Teacher Leader
Are you a nature-loving Montessori leader committed to community care, accessibility, and land stewardship? Mulberry Forest Montessori (currently based in Wilmington, MA) seeks a Teacher Leader to co-lead a nature based Montessori Wildflower school. This role includes both teaching and collaborating on the administration and operation of a non profit independent school.
Who We Are
Mulberry Forest Montessori is a new primary and elementary school serving children aged 3-12 in Stoneham, MA. Mulberry Forest Montessori is opening in Fall 2025. We combine a Forest School approach with Montessori pedagogy, and we learn outdoors most of the day, every day. Our school focuses on the principles of land stewardship, accessibility, and community care through layered public health protections.
Our Network
Mulberry Forest Montessori is an emerging Wildflower School, which is a network of teacher-led, authentic Montessori learning environments serving children from infancy through high school. The Wildflower model combines time-tested Montessori methods with promising new practices in family partnership, teacher empowerment, and intentional diversity. At Wildflower, we believe that embracing equity is an essential part of our work. We are committed to deeply engaging in what Maria Montessori called “the preparation of self” as it pertains to understanding our implicit biases, blind spots, and prejudices. Check out The Wildflower Collection and Reinventing Organizations.
Your Role
In collaboration with founding co-Teacher Leader and the MFM Board, the co teacher-leader responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Co-Teaching
*Co-teaching children ages 3-6; 6-9 or 9-12 using authentic Montessori methods infused with anti-bias, anti-racist practice
*Maintaining online student observations, records, and data
*Participating in professional development as liberatory Montessori leaders and co-teachers
*Embracing a wide variety of seasonal conditions as pedagogical inspiration.
Family Engagement & Support
*Clearly and positively communicating with families (meetings, emails, calls, newsletters, family education events)
*Marketing the school through deep community engagement, social media, and a website presence
*Managing an inclusive admissions and enrollment process (tours, applications, admissions decisions, enrollment paperwork)
*Managing scholarship programs and state subsidies
School Operations and Administration
*Maintaining strong systems for financial management, human resources, licensing, and compliance
*Creating the annual school calendar and daily routine
*Conducting ongoing evaluation of the program for continuous improvement and sustainability
*Engaging in reflective peer evaluation of co teacher-leader
*Selecting and reviewing curriculum for anti-racist, anti-bias content
*Assessing weather conditions for determining indoor/outdoor balance.
*Maintaining high air quality indoors, engaging with students and parents on public health best practices.
Experience
At least 3 years of Montessori Lead Guide experience
Montessori elementary I and II or primary credential required – or willing to obtain
School administration or educational leadership experience preferred but not required
Mindset
Collaborative: You are excited about the idea of co-leading a school and developing a strong partnership with your co-leader.
Solutions-focused: You are flexible, open-minded, see opportunity in obstacles, and are energized by using creativity and resourcefulness to create solutions to problems.
Nature-loving: You are dedicated to outdoor, place-based education and have a passion for land stewardship and exploring the natural environment. Working knowledge of local flora, fauna, and seasonal changes is a plus!
Operational: You are a self-starter willing to support different aspects of small school operations, which may range from making admissions decisions to taking care of plants.
Committed to Equity & Community Care: You are eager to expand access to quality early education for racially and socioeconomically diverse communities with distinct access needs; you are ready to engage in anti-bias, anti-racist self-work and community work. You uplift the school community’s well being through personally masking, testing, and assisting students with masking, etc.
Generous: You live with kindness, practice gratitude and lead with love. You seek advice openly and are comfortable working in a non-hierarchical organization.
Growth Oriented: You are eager to stretch beyond your current experience, to develop new skills and expertise, and to more fully explore your purpose and potential.
Hours & Benefits
This is a full-time position. Salary is commensurate with experience. Mulberry Forest School offers health benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, opportunities for ongoing professional development, and connection to the wider Wildflower community and supports.
Physical Requirements
The role requires the ability to move around the Forest, engage with students at their level (including sitting on the floor and getting up frequently), and lift materials up to 30 pounds and walk up to 2 miles a day. Clear vision, hearing, and manual dexterity are necessary to interact with and supervise students safely. Ability to wear an N95/KN95/KF94 mask, and test, with the school’s community consistent with our public health policy.
Learn More
Send a summary of your experience and description of your interests to Mary Saba, Head of School, at forestschoolma@gmail.com. Members of the Global Majority and native Spanish, Mandarin, or Arabic speakers and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to inquire.
Mulberry Forest Montessori does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, sex or gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or in any other way based on personal identity markers that do not relate to the capacity of an individual person to carry out the responsibilities of a role.