Lower Elementary Montessori Lead Teacher
Cedar Tree Montessori
Location: Bellingham, WA
Our Mission: Cedar Tree Montessori fosters a passion for learning and joy, supports communication skills, and encourages peace and diversity in a nurturing Montessori community.
Position Begins: August 2026, or the ability to shadow staff in June 2026.
About Us
Cedar Tree Montessori was established in Bellingham, WA, in 1999 and is composed of a staff of 10 compassionate, lifelong learners. As a school community, we are committed to fostering independence and curiosity. We value the development of the whole child; cognitive, physical, social, and emotional, and cultivate growth in a supportive community. We believe it is our responsibility to create a culturally responsive curriculum and include conversations about bias in order to be a part of dismantling racism. Those who are passionate about Montessori education, want to cultivate curiosity, and have experience supporting the unique needs of all learning styles should apply. We believe that all people deserve dignity and respect, and work from this understanding to support the needs of our school and planet.
Required Qualifications
3 years guiding Montessori education with ages 6-9, as a lead teacher
AMS/ MACTE Accredited Lower Elementary Montessori Certification
Identify as a lifelong learner
Demonstrated use of Positive Discipline classroom strategies or a desire to learn
The desire and ability to incorporate curiosity and compassion when communicating with families and students
Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining a recordkeeping system to document lesson introduction, practice, and mastery
Legally authorized to work in the United States
First Aid, CPR certification, or recertification is required
Elementary Lead Responsibilities
Work in collaboration with the Children’s House and Upper Elementary teachers to ensure continuity
Foster community by building rapport with students and families
Attend staff meetings to build support and community among colleagues
Create a predictable pattern of communication with families (monthly newsletters, availability to meet in person
Provide parent education in classroom newsletters and meetings in order to help families better understand Montessori philosophy
Create classroom transparency by sharing and celebrating pertinent topics with families through emails, parent conferences, meetings, and informal communication
Providing small groups and one-on-one lessons with follow-ups that support students at their own pace
Use classroom oversight to observe and adapt the environment to meet the unique needs of students
Allow the three-year window of development to guide skill acquisition
Create opportunities for autonomy and curiosity
Shared value for creating a culturally responsive curriculum
Support assistant teachers to create an organized and harmonious classroom
Create and maintain individualized worklists for students that support students during their open-ended work time
Support the social and emotional development of students through the use of problem-solving
Prepare and cultivate a peaceful and engaging Montessori classroom
Salary
Rate of Pay: MACTE-affiliated Montessori Certified Range -$48 -$58K, DOE
Hours/Schedule: 40 Hours Weekly, Monday – Friday
School Hours: 8:30am - 3:00pm
Full Schedule: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Benefits
Monthly Medical Supplement: $200.00 or 75% contribution towards Regence Silver (or comparable) Medical Plan
Paid Time Off (PTO): 80 hours
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