Professional Opportunities

October 9, 2025 - Forge Prep - Guide (Coach / Teacher) - Central New Jersey, USA

The best teachers don’t lecture. They create conditions where learning becomes inevitable.

At Forge, we call them Guides—and they’re nothing like the teachers you remember. No worksheets, no test prep, no classroom management. Instead, you’ll coach students through launching real companies, conducting original research, and building products that matter.

The Reality

You’ll work with cohorts of students, guiding them through challenges that would intimidate most adults. Your “classroom” is a professional-grade studio. Your “curriculum” is the real world’s most interesting problems.

On any given week, you might:

• Teach physics while helping students attempt a Guinness World Record

• Coach a team on crafting the narrative for a public health campaign about a rare disease

• Guide a student learning algebra by building a financial model for a local business

• Help another master chemistry by formulating a new product for their invention

Your success isn’t measured by test scores. It’s measured by whether the students you work with become more confident, capable, and curious than when they started.

What This Actually Looks Like

You don’t teach subjects—you coach humans. Math happens when students need to model their business projections. Science emerges when they’re solving real problems. Writing improves when they’re crafting pitches that matter.

You step in when needed, step back when possible. Sometimes a student needs direct instruction. Sometimes they need you to ask the right question. Sometimes they need space to fail and figure it out.

You work alongside professionals. Local entrepreneurs, engineers, and creators work directly with students. You orchestrate these connections and help students learn from real practitioners.

You document mastery, not memorization. Instead of grades, you help students build portfolios that prove what they can do. Their work speaks for itself.

You Should Apply If

• You’ve built or led something meaningful—in business, education, nonprofit, or creative fields

• You believe students are capable of real work when given real responsibility

• You’re comfortable with ambiguity and can create structure without stifling curiosity

• You can coach through failure rather than preventing it

• You think learning happens through doing, not sitting

• You want to prove education can be different

You Shouldn’t Apply If

• You believe your job is to deliver content

• You prefer predictable lesson plans to dynamic coaching

• You think teenagers need constant supervision

• You want traditional classroom management

• You’re uncomfortable with students sometimes knowing more than you do

What We Offer

• Compensation starting at $100K for entry-level Guides, scaling with experience, plus equity

• Professional development with top coaches and practitioners in your areas of expertise

• Meaningful student relationships that let you focus on real growth over class size

• Professional-grade tools and spaces designed for real creation

• A community of practitioners who chose impact over ease

Your Background Might Include

• Former entrepreneurs or executives who want to pass on what they’ve learned

• Exceptional teachers who are frustrated by traditional constraints

• Montessori-trained educators experienced in student-driven learning

• Coaches or mentors from sports, youth programs, or professional development

• Industry experts ready to guide the next generation

Next Steps / Applying

You can apply here. Be ready to share why Forge Prep and this role excites you.

We look forward to meeting you.

July 3, 2025 - City Garden, Missouri, USA (Special Education Teacher - Early Childhood)

City Garden Montessori School (City Garden) is the only Montessori charter school in Missouri, and we are one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to implement the Montessori approach to educating children in a diverse, public school environment. City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist (ABAR) community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.

At City Garden we are redefining public education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.

City Garden is a community-centered and people-centered organization in an exciting point in our growth and expansion. Ours is an environment that celebrates vulnerability and centers humanity in the workplace. To learn more about City Garden’s impact on the community, please read some recent articles about us, found HERE and HERE.

Special Education Teacher

We are seeking an experienced, state-certified Special Education Teacher to serve as a highly-organized case manager to provide on-site services for students in a special education self-contained classroom in our Early Childhood Education Center. Our ideal candidate is a distinct personality that can handle a variety of personalities among our children and parents and maintain a level of professionalism.

Candidates do NOT need experience with Montessori to qualify for this position!

Responsibilities
The following represents a summary of the responsibilities of this position. A detailed job description may be downloaded HERE.

• Writing individualized education plans (IEPs)

• Working with academic teachers to implement the IEP

• Working with students on academic and executive functioning skills

• Facilitating IEP meetings with parents and staff

• Writing and monitoring behavior intervention plans

• Communicating effectively with parents, administration, classroom lead guides/teachers, and the special education team

• Keeping detailed records relating to student conditions, care plans, therapies, and progress

To fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal candidate will also: 

• Have a strong rapport with young children and their parents and guardians

• Be familiar with Montessori education, and aligned to Montessori’s holistic approach to  child development 

• Have a strong grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is  excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses

• Have the ability to meet people where they are, build and nurture strong relationships,  collaborate across stakeholders, build community, and lead with empathy

Qualifications​​​​​​

• ​Valid Missouri state license or certification in Special Education

• At least one year experience working with students in a self-contained classroom setting

• Familiarity with Spedtrack (MO) or other Special Education software

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Exemplary organizational skills

• Experience working with students on the Autism Spectrum

• Experience with the transfer process of student with IEP's

• Attentive and caring with the ability to develop individualized education plans (IEPs)

Schedule

School hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday
Length of Work Year: from day of hire through the end of May (10 month contract), including but not limited to professional development, parent/teacher conferences, and preparatory work.

Compensation

This position offers an annual salary ranging from $45,000.00 to $49,000.00 based on level of education, licensing, and years of experience.

Benefits
City Garden offers a range of benefits for Full-time employees such as:

• Generous Paid Time-off (Fall, Winter and Spring breaks, holidays, and additional days)

• Paid Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance)

• Pre-Tax savings for family health premium costs

• Retirement Plan

• Enrollment preference to City Garden Montessori for child(ren) grades K through 8 who reside in Missouri

• Discount tuition for our Preschool program

July 3, 2025 - City Garden, Missouri, USA (7th and 8th Grade Math Teacher)

City Garden Charter School (City Garden) is one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to implement the Montessori approach to educating children in a diverse, public school environment. City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.

At City Garden we are redefining public education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.

City Garden is a community-centered and people-centered organization at an exciting point in our growth and expansion. Ours is an environment that celebrates vulnerability and centers humanity in the workplace. To learn more about City Garden’s impact on the community, please read some recent articles about us, found HERE and HERE.
 

The ideal Lead Guide (Teacher) candidate will have... 

• Teaching Certification with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

• 2+ years of teaching experience in a public school or urban setting

• Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically 

• Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses 

• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners 

___________________________________________________________

You do not need Montessori credentials for this position!

We are seeking candidates to grow our adolescent program who are willing to obtain a second subject certification (e.g. Social Studies/ History, Science, or Math).
___________________________________________________________________

Responsibilities 

Planning, Preparation and Instruction

The Lead Guide provides instruction that supports the development of the cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual growth of the child.

• Use the School Curriculum, State Standards and current research based instructional practices to develop interdisciplinary units of instruction that meet both the group and individual needs of students. 

• Responsible for maintaining an on-going dialogue with specialty teachers and coordinating curriculum integration and implementation with these teachers. 

• Work with students of various abilities assigned to the classroom, including those with learning differences as diagnosed. The teacher may be required to participate in meetings, training, and planning cooperatives to fully meet each child’s needs. 

• Use various assessment tools/strategies such as the Missouri Assessment Program, NWEA, observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc. to help make instructional decisions for individual students.

• Create and communicate weekly learning plans for all students.

Classroom Environment/Management

The Lead Guide is responsible for preparing an environment that meets the sensitive period/plane of development of their students

• Preparing an environment in which the furnishings and materials are complete and correspond to the needs of the group

• Maintaining a clear, orderly, and attractive environment, including the care and maintenance of classroom materials and equipment.

• Communicating needs for the classroom in accordance with school policy, i.e., maintaining inventory of classroom materials and any additional materials needed.

• Creating an environment that demonstrates rapport with, respect and kindness for, all students as well as between students. The teacher models and teaches conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies in the classroom. 

• Responsible for the safety of the children left in his/her charge until dismissed to a responsible adult. 

• Ensures that the physical environment adheres to all health and safety regulations as required by the State of Missouri and City Garden policy. 

• Manages classroom field trip and supplies budget ensuring all resources are used in support of educating students and the school’s mission.

Communication

The Lead Guide communicates with gentleness and respect, at all times, to students and in a professional, positive manner to parents and colleagues.

• Responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school’s program, develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family.

• Establishes a positive relationship with parents and guardians and maintains regular communication with parents and guardians with regard to their child’s specific needs. The guide provides for parent and guardian conferences, meetings and communication throughout the school year in accordance with school policy. Responds to parent and guardian concerns in a timely manner. 

• The lead guide communicates to parents and guardians and others in the school community about the classroom and curriculum. 

• Completes required report cards/ progress reports in accordance with school policy. 

• Assists in the development of and participates in school functions, including but not limited to Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations and the Family Field Day. 

Professional Responsibility

City Garden believes all employees must take an active role in their development as professionals and in developing City Garden as an institution of learning.  Lead Guides will:

• Perform self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth.

• Actively participate in a regular evaluation process including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the guide and/or in conjunction with the school principal. 

• Maintain their teaching skills and participates in professional development activities (both within the school community and attendance at conferences, workshops, etc.). The guide is a member of professional organizations and is aware of major areas of research in teaching and resources for professional learning. 

• Participate in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc. It is expected that lead guides attend all scheduled meetings and professional days as appropriate to their level. The lead guide participates and shares information from professional development activities with colleagues to benefit the learning community. 

• Obtain and maintain certifications as appropriate for the grade level and subject area.

Related Duties

• Conduct new student interviews and hosts prospective student applicants in the classroom as requested through admissions.

• Complete and maintain all records, reports, evaluations, and inventories of student records and tests in a timely manner as may be required by the school.

• Responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the employee handbook and adhering to all school policies.

• Manage a classroom team of 1-2 adults, including training, supervision and evaluating the assistant guide and any support staff assigned to the classroom.

• Participating in the interview process and orientation of new staff members.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree

• Certification with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the applicable subject(s) and grade level

• At least 2 years of classroom experience, preferably in a public or urban setting, with adolescent students 

• Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically 

• Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses 

• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Exemplary organizational skills

• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners

Schedule
School hours: 7:45 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday
Length of Work Year: July 23, 2025 to end of May 2026 (10 month contract, paid over 12 months), up to 196 days per year, including but not limited to professional development, parent/teacher conferences, and preparatory work.

Compensation
This position offers a salary ranging from $45,00.00 to $57,900.00 based on appropriate certification(s), level of education, and years of teaching experience.

Benefits
City Garden offers a range of benefits for Full-time employees such as:

• Generous Paid Time-off (Fall, Winter and Spring breaks, holidays, and additional days)

• Paid Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance)

• Pre-Tax savings for family health premium costs

• Retirement/ Pension Plan

• Enrollment preference to City Garden Montessori for child(ren) grades K through 8 who reside in Missouri

• Discount tuition for our Preschool program

If your school, training center or organization has openings that you would like featured here,
please contact us at info@trainmontessori.org