Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Instructional Supervisor, the Instructional Specialist is responsible for assisting in the monitoring of Montessori programs and initiatives and executing administrative responsibilities, as required. The incumbent will track the progress of the Montessori programs and initiatives, identify any areas of concern and make recommendations for improvement. The Instructional Specialist will perform a variety of administrative tasks, such as managing budgets, scheduling meetings and preparing reports. The Instructional Specialist will work with educators and administrators to develop and implement curriculum, assess student learning and provide professional development. This position will also work with educators, administrators, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive system for evaluating the effectiveness of Montessori programs and initiatives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides training, coaching and professional development for Montessori educators and site teams across the district on Montessori methodologies and strategies; collaborates with school leadership to conduct classroom visits;
- Facilitates communication and collaboration between Montessori sites, inclusive of attending/participating in meetings, program learn walks, sharing of best practices and ensuring alignment of the programs across the district;
- Collects and analyzes data on Montessori program implementation, student enrollment and outcomes to identify areas of success and opportunities for improvement across schools;
- Provides informal and formal teacher observations as needed to provide targeted and actionable feedback to school administration;
- Develops and maintains partnerships with community organizations, businesses and other institutions to support Montessori programming and build opportunities for students;
- Manages the program budget, resources and materials procurement in collaboration with the Instructional Supervisor;
- Serves as the liaison between the district and Montessori accrediting agencies;
- Assists in evaluating instructional materials, digital textbooks, software and media;
- Assists with and manages curriculum writing to align with MSDE, national standards and PGCPS requirements;
- Attends and assists with strategic planning, team meetings and professional development; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy;
- Ability to monitor the implementation of the curriculums and collect feedback to support the continuous improvement of course instructional guides and instruction in schools;
- Ability to train and coach site-based educators to implement the Montessori method with fidelity;
- Ability to work collaboratively to develop curricular documents and assessments;
- Ability to work effectively with classroom teachers, other instructional specialists and professional organizations in providing rigorous academic experiences for all students;
- Experience developing curriculum and assessments aligned with local, state and national standards;
- Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills; including the ability to relates positively and interact effectively with teachers, central office personnel, business partners and general public;
- Effective time management, documentation and organizational skills;
- Highly self-motivated, self-directed and attentive to detail;
- Extensive experience working in a team-oriented environment in order to provide collaborative planning and professional development;
- Strong instructional and facilitator skills; and
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point) and Google Applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites).
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, education or a closely related field required. A minimum of five (5) years of successful experience as a classroom teacher with experience in program development and expansion required.
Certification:
Holds or is eligible for an Advanced Professional Certificate issued by the Maryland State Department of Education with Administrator I endorsement required. Certified or ability to become certified in Framework for Teaching observations.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
None
