AMI Guides - All Levels SY 26/27 (Nido, YCC, Primary, Elementary)

Lead Teacher / Guide (Nido • YCC • Primary • Elementary)
Aya Montessori - Columbia, Maryland (USA)
Full-time Starting SY 26/27 (August 2026). 10-month for Primary and Elementary; year-round for Nido (Infant/Toddler), and YCC.

Job Summary
Aya Montessori seeks experienced, AMI-trained Guides to lead classrooms across levels (Nido, YCC, Primary, Elementary). The Guide is the dynamic link between the prepared environment and the child: preparing purposeful, self-correcting materials and experiences; presenting lessons with clarity and joy; observing to plan individualized trajectories; and guiding learning by knowing when to intervene and when to step back. Our Guides lead from behind, cultivate calm, joyful classroom communities, and partner closely with families and the school to support each child’s academic, social, and emotional development.

Who should apply?
We encourage applications from candidates who:

• Hold an AMI Diploma at the appropriate level (Assistance to Infancy 0-3, Primary 3-6, Elementary 6-12) - AMI credential required.

• Believe in an authentic AMI experience and are committed to AMI pedagogy and practice.

• Love working with a close-knit community of staff and children from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

• Respect and are comfortable contributing to a faith-based school community and its values.

• Demonstrate joy, patience, humility, curiosity, emotional availability, and a sense of humor in their work with children.

• Able to work in the United States legally.

Key Responsibilities

Children & Environment: Observation, Planning & Classroom Leadership

• Design and sustain a beautiful, orderly, prepared environment of purposeful, self-correcting materials that supports autonomy, concentration, and social learning.

• Present precise, developmentally appropriate lessons to individuals and small groups (re-present as needed); plan weekly/monthly/yearly sequences and follow-ups.

• Observe children closely and systematically; use observations to plan individualized learning trajectories, adapt groupings, and inform environmental changes.

• Protect lesson presentations and children’s uninterrupted work cycles; know when to step in and when to step back.

• Model and teach grace & courtesy, careful movement, and respectful care of materials; foster peer helping, conflict resolution, and community practices appropriate to the level.

• Plan and facilitate outdoor learning and going-out experiences in coordination with administration.

Reporting & Parent Relations: Records, Assessment & Family Partnership

• Ground all assessment and reporting in observation and student work; maintain accurate lesson logs, observations, attendance, and incident reports in school platforms (e.g., Transparent Classroom).

• Document children’s progress through photos, videos, and work samples on a regular schedule to support assessment and family communication.

• Communicate proactively and respectfully with families outside class time; lead conferences that center the child’s work and trajectory; initiate collaborative meetings when additional supports are needed.

• Deliver parent education (PEN/education nights), explain Montessori pedagogy and classroom practice, and uphold confidentiality and school policies for health, safety, and reporting.

Team & School Community: Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor the classroom team (Assistants, volunteers, substitutes): set clear expectations, coach in AMI pedagogy, and ensure the team protects lessons and the work cycle.

• Represent the classroom and school at public events, education nights, and program initiatives; collaborate with leadership on curriculum, placement, and program development.

• Use planning/office time efficiently for recordkeeping and preparation without disrupting children’s work.

• Uphold professional standards: confidentiality, attendance, dress code, collaborative problem-solving, and a growth mindset when receiving feedback.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits aligned with Aya Montessori compensation scales based on experience, academic achievements, and level taught, ranging between $55K-75K annually. Support for AMI professional development, staff tuition discount for children, PTOs, and ongoing training.

Application
To apply, please submit an application below, or send a résumé and cover letter indicating the level(s) you are interested in (Nido / YCC / Primary / Elementary) to Salam Aref, Head of School & Co-founder ([email protected])