to inform instructional decisions for individual students, including the Missouri Assessment Program, iReady, observations, student work samples, developmental continuums, and portfolios.
• Create and communicate weekly learning plans for all students.
• Plan and coordinate classroom field trips and supplies budgets, ensuring resources support student education and the school’s mission.
• Complete report cards and progress reports.
• Manage a classroom team of one to two adults, including coaching, supervision, and input during the Assistant Guide’s performance evaluation.
• Assist in developing and participate in school functions, including Parent and Guardian Conferences, Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations, and Family Field Day.
• Obtain and maintain Montessori and DESE certifications appropriate for the grade level and subject area.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including fall, winter, and spring breaks, holidays, and additional days.
• Paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Pre-tax savings for family health premium costs.
• Retirement plan enrollment.
• Enrollment preference at City Garden Montessori for children in grades K–8 who reside in Missouri.
• Discounted tuition for the Preschool program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior