Job Description
Montessori Coordinator
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every child—in every school and every neighborhood—has access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready. Montessori Education is one of the top educational priorities for CPS, as the Department of Advanced Learning & Specialty Programs is charged with enacting the vision and offering the resources, and structures to support schools that are adopting this innovative model.
The School-Based Montessori Coordinator will support the Department of Advanced Learning & Specialty Programs in instructional development, change management, and school-level continuous improvement to drive success for all students. It is expected that all Coordinators will be instructional experts with proven Montessori training expertise in at least one of the Montessori grade groupings: Early Childhood (3-6 year olds), Elementary I (6-9 year olds), Elementary II (9-12 year olds).
The Coordinator will plan and take the steps necessary to continually improve and expand Montessori Education within the school, thereby enriching the lives of more students in Chicago Public Schools.
The Montessori Coordinator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
• Under the direction and guidance of the CPS Department of Advanced Learning & Specialty Programs, as well as the school-based principal, implement a strategic action plan and continuous improvement strategies founded in the CPS Framework for Montessori Education & the Essential Elements of Montessori Practice in the public sector to positively impact student-based outcomes in their assigned school by working with classroom teachers, school-based Instructional Leadership Teams, school administrators, and professional development providers.
• Build the day-to-day instructional capacity of classroom teachers and school administrators at their assigned school to deliver core district priorities for Montessori Education. These priorities currently include (but are not limited to): implementation of Common Core State Standards, implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports, K-2 foundational literacy, and College and Career Readiness.
• Provide differentiated instructional support by working directly with teachers in the classroom to model effective, research-based instructional practices in Montessori Education, by working collaboratively with grade-level teams to drive data-informed instructional planning, by regularly providing professional learning and coaching to staff, and by working with school-based leadership teams to actualize CCSS implementation through Montessori Education instructional strategies school-wide.
• The Montessori Coordinator serves on the school-based Montessori Leadership Team, the Instructional Leadership Team, and the CIWP Team to integrate Montessori Education throughout the school and core curriculum. As such, the Montessori Coordinator should consult and collaborate with Principals, Assistant Principals, and other members of the school-based Instructional Leadership Teams, and District staff as needed to develop data-informed strategies to support the development and implementation of the CIWP. These strategies include (but are not limited to): curriculum development, professional development plans, direct support to classroom teachers, student outcome progress monitoring, and student intervention plans.
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Montessori Coordinator must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership preferred
Certification Required
• Valid standard teaching certificate (Type 03, Type 09, or Type 10) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education with appropriate grade level and content level endorsements (Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, or Special Education), required
• Certification in at least one of the Montessori age groupings (Early Childhood (3-6 year olds), Elementary I (6-9 year olds), Elementary II (9-12 year olds), required
• Endorsement in special education, literacy, mathematics, or science, strongly preferred
• Type 75 Certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (or equivalent certificate from outside Illinois), preferred
Experience Required
• Minimum of four (4) years of classroom teaching experience, with demonstrated experience in implementing Montessori Education strategies, required
• Experience with curriculum mapping, unit planning, and formative progress monitoring, required
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with adult learners, including coaching, and designing and facilitating professional development to classroom teachers and school leaders, preferred
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
• Strong knowledge of Montessori Education, school-wide implementation, and best practices
• Ability to use multiple data sources to set measurable goals and strategically plan to complete the goals
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and develop action plans as part of a continuous improvement cycle
• Excellent collaboration skills
• Excellent communication skills: writing, speaking, and listening
• Knowledge of research-based school improvement models and strategies
Note: This is a 43.6-week position. The Montessori Coordinator will report to their assigned school four days/week to support teachers and administration and to the central office one day/week for professional development and planning. Note: In the summer months, time will be shared between DoALSP and school with direction from the Director of ALSP in collaboration with school administration.
Posting Date
Jul 15, 2026, 2:17:25 PM
Primary Location
Far South Side-2350 West 110th Place (Henry Clissold School)