Head of School - Amherst Montessori School - AMHERST

Head of School

$100,000 - $120,000 Per Year

AMHERST, MA

Full Time

Administrative/Clerical/Data Entry
Education/Training
Office and Administrative Support

Bachelor's Degree

5+
Required

Montessori Certificate in classroom or administration - Preference: Required

If you possess a deep passion for student learning, a proven commitment to Montessori principles, and a dedication to working closely with an exceptional community of teachers and guides, the Amherst Montessori School (AMS) Board of Trustees invites you to apply to be the new AMS Head of School. Our search is now underway to appoint an exceptional leader who will assume this role to start the 2026-2027 school year on July 1, 2026.

Thriving in the beautiful town of Amherst, Massachusetts since its founding in 1970, our school provides a warm, safe, and supportive community that nurtures a lifelong love of learning, starting with infants and extending through 6th grade. Guides, staff, and families work collaboratively to honor each child's path as they become independent, confident, and compassionate individuals while learning to care for themselves, others, and the world.

Notable AMS strengths include:

• Our school’s affiliation with the American Montessori Society, signaling our dedication to an
  authentic Montessori curriculum
• 27 guides and staff
• 89 enrolled students from the Infant through Upper Elementary levels
• Robust fiscal health
• A strong reputation in the local community
• A 12,800-square-foot school building constructed in 2013 and intentionally designed with the
  unique needs of children and the Montessori classroom in mind
• A school property extending across 2.2 acres of land that features ample open space and
  woodland
• A playground transformation that will be completed before the start of the 2026-2027 school year

We seek a Head of School who prioritizes nurturing a joyful and exemplary educational environment, maintaining our dedication to Montessori pedagogy, and supporting our guides and staff in their exceptionally important work with children.

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:

•  Strong leadership skills
• A deep passion for the Montessori principles of education and learning
• Extensive successful experience as a Montessori lead guide or administrator
• A proven appreciation for the value of a diverse educational community
• A dedication to the joyful education of children
• A flexible, team-centered, and solution-oriented approach to meeting educational and
  administrative challenges
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and people skills that enable them to work collaboratively and communicate effectively in fostering positive, productive relationships with students, personnel, families, and community members

The Head of School is the sole employee of the Board of Trustees and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Leadership

• Advancing the understanding, implementation, and development of Montessori pedagogy and the AMS mission
• Nurturing our joyful and collaborative school culture
• Promoting the richness of our diverse community and fostering cultural humility
• Implementing continuous improvement through strategic planning
• Overseeing compliance with state regulations and regulatory/accrediting bodies
• Overseeing development and advancement, including collaborating with the Board of Trustees and others on identifying, planning, and implementing fundraising strategies
• Evaluating, modifying, and recommending changes to school policies as necessary

School Operations and Academic Excellence

• Executing and supervising efficient management and daily operations of the school
• Recruiting, retaining, developing, and evaluating high-quality faculty
• Facilitating regular lead guide and all-staff meetings and professional development
• Overseeing student assessment and evaluation, to include setting timelines, and
  reviewing/editing progress reports for consistency and quality
• Making routine classroom observations and ensuring an authentically prepared Montessori
  environment in all classrooms
• Overseeing staff benefit options
• Overseeing staff and parent handbooks
• Overseeing the marketing and admissions process to ensure robust enrollment
• Overseeing the financial and operational needs of the school
• Overseeing the website for accuracy and updates

Community Relations

• Fostering a strong school community through a visible, responsive, and accessible presence
• Maintaining the infrastructure for effective communication amongst all community members
• Overseeing annual community events
• Resolving issues that may arise in the school community
• Cultivating partnerships with outside colleagues, schools, and organizations

Board Relations

• Working collaboratively with the Board to promote the mission of AMS through the development, implementation, and evaluation of long-range and annual strategic plans
• Working with the Board to ensure sound financial stewardship of the school
• Attending all Board meetings and meeting regularly with the President of the Board
• Providing regular reports to the Board on school operations, enrollment, program development, staffing, and finances
• Working with the Board to consider major policy and operational changes and as needed to
  resolve emergency matters

Minimum Qualifications

• Five years of full-time experience as a Montessori lead guide or administrator
• Meaningful administrative and leadership experience in early childhood or elementary school
• Bachelor’s degree or beyond in a related field
• Montessori certification in classroom or administration

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a leadership role in a Montessori school setting
• Prior experience with institutional advancement and fundraising efforts

Salary and Benefits
The salary for this 12-month position is $100,000 - $120,000 (commensurate with experience). Benefits include health and dental insurance, optional vision and life insurance, long-term disability, retirement, professional development support, and generous tuition remission for qualified dependents.

Hiring Process
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to: AMS Head of School Search
Committee via headofschoolsearch@amherstmontessori.org. The priority deadline is Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with applications accepted thereafter on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The expected start date is July 1, 2026.

Amherst Montessori School is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status.