Job Description

Assistant Principal

ABOUT CITY GARDEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL (CGMS)

CGMS exists to redefine education by developing the whole child in an excellent, inclusive, Montessori school; to reimagine community by creating spaces and systems that help to restore our collective humanity; and to reinvigorate our world by creating a culture in which individuals and communities thrive without disparities or barriers to success. 

CGMS was founded in 1995 as a Montessori preschool. In the mid-2000s, as a response to the educational inequity that exists in St. Louis, preschool parents worked with the founders to open a charter public elementary school. CGMS’ public charter school opened in the basement of a church in 2008 with 53 students, grades K-3. The school added a grade level each year until the school reached eighth grade and served 275 students, moving into the building at 1618 Tower Grove Avenue in 2012. In 2021, CGMS expanded its preschool and kindergarten program and in 2022, CGMS opened its new Elementary and Adolescent Center (EAEC), housing lower elementary (1 st -3 rd grade), upper elementary (4 th -6 th grade) and junior high (7 th -8 th grade) students. CGMS now serves 622 students in preschool through eighth grade across two buildings. CGMS will continue to grow over the next three years until the school reaches 700 students.

CGMS has consistently been one of the highest-performing charter public schools in Missouri and has been recognized both locally and nationally for its excellent program, staff and community.

 

MISSION & CORE VALUES

We achieve our mission by combining the Montessori Theory of Development, rigorous state standards and an Anti-Bias, Antiracism (ABAR) framework in an intentionally diverse school setting. You can read CGMS’ strategic framework here . 

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the EAEC Principal, the Assistant Principal of our Elementary and Adolescent Education Center (EAEC) will partner with and support the EAEC Principal in leading our 1 st -8 th grade building for the 2025-26 school year and beyond. 

We are seeking an exceptional leader of adults strongly aligned with the Montessori philosophy. The EAEC assistant principal will be grounded in anti-bias education and antiracist values and is excited to lead a charter public school that is reimagining education through these lenses. The assistant principal should be deeply committed to both whole-child education and academic rigor and will have proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically and achieving high academic outcomes for children of all backgrounds. We are seeking a leader who is excited to engage deeply with students, guides (teachers), staff, and families as partners, who loves to learn, who is open to giving and receiving constructive feedback, and who will always place children at the center of decisions and actions. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The assistant principal will be a trusted right hand for the EAEC Principal, partnering with and supporting her in the following activities:

 

School Leadership (30%)

• Provide leadership to all EAEC staff and students in establishing a joyful, structured, and outcomes-oriented school culture.
• Contribute as a member of the administrative team in visioning, strategic, long and short-range planning, coordination, budgeting, decision-making and professional growth activities of the administrative team.
• Develop staff capacity and systems to meet the varied needs of a growing organization, including financial management, budget planning, compliance, human resources (including teacher and school leader recruitment and development) contract negotiation, facilities management, vendor management, fundraising and marketing, legal, and information technology.
• Evaluate and revise systems, processes, procedures, and committee structure(s) to meet the various and changing needs of the EAEC
• Build the short and long-term organizational capacity required for excellence, sustainability, and growth. 
• Introduce consistent accountability systems to ensure progress toward shared goals. 
• Promote transparent decision-making processes and embrace distributive leadership principles wherever possible. 
• Set clear academic, growth, operational, and financial goals and manage to them; adapt as necessary given changes in internal and external environment. 
• Lead and oversee MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support) in the EAEC, including:
  • Work in partnership with the principal, network leadership and faculty to further develop the vision and structure for MTSS/ tiered support services in the EAEC
  • Supervise tier 2 instructional staff, including a tutor coordinator and academic interventionists
  • Work in close partnership with the director of special services and the EAEC special education coordinator
  • Receive and review teacher/staff referrals to determine student need for tier 2 or 3 support 
  • Coordinate the referral and placement process for tier 2 and 3 services
  • Record keeping, communications with parents regarding assessment data, training related to role, gathering of resources to support educators, assistants, and/or children as it relates to tier 2 or 3 support (intervention, tutoring, CHIPP food program etc.)
• Directly coach, supervise and evaluate Academic Interventionists, Specials Guides, and Specials Assistant Guides
• Nurture a thriving school culture by supporting the EAEC Principal in managing the Student Support Team
• Work with the Junior High team to develop pathways to the future for students after graduation, setting them up for post-secondary and collegiate success.
• Serve as a Title IX Investigator as needed.
• Provide updates to the CGMS Board of Directors periodically as assigned by the EAEC Principal.
• Perform other tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned by the EAEC Principal
• Support the Principal in planning and executing monthly staff meetings and coordinating staff committees.

Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment (15%)

• Ensure consistently high, equitable academic outcomes for all students by partnering with the Principal, EAEC Instructional Coordinator and CGMS’ Director of Curriculum & Instruction to coordinate curriculum, instruction and assessment at the EAEC.
• Model and support CGMS’ approach to rigorous Montessori instruction combined with instilling and reinforcing behaviors that lead to academic and life success.
• Partner with the EAEC Instructional Coordinator to manage coaching and professional development support to all guides (teachers) in all aspects of instruction: Montessori pedagogy and curriculum, planning, engagement, differentiation, classroom management, instructional strategies, assessment development and analysis, etc.
• Coordinate, collaborate with, and oversee EAEC staff in the development and implementation of a variety of content and performance assessments and their alignment with the respective Montessori and state standards.
• Lead staff to analyze the effectiveness of instruction through regular student assessment and reflection on teaching practices.
• Participate in working groups of staff and teachers to plan, problem solve, and support one another on an ongoing basis.

Enrollment (10%)

Support the EAEC Principal in the following efforts:

• Student recruitment, including recruitment events, prospective family tours, newsletters, etc., to ensure the EAEC is fully enrolled and growing.
• Student retention year over year, partnering with the administrative team on the re-enrollment process for returning students.
• Student onboarding, including communications, new student and family events, new student orientation and support, etc.

Hiring & Staff Retention (15%)

• Attract and retain high-performing instructional and non-instructional staff.
• Work with CGMS’ Director of Talent & Culture to lead EAEC staff recruitment and coordinate the hiring process, collaborating with the EAEC Principal to determine staffing needs and hires.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local organizations (including colleges and universities) to advertise and promote open positions.

• Support the Principal in the hiring process, including application reviews, interviews, offers, etc., for the EAEC.
• Support EAEC staff members’ professional development, including increasing the number of Montessori-certified, state-certified guides, in partnership with City Garden Montessori Institute’s Teacher Education Program, to achieve excellent, consistent teacher retention outcomes.

School Operations (15%)

• Support day-to-day school operations through strong partnership with the EAEC Principal and Building Operations Manager.
• Manage and monitor student attendance records, promoting positive attendance and collaborating with staff to address any attendance issues and improve attendance rates.
• Implement central databases for both data and teacher resources (lesson plans, unit plans, etc. CGMS currently uses Transparent Classroom and Infinite Campus).
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data (especially through direct observations and 1:1 check ins) to be used to guide and improve school-wide programs.
• Support the Principal in developing master schedules.
• Support the Principal in managing the EAEC budget, specifically allocated for meeting the instructional and cultural needs of the EAEC.
• Partner with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction to coordinate the purchase of instructional materials.
• Partner with the Principal on communications with families and staff in partnership with CGMS administrative staff.
• Compliance
  • Assist the EAEC Principal in the preparation of city, state, and federal reports.
  • Ensure all CGMS policies are upheld.

School Culture (15%)

• Fully embrace CGMS’ mission, vision, and values and promote them to students, staff, other faculty, parents, and members of the outside community.
• Develop a healthy, effective, collaborative team culture among all adults serving children of the EAEC.
• Cultivate a shared vision for school, student, and adult culture and build systems of support and accountability to sustain excellent culture outcomes.
• Partner with families, leaders, and the full school community through intentional listening so we can build a healthy, vibrant school culture and bring people together.

• Motivate staff to hold students to high academic, social emotional and behavioral standards.
• Develop and implement, as needed and approved by the EAEC Principal or directed by the Board of Directors, standing or ad hoc committees aimed at serving the curricular, instructional and professional needs of students and staff.
• Work in partnership with CGMS’ administrative staff to coordinate effective communication systems and public platforms to effectively distribute information to all stakeholders.
• Actively seek support from various community groups and leaders.
• Develop and manage effective behavior support and discipline procedures at the school level.
• Be highly present and visible during school hours, relentlessly ensuring a positive school environment.
• Collaborate with other members of the school’s leadership team to create and sustain programs for students and families that recognize and celebrate accomplishments and encourage continuous progress.
• Maintain positive, constructive and professional relationships with students, their families, and colleagues.
• Actively encourage parents to participate in school activities such as parent/caregiver meetings, field trips, fundraising and as classroom volunteers.

QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

• Bachelor’s degree is required 
• A passionate belief in CGMS’s mission, values, and educational model
• Understanding of and familiarity with the Montessori Theory of Development 
• Understanding of systemic racism and other forms of oppression, and demonstrated success integrating antiracism principles into action as an educator
• 5+ years of experience in K-8 education, with experience teaching reading strongly preferred
• 2+ years of successful educational leadership experience with exceptional results preferred 
• Experience in assessment and achievement data analysis
• Experience setting vision for a large number of adults, and helping them work towards that vision
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders simultaneously (ex: students, staff, parents/caregivers, leadership team, board of directors)
• Experience coaching teachers strongly preferred
• Experience in a school with strong academic outcomes for all students and a commitment to the whole child
• Satisfactory completion of a background check and Family Care and Safety check, demonstrating results that meet the guidelines for employment at City Garden Montessori School
• Proficient with email, Google Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, calendar management, electronic and physical file management and personal technology

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position offers a starting salary range of $85,000 to $95,000 per year as well as robust benefits, including medical, dental, pension (vested after five years), school admission preference (discounted preschool and before/after care), and 21 days annually of Sick Time/Personal Time Off, in addition to federal holidays and school breaks. 

This position will be in person, with the expectation of 5 days a week on site. 

City Garden Montessori School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or military or veteran status in accordance with federal law. In addition, City Garden Montessori School complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it maintains facilities. City Garden Montessori School also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. ​​

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