Navigating the Hiring Process in Montessori

Finding and hiring Montessori-trained guides is one of the biggest challenges Montessori school leaders face today. Globally, there seems to be a significant shortage of trained Montessori guides.

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Communication plays a key role in the success of the entire hiring and retention process for school staff. We must have clear organizational structures and well-defined expectations for each role before starting our search for new staff. When advertising job openings, it is important to clearly communicate the school’s vision, mission, and values so candidates are well-informed.

Before hiring a new staff member, invite them for an in-person interview and observation at the school. A good practice is to ask them to spend a few days in the classroom where they would be placed if hired. Observe how they relate to children and how they communicate with adults.

When preparing for a job interview, create questions that cover the following criteria for candidate assessment:

• Hard skills
• Soft skills
• Work examples
• Cognitive ability
• Motivation and interests
• Personality

Here are some possible questions to ask during the job interview:

• What are your passions?  
• What do you love doing?  
• What is your long-term commitment?  
• Why do you want to work in our school and at this level?  
• How would you handle this or that situation?  
• Tell me about a situation in the past when you… 

Always ask for references from previous jobs, and be sure to follow up by actually calling them. Have specific questions prepared. One useful question is: “What do you think I need to know to really help this person succeed in their new role?” When you interview someone, look for a genuine connection, not perfection.

When speaking with candidates, share the school’s priorities and ensure your new hire understands these aspects:

• Commitment to the school’s mission
• Willingness to collaborate in a larger school setting
• Commitment to personal growth
• Ability to work as a team member (collegiality)
• Flexibility and curiosity
• Diversity in school personnel regarding gender, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
• Proven ability to perform classroom work
• Appreciation and enjoyment of working with children
• Fit with the culture of the school (control vs. growth mentality)
• Special talents the individual brings to the community
• Ability to communicate with parents
• Ability to supervise an assistant
• Willingness to participate in after-hours meetings and events

The usual order of the hiring process:  

A phone interview, an in-person interview, an observation, followed by asking candidates to engage in some classroom activities.

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Where to look for new staff?

• Individual AMI Training Centers  
• AMI Job Board
• Montessori Jobs All Over The World Facebook Group
• Local universities (pedagogical studies)  
• Local high schools  
• Parent workspaces and the school community in general  

Another way to attract new guides is by creating a system of sponsorship for Montessori studies. Schools that sponsor Montessori training for their staff are more likely to find high-quality educators. Finding the right guide for our school is an investment in the children. We give our new hires the opportunity to learn, grow, and become part of our mission and family, while fulfilling their own purpose in life. It’s important for new staff to feel that we are committed to investing in their growth.

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What is parents’ role?

We need to involve parents in the hiring process. Parents are our advocates and ambassadors. It’s important for them to understand what we do in our schools, how we hire, and what our philosophy is when bringing in new staff. By informing them of our hiring practices and what we look for in candidates, they will be more understanding if a teacher leaves and the classroom cycle is interrupted. They will also realize that children are more connected to their peers than to a specific teacher. Parents care deeply about the teacher who greets their child at the door. The more they know about Montessori teacher training and the efforts our guides put into their training, the more they will appreciate and support our hiring process.

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Conclusion

I hope you found this information useful! If you want to get more information, you can watch the recording of the webinar. And, if you wish to learn more about how to lead a Montessori school, this is your reminder of the training that is coming up for you, Montessori leaders, the AMI Administrators Certificate Course which Sue Pritzker and Eder Cuevas are leading.