Founders’ Letter
With love to all children
Dear Families and Friends,
With deep gratitude and joy, I welcome you to Valley Montessori Academy— a place built for the wonder and potential of all children.
Watching my child’s wonder grow, I saw how the right environment matters. Montessori nurtures not just curiosity and independence, but also empathy, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.
In Bakersfield, however, access to this kind of learning environment was limited. This absence sparked the journey to bring something essential and inspiring to the community.
Valley Montessori Academy, founded in 2015, offers an education that nurtures not only academic growth but also emotional and social development. With hands-on learning, mixed-age classrooms, and respect for each child’s unique pace, our students learn how to think critically, act with kindness, and grow into confident, compassionate leaders.
Valley Montessori Academy was created with love—for our own children, for yours, and welcome to meet families who walk through our doors. Each day brings the joy and honor of witnessing the beauty of learning through their eyes.
With love and hope for a bright future,
Oxana Raimondo
Founder, Valley Montessori Academy
Oxana Raimondo
Founder & Administrator
Anna Dulcich
Founder & Administrator
Our Affiliates
American Montessori Society
Our teachers are trained and certified by AMS
Positive Discipline Association
Our teachers are trained and certified by the Positive Discipline Association
California Department of Social Services
The Early Childhood Program is fully licensed by the State of California Department of Social Services.
California Department of Education
The Elementary Program is registered with the State of California Department of Education with a Private School Affidavit.
Mission
Valley Montessori Academy (VMA) is committed to promoting the intellectual, emotional and physical development of the whole child, according to the educational philosophy developed by Maria Montessori and guided by the principals of the American Montessori Association (AMS).
Within the context of a three-year early childhood, mixed-age program we seek to provide an excellent academic environment that promotes self-respect, independence, nurtures a love of learning, inspires creativity, stimulates growth and development of the young child. At VMA we welcome families of varied ethic, religious and socio-economic back- grounds who share Maria Montessori`s passion for inclusivity and interconnectedness.
Educational Goal
At the Valley Montessori Academy we aim to provide high-quality, comprehensive education that fosters your child’s love of learning and addresses the whole child academically, emotionally, and socially. The Montessori curriculum varies by program; however the goals for our school are consistent:
To enter a partnership with parents in the education of their children
To lead children toward mastery of individually identified intellectual, social, physical, and daily life skills
To foster in the children deep and persistent curiosity that will lead to lifelong pursuit of knowledge
To help children develop self-confidence, become an independent, responsible, self-disciplined and self-motivated learner
To assist each child develop a habitat of concentration
To instill in each child a sense of personal responsibility for the world in which we live
To spark in our children wonder, imagination, and joy
Join Our Team
Valley Montessori Academy offers a beautiful working environments and the opportunity to work with a passionate community of educators. If this sounds like the right environment for you, we welcome you to apply!
Valley Montessori is looking for passionate educators to join our team. Please, send Resume and Cover Letter to info@valleyma.com with the name of position you are applying in the subject line.
Currently Open Positions
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Job Description
Qualified Candidates Will Have the Following:
Passion and love of working with children
Ability to interact with parents and co-workers in a warm, empathetic, competent and respectful manner
Desire to understand and implement Montessori education
Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus but not required
Providing breaks to classroom teachers and keeping a consistent environment for the children in their absence
Be willing and able to change diapers, and to help with cleaning and caring for a classroom.
Be willing and able to help with cleaning/caring for children/helping/ assisting a Lead Teacher with any working duties
Monitoring nap rooms
Ensuring the safety and care of the children
Assisting with afternoon pick-ups
Credentials:
6 ECE units are needed (Before employment) and must be registered for full completion of 12 ECE units.
Must provide official transcripts and diplomas
Must provide a Live-Scan fingerprint and criminal background check
Must be authorized to work in the US
Must provide a TB test and current Health Report
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
To apply, email your resume to info@valleyma.com
ABOUT VALLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY
Valley Montessori Academy is Bakersfield’s only Montessori school with programs for children from TODDLER through ELEMENTARY. We offer 3 PTO days, professional development opportunities, tuition discounts for employees’ children, beautiful working environments, and the opportunity to work with a passionate community of educators. Our team is dedicated to nourishing children’s natural love of learning. We hope you will consider joining!
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Job Description
Qualified Candidates Will Have the Following:
Passion and love of working with children
Assist a Lead Teacher in providing appropriate support in daily Montessori classroom activities
Desire to understand and implement Montessori education
Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus but not required
Ensuring the safety and care of the children
Assist in promoting and supervising a healthy emotional, social, intellectual, and physical development of each child.
Assist parent group meeting and other school activities.
Maintain classroom and playground clean, neat and organized
Maintain supplies and prepare/create classroom activities
Carefully observes and keeps records on each student’s individual progression
Keep records of students’ attendance
Credentials:
6 ECE units are needed (Before employment) and must be registered for full completion of 12 ECE units.
Must provide official transcripts and diplomas
Must provide a Live-Scan fingerprint and criminal background check
Must be authorized to work in the US
Must provide a TB test and current Health Report
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
To apply, email your resume to info@valleyma.com
ABOUT VALLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY
Valley Montessori Academy is Bakersfield’s only Montessori school with programs for children from TODDLER through ELEMENTARY. We offer 3 PTO days, professional development opportunities, tuition discounts for employees’ children, beautiful working environments, and the opportunity to work with a passionate community of educators. Our team is dedicated to nourishing children’s natural love of learning. We hope you will consider joining!
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Job Description
Qualified Candidates Will Have the Following:
Passion and love of working with children
Interpret Montessori philosophy to parents, community, assistants
Have knowledge of Montessori activities and presentations and implement them with students
Understand and promote the school’s mission, goals and objectives and policies to parents in a positive and supportive manner.
Communicate with parents in a proper professional manner
Attend all staff meetings and participates as an active team member
Be a model of professionalism for parents, assistants, and children
Prepare a monthly parent newsletter, monthly calendar, lesson plan for each student, and rotate/add/change Montessori works in the classroom
Credentials:
Min 12 ECE units of CHDV
Min of 2 years teaching experience in a Montessori environment
BA or BS or is in the process of completion.
Montessori Certification from an accredited Teacher Education Program is preferable
Must provide official transcripts and diplomas
Must provide a Live-Scan fingerprint and criminal background check
Must provide a TB test and current Health Report
Job Types: Full-time
We offer a beautiful working environment, continued education/professional development, and the opportunity to work with a passionate community of educators. If this sounds like the right environment for you, we welcome you to apply!
To apply, email your resume to info@valleyma.com
ABOUT VALLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY
Valley Montessori Academy is Bakersfield’s only Montessori school with programs for children from TODDLER through ELEMENTARY. We offer 3 PTO days, professional development opportunities, tuition discounts for employees’ children, beautiful working environments, and the opportunity to work with a passionate community of educators. Our team is dedicated to nourishing children’s natural love of learning. We hope you will consider joining!