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Employee Reviews
“Great place to work. The leadership is amazing. They are always talking of self-care and work/life balance.”
“This is an incredible place to work. I enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the warm and caring staff. This is not an organization that functions as a heavy top-down hierarchy. It’s a place where all ideas and voices are heard and collaboration is appreciated. Working here doesn’t feel like work. It feels purposeful and supportive.”
“By far, the warmest, most caring team I have ever worked with. The mission, the environment, and school community are incredible. I’m unable to count the number of times that I have said (and heard), “I can’t believe I get to work here!”
“Fascinating place to work. Great philosophy, great colleagues, beautiful campus, wonderful students.”
Development Director
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Hershey Montessori School
Reports to: Head of School Employment: Full-Time, Exempt Location: Northeastern Ohio
ABOUT HERSHEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Founded in 1978, Hershey Montessori School is a premier Montessori institution with an international reputation for educational excellence, innovation, and leadership. As one of the pioneering schools in the world to embrace Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy across the full continuum of human development—from infancy through high school graduation—Hershey offers an extraordinary and comprehensive educational experience.
Serving children and adolescents from birth through age 18 across two campuses in Northeastern Ohio, Hershey provides an authentic Montessori education grounded in the principles of independence, intellectual curiosity, purposeful work, personal responsibility, and community engagement.
The School’s distinctive educational model includes its internationally recognized adolescent program, situated on a working farm, where academic rigor is integrated with meaningful work, entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, and community life.
Affiliated with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Hershey Montessori School is recognized for its commitment to advancing Montessori education and demonstrating the profound impact of this approach on the development of capable, confident, compassionate, and independent young adults.
Hershey Montessori School offers more than an exceptional education. It prepares young people with the knowledge, character, resilience, and independence to lead meaningful, productive, and successful adult lives.
Philanthropy plays an essential role in sustaining this remarkable educational model, expanding access through scholarships, strengthening the School’s programs and facilities, and ensuring its continued leadership in Montessori education for generations to come.. The Development Director will have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of one of the world’s distinctive Montessori educational institutions.
POSITION SUMMARY
Hershey Montessori School seeks an accomplished, strategic, and experienced professional Development Director to lead the School’s philanthropic advancement and expand its fundraising capacity.
Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a member of the administrative leadership team, the Development Director will provide the vision, strategy, and leadership necessary to grow
philanthropic revenue, with a particular emphasis on major gifts, donor engagement, and long-term philanthropic partnerships.
A central priority of this position will be to develop and implement a comprehensive major gifts program, establishing the strategies, systems, and processes necessary to identify prospective donors, cultivate meaningful relationships, secure significant philanthropic commitments, and provide exceptional donor stewardship.
Working collaboratively with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, Development Committee, and school leadership, the Director will strengthen relationships with existing supporters while expanding Hershey’s philanthropic network locally, nationally, and internationally.
The successful candidate will be an experienced fundraising professional who combines strategic vision with demonstrated execution, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a passion for connecting donors with meaningful opportunities to make a lasting impact.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Development Leadership
• Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan with measurable goals to increase philanthropic revenue and support the School’s long-term sustainability.
• Partner with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Development Committee to align fundraising priorities, strengthen donor engagement, and foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Position the School for successful future capital, endowment, scholarship, and special fundraising initiatives and campaigns.
• Establish and implement meaningful donor stewardship processes and recognition programs that communicate the impact of philanthropy and inspire continued giving.
Major Gifts and Philanthropic Partnerships
• Lead the development and expansion of a comprehensive major gifts program, including strategies and processes for donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Build and manage a robust portfolio and pipeline of prospective major donors, establishing individualized engagement strategies that lead to significant and sustained philanthropic commitments.
• Partner closely with the Head of School, the Board and school leadership to cultivate relationships, engage prospective donors, and secure major and transformational gifts.
• Expand Hershey Montessori School’s network of philanthropic supporters, including individuals, families, alumni, foundations, and corporations and other potential partners.
• Develop opportunities for multiyear commitments, endowed gifts, planned giving, and other forms of long-term philanthropic investment.
• Maintain an active schedule of meaningful, personal visits with current and prospective major donors, targeting a minimum of 50–70 visits annually, averaging 4-6 visits per month. Visits are either in person or through virtual meeting venues. Document all donor interactions, including visits, follow-up activities, and next steps in the School’s CRM system and follow established moves management protocols to ensure systematic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Emphasis will be placed on advancing donor relationships, strengthening engagement, and securing increased philanthropic commitments.
Annual Giving, Building Awareness, and Donor Engagement
• Lead strategies to increase annual giving revenue, participation, donor retention, and the number of donors who deepen their philanthropic commitments over time.
• Strengthen engagement with parents, grandparents, alumni, former families, and friends of the School while cultivating new constituencies of support.
• Create pathways that encourage annual supporters to become major donors through thoughtful cultivation and relationship management.
• Develop meaningful opportunities to introduce prospective supporters to Hershey’s distinctive educational programs, leadership, students, and broader mission.
• Provide strategic leadership for the School’s annual Gala and other fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, ensuring alignment with philanthropic priorities and measurable financial and relationship-building outcomes.
• Engage and support the Board of Trustees and Development Committee as ambassadors, advocates, and active participants in philanthropic relationship building.
• Strengthen relationships with foundations, corporations, and institutional partners to expand grant funding and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Represent Hershey Montessori School in the broader philanthropic community, building awareness of its international leadership and distinctive educational mission.
• Partner with the Head of School and Communications team to create compelling cases for support, donor communications, proposals, and philanthropic messaging that convey Hershey’s educational distinction and impact.
Development Operations and Team Leadership
• Provide leadership and oversight of the development function, including staff, budget, donor management systems, and fundraising operations.
• Establish effective processes for prospect research, donor portfolio management, gift tracking, stewardship, and fundraising performance evaluation.
• Use donor data and measurable outcomes to inform fundraising strategies, prioritize opportunities, and assess progress toward established goals.
• Ensure professional standards of donor confidentiality, ethical fundraising, and responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated fundraising success, strategic leadership, and a genuine enthusiasm for the transformative potential of Montessori education.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropic fundraising,
• Strong strategic planning, organizational, and leadership capabilities, with the ability to translate fundraising goals into effective programs and measurable results in increased philanthropic revenue.
• Demonstrated success with relationship-building, developing major gifts, increasing the annual fund, implementing stewardship programs and/or experience with capital campaigns, endowment fundraising, planned giving, or transformational gifts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support and confidently solicit significant gifts.
• Familiarity with donor management systems, prospect moves management, fundraising analytics, and effective stewardship practices.
• High professional integrity, sound judgment, initiative, and collaborative leadership style.
• Experience leading development staff and engaging volunteer fundraising leadership.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary is highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Benefits include:
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Possible occasional remote days
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition remission or discounts for eligible children enrolled in qualifying Hershey Montessori School programs
Please send a letter of interest and your resume to HR@Hershey-Montessori.org.
Elementary Guide
ELEMENTARY GUIDE (2027-2028)
Hershey Montessori School
Hershey Montessori School’s gracious, collaborative staff invite you to join the Elementary 6-12 team for a full-time lead teaching position in our Concord Campus located in a beautiful suburb not far from Cleveland. The Guides and Assistants in Elementary have a broad range of experience and longevity and meet weekly to support each other in a culture that strives for every voice to be heard. We seek a Montessori Guide who is open, curious, and enthusiastic to learn from each child and who values supporting the vital role of the parent. Hershey Montessori School offers a comprehensive benefits package, opportunities for professional development, salary commensurate with experience, generous tuition remission when relevant, and a supportive work environment. The position is open for the 27-28 school year (starting August 2027).
- The duties of this position encompass all responsibilities in the Montessori training of an Elementary Guide.
- The candidate will work as a Lead Teacher, with one Assistant, in a classroom of children from 6 to 9 years of age in a fully prepared environment.
- The Concord Campus includes parent-infant classes, toddler classrooms for ages 12 months to 3 years, and three Children’s House 3-6 communities that feed into the Elementary program. The campus sits on 13 acres of land including woods and a pond.
- Currently, there are two 6-9 communities and one 9-12 community.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree & AMI Elementary Diploma
- Experience working in a 6-9, 9-12 or 6-12 classroom preferred.
- Ability to form relationships with parents and to support parents in after-school meetings, community events, as well as presenting to parents in workshop formats.
- Experience working collaboratively with assistants and openness to training new assistants
- Able to travel with the children through uneven terrain in the woods and diverse outdoor environments in every season and to model grace of movement in indoor environments
- Strong spoken and written communication skills
Successful Candidates will align with our school’s mission and values and have an active curiosity to learn.
Who We Are
In its 48th year of operation, Hershey Montessori is an internationally recognized day and boarding independent school located in Northeast Ohio. Our campus in Concord, Ohio educates children from infancy to 12 years of age. The adolescent campus in Huntsburg, Ohio serves grades 7-12 and has a working farm with barns and a greenhouse, residential housing, indoor and outdoor learning environments, and classroom buildings on 97 acres of predominantly wooded land. Compassion, diplomacy, and collaboration skills are developed through experiencing human interdependence at all ages. Relationships with animals, plants and the planet are also emphasized, as the importance of sustainability is personally experienced. Students come from all over the world to engage in Hershey Montessori’s unique school. We welcome culturally knowledgeable candidates who desire to be a part of a community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and who are mindful of equity and social justice.
The school calendar is a 9 ½ month academic cycle that generally runs from mid-August through early June.
Please review our website (www.hershey-montessori.org) to learn more about our school.
Interested? Please send a resume, references, and a cover letter to HR@hershey-montessori.org, sharing with us why you are interested in and qualified for this position.
Hershey Montessori School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
Classroom Assistant
CLASSROOM ASSISTANT
Job Description and Expectations
Classroom Assistants in the Montessori environment are directly responsible to the Montessori Guide in that classroom. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Observing, as needed by the Guide
- Act independently
- Physical requirements of this position will require daily outdoor and indoor physical work which may include running, physical plan or movement outdoors and in the gym. It will be necessary to frequently bend, modeling how to sit on the floor and how to stand up gracefully
- Maintaining a neat, orderly, safe, and clean environment
- Helping children, as needed
- Overseeing lunch and recess times
- Attending regularly scheduled meetings
- Conducting arrival and dismissal proceedings
- Orchestrating meal processes
- Making materials
- Classroom laundry
- Assisting with field trips
- Assisting with toileting needs for younger children
Expectations:
- Communicating effectively and respectfully with students, colleagues, and families
- Required participation in Classroom Assistant meetings, typically one every six weeks
- Required participation in fifteen hours of continuing education/professional development annually
- Primary and Assistant to Infancy Classroom Assistants are required to maintain their First Aid, Child Abuse Prevention and Communicable Disease certifications by tracking when their 3-hour renewal class is due
- Classroom Assistants are encouraged to participate in all Parent Education and community building events
- Classroom Assistants guide parents to speak directly with the Montessori Guide on matters directly related to social/emotional and academic development
- All employees are ambassadors of Hershey Montessori School in the external community, if speaking as an employee with knowledge of the school (see Employee Policy Manual for further information)
- Classroom Assistants are expected to communicate any observations that may impact safety or respect of a student
The school calendar is a 9 ½ month academic cycle that generally runs from mid-August through early June.
Please review our website (www.hershey-montessori.org) to learn more about our school.
Interested? Please send a resume, references, and a cover letter to HR@hershey-montessori.org, sharing with us why you are interested in and qualified for this position.
Hershey Montessori School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
Bus Driver
BUS DRIVER
Hershey Montessori School
Pay: $30.00 per hour
Job Type: Part-time
Work Location: In person
Job description:
Hershey Montessori School is seeking a certified school bus driver for the morning and afternoon route between Concord Township and Huntsburg Township with a stop on Chardon Square. The position will have a regular work schedule of 20 hours per week with 2 hours each morning and afternoon. There is availability for extra hours for field trips with adolescent or elementary students.
Responsibilities:
- Safely transports adolescent students’ mornings and afternoons on our intercampus bus route
- Perform pre/post trip vehicle inspections
- Complete daily trip tickets and refuel vehicle, as needed
Requirements of a School Bus Driver:
- Good verbal communication skills
- Must possess a current T9 certification
- CDL license with school bus endorsement
- At least 21 years old
- Valid driver’s license for at least 3 years
- Acceptable FBI, Ohio BCI, and FMCSA background check along with a Motor Vehicle Report
- Pass a T-8 Physical and DOT drug screening
- Comprehensive knowledge of driving safety and courtesy
Who We Are:
Hershey Montessori is an internationally recognized day and boarding independent school located in Northeast Ohio. Our campus in Concord, Ohio educates children from infancy to 12 years of age. The adolescent campus in Huntsburg, Ohio serves grades 7-12 and has a working farm with barns and a greenhouse, residential housing, indoor and outdoor learning environments, and classroom buildings on 97 acres of predominantly wooded land. As students interact on the farm and in their local community, they understand how society is organized and learn division of labor. Compassion, diplomacy, and collaboration skills are developed through experiencing human interdependence. Relationships with animals, plants and the planet are also emphasized, as the importance of sustainability is personally experienced. Students come from all over the world to engage in Hershey Montessori’s unique school. We welcome culturally knowledgeable candidates who desire to be a part of a community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and who are mindful of equity and social justice.
Interested?
Please send a resume along with your contact information to HR@Hershey-Montessori.org. Matching candidates will be contacted to schedule an introductory interview.
Hershey Montessori School is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
Bus Driver Transportation Support
Bus Driver Transportation Support
General Summary
The Bus Driver has the primary responsibility for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the children, staff and volunteers during bus transportation to and from the campuses of Hershey Montessori School and on field trips. It is also the role of the Bus Driver to guarantee that the bus is clean and in proper working condition at all times; to determine and follow safe and efficient bus routes; to maintain all transportation records required by the program; to ensure bus evacuation drills are held regularly; and, to evacuate children in case of emergency.
Transportation Support has the additional responsibilities of ensuring all campus vehicles (buses and vans) are meeting requirements necessary to fulfill safety laws and regulations, and are fully functional. Transportation Support will ensure any maintenance or repair is taken care of for all campus vehicles.
Essential Functions:
- Ensures the safety and well-being of children and adults being transported to and from the campuses and on field trips.
- Arranges for the annual state inspection of the bus prior to the start of the academic year; assures, with prior approval, purchases and/or repairs are made pursuant to state inspection.
- Completes a comprehensive written inspection of the bus daily, reporting any conditions of concern to the Office Coordinator(s), or Finance Director, before transporting children.
- Arranges for and ensures completion of routine maintenance of bus (e.g., oil change); transporting the bus to and from maintenance and/or repair facilities.
- Ensures that the bus always has sufficient fuel.
- Ensures that there is always fresh drinking water on the bus.
- Operates bus in such a way that road and safety regulations are always followed; reports any traffic violations to the Finance Director immediately.
- Follows safe bus loading and unloading procedures.
- Follows procedures to guarantee no child is left alone on bus without adult supervision at any time, including insuring all children have departed bus at the end of all bus routes (morning, evening and during field trips or other special trips).
- Keeps the bus clean and free of debris; follows other bus cleaning procedures.
- Routinely inventories bus emergency and first aid supplies and equipment, reports needs to the Finance Director.
- Delivers messages/inter-campus mail and other items between the campuses.
- Works with Office Coordinator(s) to ensure bus evacuation drills are held regularly.
- In case of accidents/emergencies, evacuates children according to written and practiced procedures.
- In the event of an accident, assures that medical emergency procedures are followed; completes a written accident report as required.
- Attends and participates in any continuing education required.
- Oversight of the care and maintenance of all campus vehicles for student and adult use.
- Oversight of van certificates.
- Researches and obtains pricing data and options for replacement and/or additional buses and vans for purchase/lease decision-making.
- Performs other duties, as assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.
Skills and Physical Requirements:
- Possess a current Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), hold a current School Bus Driver’s Permit, and be certified in First Aid and CPR for all age groups transported
- Must have a valid Ohio driver’s license
- Ability to pass an annual Ohio School Bus Driver’s physical
- Must be able to comply with background check, including fingerprints, as required
- Ability to present a positive image of the organization to members of the community
- Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
- Ability to comprehend and follow traffic signs required
- Must be able to physically move through the bus, campuses and classrooms. Manual dexterity sufficient to operate the bus, conduct pre-trip inspections, and clean the bus
- Must have effective organizational, problem solving, and time management skills
- Ability to perform responsibilities under pressure and in cases of accidents or other emergencies
Working Conditions:
Risk involved with travel on main highway, side streets and rural roads during school travel, including evenings and weekends. This job involves sitting for long periods as well as stooping, squatting, lifting, carrying, pushing and climbing. Must be able to work a flexible schedule. Must be able to travel, enter, and exit a vehicle without assistance and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions. In the rare occasion, may be exposed to blood or bodily fluids.
Please send a resume along with your contact information to HR@Hershey-Montessori.org. Matching candidates will be contacted to schedule an introductory interview.