Chesterfield Montessori School is more than just a school, and we believe schools have the capacity to be so much more than a place to learn. The lead administrators work to foster a collaborative, solution-oriented environment that values each employee’s insights.

Attending the AMI Refresher Course

Every year, faculty and staff attend the AMI Refresher Course so we can better serve the CMS community. It’s an opportunity to examine current educational structures and strategies, as well as delve deeper into our understanding of Montessori pedagogy. 

The conference typically centers around a different theme every year, from “Spiritual Preparation: Grounded and Growing” to “Educating for Peace in Contemporary Life.” Staff come away from this annual event grateful for the chance to connect with old friends, forge new relationships and be supported by the presence of so many others who share a common goal.

“The AMI Refresher course was a restorative and inspiring experience! I attended a session on Spiritual Preparation of the Adult in the Montessori Classroom, which included lively discussions about the commitment to inner transformation that is required in order for us to be fully present to the children each day. Most importantly, I was able to spend quality time sharing ideas with other members of our team. We deepened our respect for and enjoyment of each other, and came back more committed than ever to this great work of education and peace.” - Kimberly V. Schneider, M.Ed., J.D., LPC Head of School

Ongoing Training and Professional Development 

Vital to your chosen career path is continued personal development, and there is no profession that does not demand regular updating and contact with experts in the field.

At CMS, we have regular staff training days at the school with guest speakers, workshops, open discussions and more. The space to ask questions, reflect and learn from our coworkers and peers strengthens our relationships with each other, the work we’re doing, as well as our alignment to our school’s mission.

“Joining the CMS team was the best decision I could have made for my career. It is amazing to see how the children here are developing kindness, empathy and compassion along with their academic skills. You can google how to do a math problem, but you can’t learn how to be a good person by doing an online search. These children are learning how to be good human beings.” - Emma Hurst, Lower Elementary Classroom Assistant

Observation as Personal Growth

We create time for staff to routinely observe classrooms across levels. Observation is an integral part of Montessori education and philosophy. Observing without judgment is one of the most vital teaching tools we have to "follow the child, " recognize their needs and assist them in finding their strengths and capabilities.

Following these observations, we hold meetings with colleagues to share our observations, collaborate and problem solve together. All of this is in order to create an environment of slowing down and appreciating the beauty in each other’s daily work.

“Something I’m constantly taking away from working at CMS is that I notice something nice happen every day, and it’s beautiful to see.” - Jennifer Blasingame, Assistant Head of School and COO

What being GPTW certified means to us at CMS

CMS is Great Place to Work®-Certified™, meaning we are recognized as an employer who creates an outstanding company culture and work experience. We are the only school in Missouri to hold this distinction and one of only two Montessori schools nationwide.

Certification is a two-step process that includes surveying our employees and completing a short questionnaire about the workforce. The survey measures the level of trust in our organization and the consistency of the employee experience. In other words: How often can employees count on something happening in their workplace, such as clear and honest leadership, fair treatment, and employee recognition?

We are proud that 100% of employees at Chesterfield Montessori School say it is a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. We know there is always room to grow, and we’re grateful that we get to take that journey as a unified team each and every day. 

We invite you to reach out and send us your resume to learn more about perusing a career at CMS. We are consistently looking for candidates at various levels, and we are always interested in speaking with qualified candidates even when we don’t have a currently open position.