NOW HIRING
- Montessori Guides (Pre-K) (scroll down)
- Acton Socratic Guides (K-12th) (scroll down)
Basic Qualifications for Guides
- Bachelor's degree/licenciatura in any academic field (Education / Early Childhood preferred)
- Fluent or highly proficient in English
- The most important characteristics we are looking for are: a deep respect for children, a strong belief in personal liberty, patience, adaptability, an entrepreneuril spirit, drive, hard work and a willingness to unlearn and learn. If you fit this description and want to apply, we can train you.
- Often, people who do well in this role may have experience in the following:
- 2+ years of experience leading children in a non-traditional environment (Acton, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, homeschool, nature-based, forest, etc) or a classroom setting operated with non-traditional practices (preferred but not required).
- Experience being a youth coach, youth pastor, madrijim, camp counselor or youth guide.
- Montessori Certification by AMI, AMS, MACTE, ASED (Guatemala) or NAMC Montessori (preferred)
- Strong passion for and commitment to Montessori education principles (or to learning them)
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills (grammar, spelling, usage)
Benefits
- Competitive local salary, which varies depending on English level, experience, education and leadership ability
- All "prestaciones de la ley"
- Professional development
- On the job training and continued professional development
- Inexpensive, healthy lunch served each day
- A supportive and collaborative work environment
- Opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization
- Financial bonus structure based on performance and written, quantitative 360 degree feedback (self, team, students, parents, leadership)
Timing
- Contracts run from the date of hire until the 31 July and may be renewed on 1 August for the subsequent year.
- We expect all Guides to fulfil their yearly contract to maintain stability throughout the year.
- Full time positions' working hours are 7:50AM - 3:50PM (punctuality is required).
- We have ample vacation time, but expect no absences or tardies during days when children are present.
Montessori Guides
Our authentic Montessori preschool serves children from 14 months - 6 years old.
Infant Community (14 months - 3 years old)
As a Montessori Guide, you will foster autonomy, independence and development of our youngest learners in our authentic Montessori environment. You will:
- co-lead the classroom
- observe children to determine their needs and interests
- model and guide them to achieve independence, practical life skills and early academic foundations
- prepare an orderly and immaculate environment ready for learning each day
- communicate and collaborate with your fellow staff members and parents
We prefer candidates with authentic Montessori experience and/or certification (i.e., AMI, AMS, NAMC, MACTE). We provide continuous professional development towards certification and beyond.
To apply, please click here.
Children's House (3 - 6 years old)
As a Montessori Guide, you will foster autonomy, independence and development of our youngest learners in our authentic Montessori environment. You will:
- co-lead the classroom
- observe children to determine their needs and interests
- model and guide them to achieve independence, practical life skills and academic foundations of writing, reading, mathematics, geography, botany and more
- prepare an orderly and immaculate environment ready for learning each day
- communicate and collaborate with your fellow staff members and parents
We prefer candidates with authentic Montessori experience and/or certification (i.e., AMI, AMS, NAMC, MACTE). We provide continuous professional development towards certification and beyond.
To apply, please click here.
Acton Socratic Guides
K-12th
At Acton Academy, we believe that every child who enters our doors is a genius who deserves to find a calling to change the world in a profound way.
Spark Studio (K - 2nd Grade)
- Co-guide a mixed-age classroom of children from 6-9 years old.
- Speak English 100% of the time to provide an immersion learning experience
- Start everyday with an engaging "launch," asking Socratic questions to foster critical thinking.
- Observe, guide and model during work time, presenting concrete Montessori materials so that children master foundational academic skills such as writing, reading, math, geography, botany and more.
- Facilitate 6-week long hands-on, real-world projects such as chess, carpentry, growing food, architecture, entrepreneurship and more.
- Maintain an immaculate environment, prepared for learning each day.
- Collaborate and communicate with your co-guide, the staff and parents.
Discovery Studio (3rd - 5th Grade)
- Guide a mixed-age classroom of children from 3rd-5th grade.
- Start everyday with an engaging "launch," asking Socratic questions to foster critical thinking.
- Equip, inspire and connect children with challenges that allow them to increase their core academic skills of math, reading and writing.
- Read aloud stories from history, putting the learners in the "shoes of heroes" and asking them to make difficult decisions.
- Facilitate 6-week long hands-on, real-world projects such as building a business, designing and building an architectural model, surviving in the wild, mastering the chemistry of cooking, and many more.
- Create an environment of increasing responsibility, where learners take charge of the order of the studio and hold one another accountable to contracts they wrote themselves.
- Collaborate and communicate with your co-guide, the staff and parents.
Agora Studio (Middle School)
- Guide a mixed-age classroom of adolescents from 6th - 8th grade.
- Start everyday with an engaging "launch," asking Socratic questions to foster critical thinking.
- Equip, inspire and connect children with challenges that allow them to increase their core academic skills of math, reading and writing.
- Read aloud stories from history, putting the learners in the "shoes of heroes" and asking them to make difficult decisions.
- Facilitate 6-week long hands-on, real-world projects such as building a business, creating a personal finance plan, finding and landing an internship, building rockets, and many more.
- Invite learners to plan elaborate trips that bond them together while doing hard things (e.g., climbing a volcano).
- Create an environment of near total responsibility, where learners have the freedom and responsibility to run the classroom.
- Collaborate and communicate with your co-guide, the staff and parents.
Launchpad Studio (High School)
At this stage, Acton learners have very little need for an adult's guidance. They are well on their way to executing their Next Great Adventure, whether that is university, building a business, or mastering the skills needed to get their first real job. The Agora Guide (see above) usually works with our Launchpadders as well.
To apply, please read the Agora Studio requirements and apply for that position.
