Classroom & School Leadership Role
Sandwich Montessori School – Cape Cod
Full-Time
We are seeking Montessori educators who want to remain deeply connected to the classroom while helping shape the future of a growing school community.
At Sandwich Montessori School, we believe adults deserve the same thoughtfully prepared environment that children do.
Our classrooms operate as small, collaborative microschools where educators work closely together to guide children's development while also contributing to the leadership of the school.
Sandwich Montessori School is part of a growing educational organization focused on building strong Montessori programs and supporting educators over the long term.
Teacher Leaders at Sandwich Montessori School serve as both classroom educators and school leaders. Rather than separating teaching from administration, our model places experienced Montessori educators at the center of decision-making.
Teacher Leaders guide the classroom environment while also participating in the planning, strategy, and leadership that shape the direction of the school.
Many Montessori educators are drawn to this role because it offers the opportunity to remain deeply connected to the classroom while also contributing to the long-term growth of the school community.
Teacher Leaders are responsible for guiding both the classroom and key aspects of school leadership.
Each classroom operates as a collaborative team including a Teacher Leader, Teacher, and Teaching Partner, allowing educators to focus deeply on children while sharing responsibility for the environment.
Teacher Leaders balance classroom leadership with dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and school leadership responsibilities and spend part of each day:
• Guiding the Montessori classroom
• Mentoring Teachers and Teaching Partners
• Collaborating with other Teacher Leaders on school planning and strategy
• Helping implement school systems, initiatives, and policies
This structure allows the educators closest to the classroom to help guide the growth of the school.
Teacher Leaders guide the overall functioning of a Montessori classroom while helping shape the broader school environment.
Responsibilities include:
• Preparing and maintaining a calm, beautiful, and carefully ordered Montessori environment
• Presenting Montessori lessons and guiding children's independent work
• Observing children carefully and responding to their developmental needs
• Mentoring Teachers and Teaching Partners as they grow in their practice
• Protecting uninterrupted work cycles that support children's concentration
• Communicating thoughtfully with families and supporting the classroom community
• Collaborating with other Teacher Leaders to guide school planning and strategy
• Helping implement school systems, policies, and initiatives
Our classrooms are designed so Teacher Leaders can focus deeply on Montessori practice while working within a collaborative leadership team.
A successful Teacher Leader demonstrates strength in the following areas during the first year:
• Maintaining a calm, focused Montessori classroom environment
• Guiding children's development through thoughtful Montessori observation and lesson presentation
• Mentoring Teachers and Teaching Partners through modeling, feedback, and coaching
• Maintaining a carefully prepared Montessori environment that supports children's independence
• Communicating clearly and professionally with families and colleagues
• Contributing meaningfully to school planning, systems, and strategic initiatives
Teacher Leaders play an important role in shaping the professional culture of the school.
This role requires patience with children, strong reliability, and the ability to remain calm and organized in a busy classroom environment.
The educators who thrive in this role tend to be:
• Calm and emotionally steady with children
• Deeply knowledgeable about Montessori practice
• Organized and attentive to the prepared environment
• Patient mentors who enjoy developing other educators
• Thoughtful communicators with families and colleagues
• Interested in contributing to school leadership and decision-making
• Motivated to continue growing in their craft as educators
We welcome applications from experienced Montessori educators who are excited by the opportunity to contribute to both classroom practice and school leadership. Strong candidates typically have:
• Montessori certification in the relevant age level
• At least two years of experience as a fully trained Montessori classroom teacher
• A bachelor's degree
• A deep respect for Montessori principles and child development
• Interest in mentoring other educators and contributing to school leadership
Preferred:
• Three or more years of Montessori classroom experience
• Experience mentoring or supporting other teachers
• Interest in school development and educational leadership
We offer competitive compensation based on experience and Montessori training.
Teacher Leader salary range: $65,000 – $75,000
Additional benefits may include:
• Professional development support
• Mentorship and leadership development
• Collaborative team teaching structure
• Opportunities for long-term career growth
Many Montessori educators are looking for more than a traditional classroom position.
They want an environment where they can:
• Focus deeply on Montessori practice
• Collaborate with thoughtful colleagues
• Contribute to meaningful decisions about the school
• Continue growing professionally over time
At Sandwich Montessori School, our leadership model allows experienced Montessori educators to remain deeply connected to the classroom while also helping guide the development of the school community.
Teacher Leaders are trusted professionals who participate in decisions about classroom practice, school systems, and long-term growth.
For many educators, this combination of classroom work, professional collaboration, and shared leadership creates the kind of environment where they want to stay and grow for many years.
Because we invest heavily in developing educators, we take hiring seriously.
Our hiring process includes reflection, structured interviews, and opportunities to learn more about our classrooms and leadership model.
This approach allows us to identify educators who are genuinely interested in contributing to both the classroom and the long-term development of the school.
At SMS, you are not hired into a role, you are entering a professional pathway toward leadership. At Sandwich Montessori School, leadership is developed over time.
Our professional pathway includes:
Teaching Partner Teacher Lead Teacher Teacher Leader
Teacher Leaders also help guide the growth and development of the school community.
We receive many applications for this role and prioritize candidates who thoughtfully complete the application process and demonstrate genuine interest in Montessori education and collaborative school leadership. CLICK HERE to apply on job boards outside of our SMS Careers Page.