Smithfield, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Posted: 14-Jan-26
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Type: Full Time
Salary: Based on Experience
Required Education:
Internal Number: 114159960
LOWER ELEMENTARY MONTESSORI TEACHER
Position: Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher
Type: Full-Time; On-Site
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Reports to: Provost (Dean of Academics)
Website: www.socraticstem.org
ABOUT SOCRATIC SCHOOL OF STEM (SSS)
Socratic School of STEM (SSS) is a private boutique K-12 school in Raleigh, NC built for families who want rigor, learner ownership, and real-world skills - not passive learning. Our model is learner-driven and Socratic method-guided: students learn to ask better questions, defend ideas with evidence, and produce high-quality work.
We are STEM-forward by design while protecting fundamentals. Teachers coach strong reading, writing, and math alongside design thinking, labs, and projects where learners plan, build, test, revise, and present.
Our culture is to "Seek, Solve, Serve" - disciplined inquiry, meaningful problem-solving, and principled contribution. SSS is intentionally small and high-trust, with a faculty team that values clarity, high standards, warmth with accountability, and continuous improvement.
Learn more at socraticstem.org
THE OPPORTUNITY
SSS is seeking an exceptional Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher to launch and lead a purposeful early-years (K-2) environment grounded in Montessori principles and aligned with SSS's learner-driven, STEM-rich approach. The Teacher will create a prepared environment where children build the foundations of literacy, numeracy, executive function, and character - through hands-on Montessori materials, clear pedagogical routines, carefully sequenced lessons, and protected work cycles.
In K-2 studios, students learn to seek through exploration and observation, solve through purposeful materials and early STEM challenges, and serve by practicing independence, grace and courtesy, and care for the community. The Teacher will balance warmth with accountability, freedom with structure, and curiosity with mastery - building a classroom culture where learners become capable, communal, and confident learners.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Montessori Studio Leadership
- Design, maintain, and continually refine a purposeful Montessori inspired environment aligned with SSS' Seek Solve, Serve pillars.
- Protect daily uninterrupted work cycles and ensure learners develop independence, concentration, care of self, and care of the environment.
- Present Montessori lessons with clarity, precision, and appropriate sequencing, emphasizing short, effective presentations followed by sustained independent work.
- Observe learners carefully and use Montessori observation practices to guide lesson timing, grouping, and individualized support - guiding learners to the next right work rather than over-directing.
- Ensure strong early foundations in phonological awareness / phonics, early reading, handwriting, and composition by coaching learners through purposeful work and targeted small-group / 1:1 lessons when needed.
- Build mathematical fluency and conceptual understanding through Montessori math materials, guided practice cycles, and mastery checks.
- Establish and reinforce executive-function habits: focus, persistence, self-regulation, independence, and responsibility through routines, work plans, and consistent follow-through.
- Build a calm, warm, and accountable studio culture rooted in grace and courtesy, community norms, and intrinsic motivation.
- Coach learners in age appropriate forms of agency: choice within structure, task initiation, completion, and pride in quality work.
- Explicitly model and reinforce character virtues aligned with SSS: respect, honesty, kindness, courage, diligence, and responsibility.
- Embed "Seek. Solve. Serve." into daily routines so learners learn to Seek through observation and questioning, Solve through purposeful work, and Serve through community contribution.
- Integrate developmentally appropriate STEM exploration into the Montessori environment: building, tinkering, early coding logic, nature studies, simple experiments, and maker-style prompts.
- Guide learners through early "design cycles" (plan, build, test, and then revise) in a way that supports attention span, fine-motor development, and perseverance.
- Use real materials and real problems (age-appropriate) to cultivate curiosity, early engineering thinking, and confidence with tools and systems.
- Communicate consistently with parents/guardians through clear updates and conferences that reflect warmth and professionalism.
- Help families understand the Montessori and learner-driven approach - what it looks like, what it builds, and how they can support it at home.
- Maintain strong documentation of learner progress, goals and next steps (including observation notes, work samples, and simple progress indicators).
- Contribute to building SSS's culture as a "family of educators": collaborate, share materials, refine systems, and support school launch priorities.
- Participate in staff meetings, professional learning, and studio observations; respond to coaching with humility and growth orientation.
- Uphold school policies, safety protocols, and a consistently professional learning environment.
- Demonstrated success guiding learners K-2 in a Montessori or Montessori-aligned environment (Children's House / Lower Elementary style approach).
- Montessori training or credentialing strongly preferred (AMS / AMI or equivalent) or clear evidence of Montessori practice with a willingness to complete credentialing on an agreed timeline.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Commitment to a learner-driven model where the adult's role is primarily to prepare the environment, guide work, observe, coach, and protect culture.
- Prepared Environment Mastery: Creates a calm and orderly studio where learners know what to do, how to do it, and how to self-correct.
- Warmth with Accountability: Holds boundaries kindly and clearly; follows through; teaches self-regulation and community norms without harshness.
- Observation + Precision: Uses observation to determine the "next right work," delivers crisp presentations, then steps back to let learners work.
- Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Strength: Can accelerate early reading and math skills development using Montessori materials plus targeted micro-lessons as needed.
- STEM Curiosity + Maker Mindset: Comfortable integrating early STEM challenges and design cycles (plan, build, test, and revise) into Montessori work.
- Character Formation: Builds independence, responsibility, initiative, and care for others - explicitly aligned with Seek. Solve. Serve.
- Patient, steady, and emotionally mature; thrives with young children and family partnership.
- High standards for environment, behavior, and work quality - without being rigid.
- Builder's mindset: excited to help launch a boutique school and iterate systems with a small team.
- Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience, credentials, and demonstrated ability to guide learners in a rigorous, learner-driven, STEM environment.
- Benefits & Professional Development: SSS invests in Teachers through paid-time off, Montessori and or STEM training / credentialing, observational coaching and feedback, collaborative planning time, and mission-aligned professional development.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position requires regular interaction with students in a classroom and school environment. Teachers should be able to sit, stand, walk, and move about the studio throughout the school day; bend, kneel, reach, and lift classroom materials as needed; and participate in indoor and outdoor activities with students. Occasional lifting of up to approximately 30 pounds may be required.
The work environment is a dynamic, active school setting that includes collaborative studios, hands-on materials, and periods of sustained focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the role.
