Expert and Caring, The WSMS Faculty

The education and experience needed to become an expert teacher, guide, and mentor to young children between the ages of almost three and six at West Side Montessori School is substantial. It takes eight to ten years to obtain the bachelors’ and masters’ degrees and the Montessori education and certification that we require of our teachers. But many teachers go beyond that: in fact, our 16 head teachers average more than ten years each of classroom experience.

That’s a lot of time and dedication. But it is time well spent, because the goal—providing a solid beginning for our young students—is of inestimable value. Our teachers, who come from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds bring a richness to our classrooms.  Yet they are bound together in their profound commitment to the very young people in their charge.  This commitment lays the foundation for our students’ educational careers and for what we hope will be a lifelong journey of learning.

Our teachers know how to focus, first and foremost, on the individual child. Each classroom has up to four teachers and 21 students, and this ratio makes it possible for teachers to understand each child as well as the dynamic of the entire class. Within the first few weeks of school, our teachers can see children’s strengths and personal interests, and are acutely aware of where support is needed. They can draw from their repertoire of knowledge and methods to find just the right approach at just the right time. Since WSMS is the first formal educational experience our students encounter, our teachers want to help them build a strong foundation of skills, joy, and confidence so they can sustain a lifetime of learning and growth.

Just as our teachers support our students, we support our teachers. We gather twice a week with all our teachers to share ideas and discuss how their classrooms are developing. To continue their learning, we offer stimulating in-house professional development programs and encourage them to take part in external professional development programs as well. We recognize that our expert and caring teachers are integral to our mission, They bring their heart, their intellect and their professionalism to give the very best to our young students.  We value them immensely.