Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado; Grand Junction, CO; Primary Trained Co-Founder/Co-Lead
Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado Teacher Leader, Grand Valley
Summary
As a Teacher Leader at Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado (WMPSC), you will design and operate a new charter school site in the Grand Valley (Mesa County School District 51), in partnership with other Teacher Leaders and in collaboration with the Shared Services Partner and other charter-wide support roles. WMPSC Teacher Leaders report to the Board of Directors.
Our Mission
The mission of Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado (WMPSC) is to provide families with child-centered, authentic Montessori education that bridges academic outcomes and social- emotional development through intimate learning communities deeply rooted in place, equity, and belonging.
Essential Responsibilities
● Designs and plans a new WMPSC microsite in the Grand Valley through the Wildflower School Startup Journey.
● Collaborates to design a physical space for a new WMPSC microsite - including leasing and renovating a community embedded site.
● Prepares a Montessori learning environment in alignment with your vision, the community’s needs, the WMPSC Grand Valley charter contract, and the regulations set forth by CSI and Colorado Department of Education.
● Aligns practices with charter policies and plans and school site-based practices that center the child and their sense of belonging.
● Builds and maintains a balanced site budget and implements sound financial practices to ensure accountability and fiscal health.
● Leads with cultural humility and actively works to disrupt oppressive systems and practices.
● Co-leads a mixed-age group Montessori classroom.
● Maintains compliance with the school’s charter and accountability expectations.
● Co-creates the school design with and for families and children and cultivates a committed
community of students, families, and stakeholders rooted in partnership. Develops authentic, enduring relationships with community members to inform ongoing site design and evolution.
● Supports all learners, especially students with special needs by employing inclusive teaching practices, including healing-centered instruction, that meet the needs of every child.
● Collaborates with the Special Education Teacher, Shared Services Partner, Student Services Coordinator and contracted service providers to best anticipate and serve all students’ needs.
● Ensures accurate and complete records, collaborating with the Shared Services Partner and CSI to always stay in compliance with regulations.
● Operates with sound human resource and legal practices.
● Maintains a healthy, well-functioning facility that meets the needs of students and licensing requirements.
● Supports caregivers of students to adopt aligned practices at home as desired to create a seamless learning environment.
● Utilizes leadership and administrative skills to operate and communicate with transparency to all stakeholders, including WMPSC Board of Directors.
Minimum Qualifications
● Completion of an AMI, AMS or other MACTE accredited primary or elementary Montessori training program
○ Training scholarships are available for emerging Teacher Leaders who are not already Montessori trained.
● Bachelor's degree required
● Colorado licensure encouraged but not required
Preferred Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills
● A deep commitment to authentic Montessori - Your expertise will position you to be a highly effective facilitator of children’s learning and to extend the values of Montessori to include the adults within your school community.
● Entrepreneurial leadership - You are flexible, open-minded, see opportunity in obstacles, and are energized by using creativity and resourcefulness to anticipate challenges and create solutions to problems.
● Commitment to serving diverse and multifaceted communities - You are eager to increase access to Montessori to racially and socioeconomically diverse communities and are deeply committed to supporting the development of intersectional communities. You understand the role race, along with ethnicity, gender/gender identity and sexual orientation, play in contributing to persistent inequity. You have engaged in culturally responsive and anti-racist practices with the students and families you serve.
● Generosity of spirit - You build authentic relationships in diverse settings, practice gratitude, and lead with love. You seek advice openly and are comfortable working in a non- hierarchical organization.
● Willingness to work hard - You have the aptitude, stamina, time, and appetite to raise yourself to the challenge of starting and leading your own school. You will not be alone, but you will be busy.
● A desire to learn and grow - You are eager to stretch beyond your current experience, to develop new skills and expertise and to explore your purpose and potential more deeply.
For more information, please contact Rachel at rachel.kelley-cohn@wildflowerschools.org.
Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado shall not discriminate, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, sex or gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or in any other way based on personal identity markers that do not relate to the capacity of an individual person to carry out the responsibilities of a role.