Top 5 Reasons to Become a Montessori Teacher
Five Reasons why being a Montessori Teacher is an Excellent Career Choice
Choosing a career path is undoubtedly one of the most important decisions we make in our lives. Priorities can vary greatly from one individual to the next. Some consider personal fulfillment to be the most vital issue when choosing a career. Job demand and/or advancement opportunities are also significant factors. Then of course, there is the undeniable importance of salary.
If you have found your way here to Age of Montessori’s website, chances are you may be considering a career as a certified Montessori teacher. Say no more! Here are five reasons why being a Montessori early education teacher is an excellent career choice.
Being a Montessori teacher can be highly fulfilling and rewarding
1.) Being a Montessori teacher can be highly fulfilling and rewarding. Montessori teachers are usually creative, compassionate, patient people who are dedicated to improving the lives of the children they work with and, thereby contribute richly to their communities. The calm, peaceful nature of the prepared Montessori classroom creates a feeling of wellbeing you won’t often find in traditional preschool environments. Also, Montessori training involves a certain level of inner work and reflection. Therefore, “Montessorians” tend to be people who achieve uncommon levels of personal growth.
“The training of the teacher who is to help life is something far more than the learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit.” ~ Maria Montessori
2.) You won’t have a hard time finding employment. According to the North American Montessori Teachers Association, the demand for trained Montessori teachers far outweighs the supply. There are thousands of private and public Montessori schools in the United States alone, and every year positions go unfilled for lack of qualified people to fill them. Some schools will even sponsor your training in order to recruit quality candidates. And, just in case you’re still not convinced, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an 11 percent job growth for preschool teachers by 2022.
3.) You will earn more as a certified Montessori teacher. According to U.S. News & World Report, the annual salary for a preschool teacher in the United States starts at $18,000 and tops out at about $49,000. By comparison, a certified Montessori preschool teacher with no experience can expect a starting salary of $21,000-$24,000 and a peak salary of up to $60,000 (NAMTA.)
The Sky's the Limit!
4.) You will have ample opportunity for career advancement. To quote NAMTA, “Opportunities for advancement include promotion to head teacher (a classroom teacher who functions as curriculum director), educational consulting, and teacher training. A person choosing a career as a Montessori administrator, principal, or headmaster would expect to earn from $45,000 in a school of under 200 children to as high as $80,000-$100,000 in a larger school.” You could also consider opening your own Montessori school in your neighborhood or community.
5.) You can earn your Montessori Early Education Teacher Certification regardless of where you live.* Nowadays, authentic Montessori teacher education certification courses are offered on-line. Age of Montessori offers one of the few distance-education* certification courses accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. (*Note: While the majority of Age of Montessori’s course can be completed on-line, full certification requires a 15 day in-person intensive. All MACTE accredited programs require some residential hours.)
If you would like to learn more about Age of Montessori's teacher training course, please contact us. We are always happy to answer your questions!
