Having written a series of books for both children and adults on education, researching and representing Sir Kenny Dalglish's Life story as a rhyming picture book, running his own publishing firm, charity and being school Principal, Gavin McCormack, nominated for Australian Principal of the year 2020, was also named as the 10th most Influential Educator in the world by Linkedin.

On a quest for educational equality, Gavin has run hundreds of miles for charity to raise money to personally build schools, libraries and teacher training centres in the Himalayan region of Nepal, all this whilst successfully running one of Australia's best Montessori primary schools, Gavin knows what it means to work with intention.

During his engaging talks, Gavin proves that when we discover what it is, that truly makes our heart sing, and if we really want to see change in the world, we must first shift our mindset to a place where failure is all part of the journey. Ultimately, the change we wish to see in others lies within.

Gavin makes strong links between the way our classrooms run to the patterns we see emerging in today's society. He emphasizes the importance of essential skill development and the power that these skills will have in the future of our youngest entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.

Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a co-founder of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and Co-Director of its Montessori School Leadership Certification Program.

His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Master Teachers - Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand, Montessori for Every Family: A Practical Parenting Guide To Living, Loving, And Learning with Lorna McGrath

Tim is the father and step-father to five former Montessori students, and the grandfather of a new generation of Montessori students. He lives on a small vineyard north of Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their many horses, dogs, and cats.

Maren Schmidt has been involved in Montessori education for over 40 years.

As a Montessori mom, she served as PTA president, headed fundraising auctions, as well as acted as the school’s official metal inset paper cutter.

Delighted with the growth she saw in her two daughters, she trained in Washington D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio to become an AMI elementary guide.

In 1991 she founded a school in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she acted as a teaching administrator for 13 years, working with children ages two through 15 years.

In 2004 she began writing a syndicated newspaper column and blog, Kids Talk. Her Kids Talk Newsletters are popular with families, teachers and school administrators all over the world.

Maren’s traveled the United States giving workshops at conferences and schools, drawing not only on her Montessori experiences, but her knowledge of business, organizational communications, and children’s literacy.

During her webinar session with us, she’ll share her perspective of how a key Montessori principle, freedom within limits of responsibility, predicates our children’s learning and interactions. 

• Founder and Program Director of Age of Montessori’s infant-toddler, early childhood and elementary teacher certification courses and pioneer in blended Montessori Teacher Education
• Mother of three grown children
• Holder of AMI certificate for 2-1/2 – 7, PAMS certificate for 6-12 and as Master Teacher, BS in Child Development and M.Ed. in Integrative education with Emphasis on Montessori
• 50 years of experience in Montessori education, as toddler, early childhood and elementary teacher, administrator and teacher educator 
• Co-author of Learning to Read is Child’s Play, 2001, Author of Nurturing Your Child’s Inner Life, 2012
  https://ageofmontessori.org/shop/nurturing-your-childs-inner-life
• Creator of more than 75 webinars and 4-week virtual courses on numerous aspects of Montessori education
• International speaker and trainer, presenter on five continents, founder of Montessori early childhood training program in St. Petersburg, Russia 
• 10 years as a Commissioner and Member Board of Directors, Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) 
• 2015 Recipient of MACTE’s Wisdom of the Elders award 
• Currently serves as a MACTE on-site evaluator

When not working, Mary Ellen is an avid photographer and loves to read, hike, travel, collect stamps and spend time with her children and close friends

Paul is the educational director of Designs for Lifelong Learning. He has worked in education as an administrator, university professor, teacher trainer, classroom teacher, researcher, consultant, and author.

A highly regarded international and inspirational speaker, Paul brings transformative learning experiences to educators and parents throughout the world. He is the author of numerous articles and books including An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. He is also the co-author of The 60-Day Montessori Observation Workbook and The Montessori Way, a definitive work on the Montessori experience.

His administrative experiences include working as a head of Montessori schools, and he brought the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program to one of the schools. Paul also works as a director and instructor of Montessori teacher education programs. He has been a Montessori classroom teacher in Montessori early childhood, middle, and high school programs.

Paul holds Montessori teacher certification in early childhood and secondary levels one and two from the American Montessori Society and his doctorate is in Cultural Anthropology.

Julia Volkman has been guiding the learning of children, teachers, and adults since 1997. She is the Founder/President of Maitri Learning and a Teaching Fellow in the Neuroscience of Learning course at Harvard University (Extension School). Among other things, she has also been a consultant and thought partner with the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS), an Advisory Panel Member for and contributor to the Annenberg Foundation’s Neuroscience & the Classroom course, and a Dekyong at Buddhist family camp. Ms. Volkman earned her AMI 3 to 6+ diploma from the Montreal Montessori Training Centre, a bilingual program. She earned her master's degree from Harvard Extension School where she won the Dean’s prize for her research on preschool literacy/the Montessori movable alphabet. Most importantly, she is the mother of a young adult (by birth) and high school sophomore (by adoption) who have taught her most of what she knows. She enjoys hiking with her new puppy, kayaking, research, and conversing with her family at the dinner table.

Paula Lillard Preschlack is trained and certified by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) at the Assistant to Infancy, Primary, and Elementary Levels and audited the Adolescent Orientation with the North American Teachers Association (NAMTA/AMI). For 25 years, she taught children ages 1-14 and served as head of Forest Bluff School in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Paula’s mission is to help people understand the Montessori approach through her speaking and writing. She writes blog articles at forestbluffschool.org/blog for parents and educators and authored an upcoming book, currently titled, Every Child’s Potential: How Montessori Education Fosters Essential Life Traits. Learn more at paulalillardpreschlack.com

Dr. Silvia C. Dubovoy is a teacher trainer for 0 to 6 years, lecturer, examiner, and consultant for the Association Montessori Internationale. Dr. Dubovoy has a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Universidad de Barcelona, Spain. She holds AMI diplomas for Assistants to Infancy (0-3years), Primary (3-6 years), and Special Education and has worked as a First Plane (0-6 years) teacher trainer in Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Costa Rica, Spain, and the US for more than 40 years. As a lecturer she has given workshops and seminars all over the world.

She is the Director of Training of The Montessori Institute of San Diego, in La Jolla, California, and developed her own Inclusive Education Course. For the past 10 years, she was theMontessori Coordinator and Instructor of the Master in Montessori Pedagogy from 0-6 years at Universidad de Vic, Spain, a faculty member of the University of San Diego, and an associate professor with Loyola University in Maryland. She worked closely with Dr. Carl R. Rogers, a renowned humanistic psychologist who heavily influences her everyday work.

Dr. Dubovoy was a member of the AMI Board based in the Netherlands for almost three decades. She also served on the AMI-USA Board from 1995 to 2001. She is currently a member of the AMI Research Committee and continues to consult for various Montessori projects. She lives in La Jolla, California, where she keeps working every day and enjoying the company of her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter.

Life, Spiritual and Conscious Parenting Coach, Motivational Speaker who has empowered thousands of leaders, teachers, parents and children to heal, evolve, grow, transform and unlock their full potential. Keynote Speaker on The Conscious Parenting Method Certified by Dr. Shefali and NLP practitioner by Richard Bandler, teacher and Montessori leader certified in Italy and Atlanta. She has participated in congresses and coaching forums in Dubai, Singapore, USA, Peru, Europe and as speaker and MC of “World Speech Day” for more than 103 countries around the world. She has taught conferences to more than 10 universities in U.S.A and Latin America. She owned her AMI Montessori school in Atlanta for 10 years.

She has been an International Consultant for Higher Ground Education. Val is an expert in conscious leadership and educational project management, Keynote speaker at Childhood Potential Montessori congress in Europe for two year and also for The Global Women Empowerment Summit in Dubai 2020 and Philippines 2022.

She has received multiple awards for her extraordinary service to humanity, such as the 2018 Telemundo Atlanta "Guardian Hero Award" in the US, Sunshine on a Ranney Day Volunteer of the Year Award, Iheart Media Community Hero Award and the "Leaders who forge Peru" award in 2020 for her extraordinary professional development as a coach during the pandemic and the award in Dubai for the top 50 Gobal inspirational women to look out for in 2022.

Her mission is to help you and prepare you to obtain the results you deserve by realizing that you are a source of creation capable of achieving everything you want and dream of. Over her 30 years of practice as Coach and educator she has empowered families and teams from USA, India, Spain, Mexico, and Peru, Columbia to enjoy their parenting journey and create harmonious peaceful families through mindfulness, meditation, spiritual intelligence and emotional management. She has touched thousands of hearts through her conferences and workshops in companies and educational organizations around the world.

www.valalino.com

Jeanne-Marie Paynel, M.Ed, is a Parenting Mentor and Home Consultant guiding parents to let go of feeling overwhelmed and enjoy raising self-sufficient and resilient children with ease.

She’s the host of The Art of Parenting podcast and founder of Your Parenting Mentor (formerly Voila Montessori) where she guides expectant parents, caregivers, and parents of young children to prepare their homes and themselves for children to thrive during the first years of life. 

She believes that a supportive and peaceful atmosphere at home will allow every child to flourish as an independent confident and capable learner. She combines her three passions: Montessori, Conscious Parenting, and Positive Discipline.

Her mission is to help parents appreciate the true importance of their role - not as servants or teachers, but as supporters and guides of their children's natural development.

To connect and enrich Montessori communities from all over the world.  - That is the motto of Jacqueline Hendriksen

Jacqueline met Montessori when she entered a Montessori classroom. The quietness, the concentration, the activity of the children, and the freedom was what hit her. How is this possible was her question? Since that moment the study of the Montessori style became her focus. She visits schools all over the world and is always amazed by the power of the Montessori teacher.

She is a master educationalist from the Netherlands and has become one with the Montessori anthropology: as a teacher, as a trainer, as a mother, as a grandmother and as a person. She has 30 years of experience working at Montessori schools and training centres.

Jacqueline strives to create a professional Montessori culture by providing lectures and real life journeys to Amsterdam or the South of France. Journeys with a different theme but all with the same aim: to enrich yourself, to connect with montessorians from all over the world and to enjoy a week, either in the capital of the Netherlands or under the sun at the Cote d’Azur.

She has written three psychological books: The story of the child, The story of the misunderstood child and the popular book And now Montessori. This book is the key to the new Montessori style and is read by students and teachers all over the world (www.ave-ik.nl)

Overall, Jacqueline combines the old words of Maria Montessori with the latest research insights. And she translates that to real life. We promise everything you learn from her can be applied immediately in your group, school, and life.

In 2016 Jacqueline developed and carried out, together with TCU, Texas Christian University, the program Via PACEM for refugee children from Syria, presented at the AMI congress in Prague, 2017, Pathway to peace: Montessori education for social change.
The heart of this program is the work with volunteers, people working with refugee children. The program is completely based on the model of San Lorenzo: observation and experiment. We were privileged to help these children to change their life of fear into and help them do it themselves. At this moment we are investigating to work it out for the Ukrainian refugees.

Jacqueline has a favourite quote: We will give you the key; you must open the door yourself.(Adapted freely from Maria Montessori, 1937)

www.novia-montessori.com  |  j.hendriksen@novia-montessori.com

Úna has been part of a Montessori classroom environment for a large portion of her life. She is part of a family of Montessori educators, and has great investment in the huge potential that all children have.

Úna holds a first class BMus (Hons) in violin performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, an AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma from the International Montessori Institute in the Netherlands, and is a certified Suzuki violin teacher the the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has diverse experience working in a range of educational environments–from community music workshop facilitation, to private violin tuition, to assisting in Montessori classrooms worldwide and has a great passion for child centered, accessible, music education.

Alongside her work, she is continuing her education and working to complete her MA in Music Psychology in Performance, Education, and Wellbeing from the University of Sheffield.

It is her firm belief that making music is something that should be enjoyed by all, which inspired her new project: Our Montessori Melodies. This provides accessible resources to support child centered music making in homes and classrooms. To learn more about Our Montessori Melodies, check out her instagram @ourmontessorimelodies, and the accompanying website.

Mark Powell was first exposed to Positive Discipline as required reading during his Montessori training in New York in 1994. It was an indispensable foundation that helped him successfully manage 6-9 and 9-12 classrooms in the Boston and San Francisco Bay areas for the next 22 years. While in the United States Mark trained with Jane Nelson herself. Mark also has a M.Ed. specializing in Conflict Resolution from Lesley University. He has published dozens of articles on Montessori education and has designed many classroom materials which are now sold across the United States and internationally. As a Montessori trainer he has delivered many workshops at international conferences and has consulted for dozens of Montessori schools across the U.S. and in Australia and New Zealand. Mark returned home to Queensland in June 2016, serving in a school leadership role for a couple of years after which he founded a new 9-12 classroom. In 2021 Mark stepped out of the classroom after 27 years teaching to join Montessori Australia as Director of Education Services. He gives regular workshops online and in-person on a variety of topics, although bringing the Positive Discipline approach to relationship building to Australian parents is becoming a personal mission! He is the father of Bella, his 13 year-old daily reminder of why these skills are so important!

Pilar Bewley is a veteran Montessorian, homeschooling mom, and entrepreneur. In addition to running a homeschool pod, she supports parents online through her membership program, The Montessori Homeschool Hub, and through one-on-one mentoring.

Pilar holds a Master’s degree in Montessori education, AMI Montessori certifications for ages 3-12, and Positive Discipline parent and classroom certifications. She has over a decade of classroom experience at preschool and Elementary levels, and fell in love with homeschooling three years ago when it became clear that school just wasn’t the right environment for her children.

She created MainlyMontessori.com to provide resources and support for homeschooling parents, because she believes that parents are a child’s most important and influential teachers. Pilar lives with her husband and two children, plus their dog and bunny, in the beautiful rural backcountry of San Diego.

Social media:
Instagram: @mainly.montessori.homeschool
Facebook: Second Plane Montessori: The Elementary Years

 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/mainlymontessori

Website: www.mainlymontessori.com

LaTania holds a Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Xavier University and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Montessori Education from Xavier University. She had completed her lower elementary course work at AMS affiliated Xavier University. Additionally, LaTania attended Centers for Guided Montessori Studies where she completed her upper elementary training. She is a Florida State Certified teacher and holds many certifications through the state of Florida including Reading, ESOL, and ESE endorsements. LaTania has spent her entire career in the public Montessori education space.  LaTania works with Montessori teachers in training as a practicum advisor, instructional guide, and a field consultant. LaTania has pioneered many programs and community services opportunities to serve unprivileged children.  LaTania is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and serves on the executive board as the vice president. She has held a plethora of offices within the organization. Some of these offices include historian, treasurer, recording secretary, and vice president.  LaTania has volunteered as a group leader in her church. LaTania is deeply immersed in the Montessori community.  In 2022, LaTania was a featured speaker in Montessori Voices at the American Montessori Society Conference.

Michael Dorer, Ed.D., is a Senior Consultant in the Montessori Foundation and Executive Director of Sarasota University’s Montessori programs. AMI, AMS and Independent credentialed. His pedagogical interests include imagination, holism, classroom leadership, cosmic education, mathematics, and storytelling. He has authored The Deep Well of Time: The Transformative Power of Storytelling in the Classroom and his latest, Hatching the Cosmic Egg. A new book will be released in Autumn 2022 called Grammar Tells a Story.

This is his 51st year of activity in Montessori. Michael has taught Toddlers, Children’s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School. He has been a teacher educator working with adults for 35 years. Michael wrote the charter for the nation’s first Montessori charter school.

Michael is a very frequent school consultant, Michael was a board member and president of the Minnesota Alliance of Montessorians, International Association of Montessori Educators, and the American Montessori Society.

Michael is retired as Director of the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. He also founded (Founding Director) the Institute for Montessori Innovation at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT.

Michael Dorer may be reached by email at mjdorer@gmail.com or by telephone at + 1 651-353-2109. 

Karin earned an AMI 0-3 Diploma in 2004 with Silvana Montanaro and Maria Teresa Vidales. In 2010, she traveled to Italy and discovered the history of the Assistants to Infancy Montessori School, founded in 1947, and the Montessori Birth Center, founded in 1958, and the rich story of the life of Adele Costa Gnocchi. Karin met Anna Gambacurta Di Palermo who worked with newborns and families for over 50 years, and Grazia Honegger Fresco who earned a diploma from Maria Montessori in 1951 and from Adele Costa Gnocchi's Assistants to Infancy Montessori School in 1949. Since 2012, she has studied with and followed Grazia Honegger Fresco, and spent two years observing newborns. Karin, through observations in various programs under Grazia's guidance, has deepened her understanding of the work with the littlest ones which Grazia defines as ”the alphabet of human work” and “the origin of the Cosmic Task,” which Montessori said is the protection of our biosphere. In collaboration with Grazia and her colleagues, Karin brought this work to the AMI International Montessori Congress in Portland in 2013 and Prague in 2017.

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Click here to watch a short video on YouTube about my Childhood Potential talk and about the Basic Needs of Babies Course and Workshop

Karin Slabaugh is offering online course: the Basic Needs of Babies. More information is available at Montessori For Life . 

Karin's Happy Babies Happy Families coaching and mentoring for parents looks at what will make your relationship more harmonious between you and your child. The wellbeing of the child and the wellbeing of the parents are deeply intertwined. She has been working with the youngest children and their parents since 1995.

 Happy Babies Happy Families: mentoring for peacefull relationships

I am trained as a Certified Professional Midwife (NARM), a doula (WOMBS (ZA) / Paramanadoula (UK)), and a Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive facilitator and master trainer.

Originally born in Switzerland, I moved to South Africa with my South African-born mother and younger sister when I was eight years old and have lived there ever since. My mother Carol, bought a protea flower farm an hour outside of Ceres ( a small town, approximately 2 1/2 hours from Cape Town) and accidentally ‘fell’ into catching the babies of the local farm labourers who called for her because she had ‘healing hands.’ My mother was the midwife for my first birth.

The mother of four home birthed children, I trained as a WOMBS doula with Irene Bourquin in 2009.

I completed the Paramana doula course with Dr Michel Odent and doula Lilliana Lammers in London in 2010 and studied Advanced Midwifery with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and the Farm Midwives in 2011.

With colleague Lana Petersen, I started Home Birth South Africa in 2010,  a web database for those seeking information and advice on home birth in South Africa. Together, we also run the Cape Town Home Birth Gatherings, a quarterly gathering for those seeking information and support on home birth in Cape Town and surrounds.

I am part of the team that organises The Cape Town Midwifery and Birth Conference, which is aimed at sharing and collaboration between South African birth professionals and the women they serve for the purpose of promoting and supporting safe pregnancies and births.

I am the author of The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour, a book based on the work of Dr Michel Odent and which explores the hormone oxytocin and the environmental factors that affect it. The book is available in English, Italian, Russian and Portuguese – with many more translations on the way!

Gabrielle Kotkov is the creator of the Multilingual Montessori website and Instagram and host of the Multilingual Montessori Podcast. She is an AMI- trained 3-6 Montessori Guide and a native of New York City. She trained at the Maria Montessori Institute in London, England, and has worked in Montessori schools in New York, London, and Austin, Texas. She holds a bachelor's degree in Italian from Vassar College and a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate from Teachers College Columbia University. She is a Fulbright Grant Alumni, during which she spent a year teaching English to Italian high schoolers in Catania, Sicily. Gabrielle is fluent in English and Italian, and also speaks French and a bit of Spanish. She currently works as a Montessori mentor and consultant and is earning a Masters in Child Studies from Linköping University in Sweden.

After graduating from Illinois State University, Saniyyah moved to Chicago. In a new city she started working in a Montessori school, this began her career in the classroom. For twelve years she worked in a Montessori environment, first as an assistant and later on getting certified. Having experience in the classroom has given her insight on many of the practices she follows and teaches today. Saniyyah worked in three different schools as a lead teacher and recently decided to move on from the classroom. She is currently writing books for Storey Publishing, tutoring, consulting and writing for The American Montessori Society website.

William (Biff) Maier is Director of Faculty and Curriculum Development at Lexington Montessori School in Massachusetts. He co-directs the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC) in Lexington, MA Biff also works with the Center for Advanced Montessori Studies in Vancouver, B.C. and the International Montessori Education Institute in Taiwan.
Involved with Montessori since 1974, Mr. Maier is a seminar presenter, consultant and mentor to Emerging Leader Fellows for the American Montessori Society. As former Chair of the AMS Teachers’ Section, he served on the AMS National Board of Directors. He received the AMS Living Legacy Award for 2020. Biff earned his B.A. in psychology from Duke University and his M.Ed. from Xavier University, where he also received his AMS Early Childhood and Elementary 6-9 credentials. He also earned an AMI 6-12 credential from the International Center for Advanced Montessori Studies in Bergamo, Italy.

Mr. Maier is married to a psychiatrist who practices privately in Arlington, Massachusetts, and they have two adult children who are Montessori graduates . Ida is a linguist and novelist living in Paris. Ted is a recent college graduate who works in litigation consulting in New York City.

Dr. Robin Howe is a Montessori educator, Head of School and a Senior Consultant for the Montessori Foundation. Howe, who attended Montessori schooling throughout his childhood at the Barrie School in Maryland, holds his American Montessori Society (AMS) and Association Montessori International (AMI) adolescent certifications. He received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and religion from Dickinson College, master’s degree in bioethics from the University of South Florida, and doctorate in Education Leadership from Argosy University.

Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a co-founder of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and Co-Director of its Montessori School Leadership Certification Program.

His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Master Teachers - Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand, Montessori for Every Family: A Practical Parenting Guide To Living, Loving, And Learning with Lorna McGrath

Tim is the father and step-father to five former Montessori students, and the grandfather of a new generation of Montessori students. He lives on a small vineyard north of Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their many horses, dogs, and cats.

Charlotte Snyder is Head of School at The Baan Dek Montessori in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She attended Montessori through Elementary in California, and completed the Primary training at Montessori Northwest in 2010, and earned a Master of Education degree from Loyola University Maryland. She particularly enjoys sharing Montessori philosophy and building relationships with families on Baan Dek’s blog and podcast.

Sylvia Arotin has had over 12 years experience in Montessori teaching and is the founder and director of My Montessori (0-6 yrs) school in Sydney, Australia. She also sits on the Board of Directors for MSCA (Montessori Schools and Centres Australia). Her passion for children’s learning and development, as well as supporting and educating adults, has been fundamental in developing her well-established Guide & Grow brand. 

Guide & Grow is the largest online Montessori support platform for parents/educators in the world with over 208,000 members in the village. Guide & Grow helps parents and educators to build their skill set through NESA accredited workshops, online resources & training seminars; specializing in the art of Montessori communication, guiding behaviour & building children’s skill set. 

Her wealth of knowledge and drive has helped paved her way to success throughout the years. She holds an International Montessori 0-3yrs training, 3-6 AMI Assistants training, an International Communications degree and a Masters in Teaching specializing in early childhood (0-5 yrs) (Honours) from Macquarie University. Sylvia is truly an inspirational motivator to all those who cross her path, be it educators, parents or the wider community and she looks forward to continuing her global mission of spreading authentic Montessori in the years to come. You can contact Sylvia through www.guideandgrow.com. 

An award-winning teacher and author, Professor McTamaney works primarily with undergraduates in Peabody's teacher licensure programs, focusing on the social and political context of public education and the integration of education and the arts.

In addition to her teaching at Vanderbilt, she is the author of two books on Montessori education and compassionate teaching, The Tao of Montessori and A Delicate Task, and noted Montessori lecturer across the US and abroad. Dr. McTamaney was a member of the Social Computing Group at the MIT Media Lab from 2013 until the lab's closing in 2016, where she helped to establish the design principles of the Wildflower Schools project.

Dr. McTamaney's most recent text is Picaso in the Preschool: Children's Development in and through the Arts, which evolved for her teaching at Peabody and is illustrated by Peabody undergraduate, Cynthia Vu. She authors Montessori Daoshi (www.montessoridaoshi.com), a daily blog for parents and teachers interested in Montessori education.

Marian graduated from the University of the Philippines and completed her AMS Early Childhood Montessori Training at Northeast Montessori Institute.

She tenured in different institutions in China, Indonesia and the Philippines; that made her a seasoned educator for almost 20 years.
Her posts have been versatile ranging from working as a Montessori Lead Teacher, Curriculum Designer, Academic Coordinator and Montessori Trainer.

Aside from her passion in teaching, she is also a community organizer. She is the founder of The Filipino Teachers in China, ECPC (Early Childhood Parent Conversations) and Co-Founder of Montetunities.

Marian also founded Cornelia Montessori Philippines, a start-up, vying to build a physical school once funded through a crowdfunding project.

Currently, she is working closely with Ruth Novales, a Montessori colleague; in creating an integrated Montessori and Philippine Curriculum with the aim of developing children in a holistic way.

Jennifer Varbanov began her career as co-founder and Early Childhood Director of Bodhi Tree Montessori school in 1999. She earned her Early Childhood credential from Northeast Montessori Institute, holds a BA in Art History and a Master of Education in Integrative Montessori Education. During her Montessori journey, has been inspired by the science of peace.

Jennifer currently works as the Academic Director at Bambini Montessoribarnehage in Norway. She is the Early Childhood Director for Duhovka Montessori Teacher Education Program and an instructor for Princeton Center for Teacher Education. Jennifer has served as Vice Chairman for Montessori Norge since 2013.

Susan Shea has enjoyed over twenty years of experience in a variety of Montessori programs in both Europe and North America, and continues to promote the well-being of the child through the initiative called Phonetic Planet. 

Having received her AMI training in Dublin, Ireland, she has guided primary level communities in both the American public and private sector. Susan currently lives and works in Vienna, Austria, where she balances her time between an urban bilingual Montessori Kinderhaus, developing material for Phonetic Planet and volunteering her time in support of young people from the refugee community, all of which continues to inspire her to be where her feet are, each and every day.

Lynda Apostol (M.Ed) is the voice, coach & influence behind The Montessori Teacher, LLC. Her professional experience includes roles as a teacher, instructional coach and administrator in the public, private, and charter education sectors in both Montessori and Traditional approaches. She credits both her education and the diversity in her experience for lending her an unmatched perspective and informed understanding of curriculum & instruction as it applies not only to the child, but the guide/teacher.

Lynda now homeschools both of her children and serves as a highly sought-after Holistic Montessori Coach to parents around the world seeking to homeschool or worldschool with the Montessori Method. She also supports educators and educational organizations as a speaker & Holistic Education Consultant.

Lynda’s social media platforms seek to inform, educate and advocate toward a long-term vision of creating more inclusive Montessori cyberspaces that celebrate diversity and promote the global perspective with cultural competence.

Ashley Causey-Golden is the creator of Afrocentric Montessori and the co-creator of Gather Forest School in Atlanta, Georgia. Her teaching is grounded in a liberatory, an anti-bias, and anti-racist framework that centers Blackness. Ashley uses these frameworks to support families in the home setting as well as schools in creating anti-bias and anti-racist curricula and materials.

A 40-year Montessorian, speech and hearing pathologist, and learning disabilities specialist who has devoted her life to addressing the needs of students with learning differences.

Currently, Joyce is Executive Director Emerita of Shelton School & Evaluation Center in Dallas, Texas, the world’s largest independent school for intelligent children with learning differences.

Under Joyce’s tenure as executive director (1990 – 2010), Shelton saw significant growth and development, including an expansion of the application of the Montessori philosophy and practice and, in 2009, the launching of Shelton Montessori Teacher Education. Joyce also oversaw the creation of an outreach center that annually responds to more than 27,000 requests for information and resources and the development of a unique collaboration between Shelton, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and The University of Texas Dallas’s Center for Brain Health.

Joyce is the 2013 Living Legacy Recipient for American Montessori Society (AMS) as well as President of AMS Board of Directors and an active member of several AMS committees. MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) awarded the Wisdom of the Elders award to Joyce in 2015. She is also an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and a committee member for accreditation of the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). Joyce has traveled the world to present classes and keynote speeches about Montessori education and how to meet the needs of learning-different students.  Joyce is married to Dr. Robert Pickering, a former AMS president. She has five children and 13 grandchildren.

Joyce’s book, Montessori Strategies for Children with Learning Differences: The MACAR Model, was written with her friend Sylvia O. Richardson and was published by Parent Child Press in 2019. It is also sold on Amazon.

Nusaibah is a former Montessori child with more than 18 years of experience in Montessori education. She is Montessori trained at the 0-3, 3-6, 6-12 and 12-18 levels. Nusaibah holds a Masters Degree in Montessori education and has worked as a trainer with the Montessori Partnership (UK). She is the founder of Rumi Montessori, one of the first authentic Montessori schools in Malaysia for children aged 3-12. In addition to running her school, Nusaibah provides a variety of online Montessori training courses and consultancy for Montessori teachers, schools and home educators. As a mother of an autistic son, Nusaibah has a special interest in SEN and exploring how Montessori can serve neurodivergent children. Reach out if you would like to connect with her: nusaibah@rumimontessori.org

Instagram: @rumi_montessori
Facebook: @rumimontessori
Website: www.rumimontessori.org
Courses: https://rumi-montessori.teachable.com/

With more than 35 years of experience, Dr. Swati Popat Vats is founder President of Early Childhood Association and the Association for Primary Education and Research- India (www.eca-aper.org). She is also  the President of Podar Education Network (www.podareducation.org) and the Founder Director of Podar Jumbo Kids (www.podarjumbokids.com) , preschool and day care chain in India with more than 500 centres in India  and 2 centres in UAE (Nursery and Teacher Training Institute) .  

She is the Early Years Consultant, Series Editor for the Cambridge International Early Years Program in India and serves on the advisory board of Cambridge University Press and Assessment South Asia advisory Board. Dr. Vats also serves as a Global member of the Think Tank of Kidzania. 

Dr. Vats has authored more than 35 books for parents, teachers and children, many of them published by Scholastic  and has coined a new philosophy 'KIDUCATION- education from the point of view of the child’s development'  

An advocate for children's rights, her most recent agenda is the pursuit to bring an awareness about child safety be it road  safety or safety of children and adolescents from  sexual abuse and Bullying. Technology and its safe use for education is also something that is close to her heart, she has designed the first analog based coding curriculum for young children.      Recently she spoke at the University of Verona,  about her work for Gifted and Talented children and how coding in Kindergarten helps children learn through play. She has designed the world’s first analog curriculum for coding in early and primary years. 

Dr. Vats has received many awards and accolades  and  has conducted workshops and trainings for parents and teachers globally on topics like Brain Development, Coding and Robotics, Understanding how children learn and why they fail, Gifted and Talented children, Understanding global curriculums, How to keep children safe from abuse, and many more. 

 Dr. Vats,  may play many roles but beneath all this is the intrinsic need to give childhood to children in as many ways as possible. 

Claudia Mann has been enchanted with Montessori education since 1976. Certified Elementary I, II and Secondary I, she guided children and adults in classrooms and schools to be passionate learners, sustaining Cosmic Education as the heart of the Montessori vision. After more than 25 years in the classroom, Ms. Mann founded the Chaffee County Montessori School in Salida, CO. Ms. Mann currently coaches teachers and school leaders both onsite and online through www.fossilicious.com and www.inspired-learning-Montessori-education.com.

A Montessori trainer at Ain Shams University, Primary Montessori teacher, Owner of GHT training center for educational solutions, Life and Parent coach. I have trained Montessorians from 7 Arabic countries. Owner and creator of Abcar Arabic curriculum inspired from Montessori.I prepared many Montessori schools within Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

I am a Mother for 3 kids and was a pharmacist from 15 years ago when I decided to shift my career to a Montessorian.

Dr. Susan Zoll specializes in early childhood education having served as a Montessori educator (3-6), Head of School, and teacher trainer. She has served in leadership roles on several U.S. Department of Education funded literacy initiatives (ERF 2004, 2006, 2009). Currently, Dr. Zoll is an Associate Professor in teacher preparation and early childhood workforce development at Rhode Island College. Publications include, Designing a Logic Model to Inform Montessori Research (Culclasure, Daoust, Cote, & Zoll, 2019) and The Montessori Experiment in Rhode Island (1913-1949): Tracing Theory to Implementation over 25 Years (Zoll, 2017). 

Dr. Laura Saylor has served as an educational leader for over 30 years, working in Montessori schools and in higher education. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Educational Policy and Higher Education from The University of Cincinnati. Previously, she earned her B.A. and M.E.d. in Montessori Education from Xavier University.

She is the dean of the School of Education at Mount St. Joseph University where her leadership has resulted in the university’s national recognition in Reading Science. Dr. Saylor frequently presents at national conferences, including the importance of learning and reading science in teacher preparation.

Dr. Natasha Feinberg is an assistant professor at Rhode Island College in their elementary education department and is coordinator of the Master’s of Education in Reading.  The first part of her career was spent as a 4th grade teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach.  She has extensive experience facilitating the implementation of Data Based Individualization (DBI) and the Science of Reading.  Dr. Feinberg holds National Board Certification in Reading and received the Outstanding Educator Award 2017 from the National Center of Intensive Intervention.     

I was introduced to Montessori education philosophy in 1991. The concepts I both learned and taught and the results I witnessed in the last thirty years prove beyond all doubt that the founder; Maria Montessori was a genius who understood child learning and development and the importance of collaborative and independent creativity combined with Peace Education. Along the way, I achieved Montessori certification through several training centers, among them New England Teacher Education Center. I earned a Master’s degree in early childhood education and completed doctoral courses in early childhood education. Learning is a life-long journey for me. I have been a member of the CGMS faculty for several years, and I am very proud to be part of this successful institute that have changed so many lives.

Kitty Bravo has been a Montessori Educator for over 40 years, with experience as a teacher, administrator, board member, teacher educator, and consultant.  She received her AMI Primary Montessori Certification in 1977 and has a BA in Human Development from Eckerd College.

Kitty is the founder and former Head of New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. She has supported the growth and development of several other Montessori schools as an administrator, board member and consultant. She is currently the Director of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies which provides teacher education for all levels of Montessori education and school leadership.

Kitty is an IMC Board Member, serves as the Chair of the IMC Teacher Education Committee and is on the IMC Social Justice Task Group for Teacher Education.  She is committed to providing support to teachers, schools and families as they strive to develop positive learning environments for children.

Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a co-founder of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and Co-Director of its Montessori School Leadership Certification Program.

His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Master Teachers - Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand, Montessori for Every Family: A Practical Parenting Guide To Living, Loving, And Learning with Lorna McGrath

Tim is the father and step-father to five former Montessori students, and the grandfather of a new generation of Montessori students. He lives on a small vineyard north of Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their many horses, dogs, and cats.

Senior Consultant / Montessori Foundation, Learning for Life; IMC Board member, CA

Jonathan Wolff is a senior Montessori school consultant and leadership educator with the Montessori Foundation. He is also the Founder & Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership. Jonathan is a teacher trainer, speaker & author who infuses his work in leadership development with 30 years of experience as an educator & administrator. Through the Montessori Foundation and Learning for Life, he provides retreats, workshops, consultations & coaching for parents, educators, leaders, Boards of Directors, community organizations & learning communities around the globe. The best-practice leadership retreats & workshops he leads facilitate community building, strategic planning & improved organizational effectiveness.

Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a co-founder of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and Co-Director of its Montessori School Leadership Certification Program.

His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Master Teachers - Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand, Montessori for Every Family: A Practical Parenting Guide To Living, Loving, And Learning with Lorna McGrath

Tim is the father and step-father to five former Montessori students, and the grandfather of a new generation of Montessori students. He lives on a small vineyard north of Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their many horses, dogs, and cats.

Spramani Elaun is an author and art curriculum developer from San Diego California. She is a homeschooling mom, art teacher with a science art methodology. Her success is led by observations and real-life practice of how children cognitively and sensorially process art. She is the founder of Nature of Art® Art school & Art supply company, Art Teaching Blueprint Montessori Certification Training. Spramani holds degrees in Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Communications, Print Media, and Fine Arts. visit Nature of Art® @ www.Montessori-Art.com

Senior Consultant / Montessori Foundation, Learning for Life; IMC Board member, CA

Jonathan Wolff is a senior Montessori school consultant and leadership educator with the Montessori Foundation. He is also the Founder & Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership. Jonathan is a teacher trainer, speaker & author who infuses his work in leadership development with 30 years of experience as an educator & administrator. Through the Montessori Foundation and Learning for Life, he provides retreats, workshops, consultations & coaching for parents, educators, leaders, Boards of Directors, community organizations & learning communities around the globe. The best-practice leadership retreats & workshops he leads facilitate community building, strategic planning & improved organizational effectiveness.

Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a co-founder of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and Co-Director of its Montessori School Leadership Certification Program.

His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation. Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.  He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim Seldin is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Finding the Perfect Match - Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Master Teachers - Model Programs, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand, Montessori for Every Family: A Practical Parenting Guide To Living, Loving, And Learning with Lorna McGrath

Tim is the father and step-father to five former Montessori students, and the grandfather of a new generation of Montessori students. He lives on a small vineyard north of Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their many horses, dogs, and cats.

Kitty Bravo has been a Montessori Educator for over 40 years, with experience as a teacher, administrator, board member, teacher educator, and consultant.  She received her AMI Primary Montessori Certification in 1977 and has a BA in Human Development from Eckerd College.

Kitty is the founder and former Head of New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. She has supported the growth and development of several other Montessori schools as an administrator, board member and consultant. She is currently the Director of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies which provides teacher education for all levels of Montessori education and school leadership.

Kitty is an IMC Board Member, serves as the Chair of the IMC Teacher Education Committee and is on the IMC Social Justice Task Group for Teacher Education.  She is committed to providing support to teachers, schools and families as they strive to develop positive learning environments for children.

Kitty Bravo has been a Montessori Educator for over 40 years, with experience as a teacher, administrator, board member, teacher educator, and consultant.  She received her AMI Primary Montessori Certification in 1977 and has a BA in Human Development from Eckerd College.

Kitty is the founder and former Head of New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. She has supported the growth and development of several other Montessori schools as an administrator, board member and consultant. She is currently the Director of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies which provides teacher education for all levels of Montessori education and school leadership.

Kitty is an IMC Board Member, serves as the Chair of the IMC Teacher Education Committee and is on the IMC Social Justice Task Group for Teacher Education.  She is committed to providing support to teachers, schools and families as they strive to develop positive learning environments for children.

Maly Peña joined the Montessori Foundation as their Director of Advancement in June 2021. She is in charge of growing the organization and establishing strategic partnerships with different stake holders.Prior to joining the Montessori Foundation Maly worked as the Heads of Communications at the International Montessori School of Hong Kong, one of the largest Montessori schools in the world, accredited by the IMC. She worked in both the corporate environment handling a global team in Europe, Asia and Latin America for EF Englishtown and the startup world for Spare-One phone, later acquired by AT&T.

Maly received her License’s Degree in Sociology and her Masters in Political Science from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.  She attended a Montessori school in her early years, and received an IB diploma in Mexico. A citizen of the world and a proud Third Culture Child, Maly has lived in France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, California and speaks English, Spanish and French, with knowledge of German, Italian, Portuguese and Cantonese. 

Lorna McGrath has 40+ years of experience in the field of education, teaching children from 18 months through 6 years old and from 12 through 18 years old in both public schools and independent Montessori schools. She received her  M.Ed. with a concentration in Family Counseling from the University of Georgia and her Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. She also served as Associate Head of NewGate School.

Lorna is a Senior Consultant and Director of Family Resources at the Montessori Foundation as well as a Montessori teacher educator, conference presenter, and school consultant. She has used her many years of experience, working with families in the educational setting, to develop programs for parents as well as teachers and children. Most recently, she and Tim Seldin have published a book, Montessori for Every Family -  a practical parenting guide for living, loving, and learning. 

Spramani Elaun is an author and art curriculum developer from San Diego California. She is a homeschooling mom, art teacher with a science art methodology. Her success is led by observations and real-life practice of how children cognitively and sensorially process art. She is the founder of Nature of Art® Art school & Art supply company, Art Teaching Blueprint Montessori Certification Training. Spramani holds degrees in Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Communications, Print Media, and Fine Arts. visit Nature of Art®  @ www.Montessori-Art.com

Christine Lowry is Montessori credentialed and has two graduate degrees in special education. She shares her wealth of education and many years of experience supporting children in a variety of settings, including her students at an Inclusive Montessori school she founded. Christine currently offers consultation and coaching to schools wishing to implement and inclusive Montessori program, and provides customized professional development for schools, organizations, and Montessori educators and families. You can follow her at Montessori Inclusion for Today’s Children on FB, or her website Montessori-Now.com.

IMC Executive Director

Kathy Leitch has been involved with Montessori education for over 40 years. She taught at the infant, toddler, and primary levels for 20 years and founded Renaissance Montessori School, serving as Head of School for 27 years.

She retired from the school in 2019 to focus on her current position as Executive Director of the International Montessori Council (IMC). Additionally, Kathy serves as Director of the CGMS Infant-Toddler Program and Co-Director of the Leadership Credential Program.  These positions provide Kathy the opportunity to support Montessori schools and adult learners throughout the world. In addition, she is passionate about assisting Montessori schools with improvement plans, professional development, and accreditation. 

Kathy continues to be active in Montessori education as a Montessori Teacher Trainer, International Workshop Presenter, and School Consultant. Kathy graduated from Barry University and earned her Montessori Credentials from the American Montessori Society for 0 – 3 & 3-6.  Kathy is also a certified Parenting Instructor and Stress Management Facilitator.

Michael Dorer, Ed.D., is a Senior Consultant in the Montessori Foundation and Executive Director of Sarasota University’s Montessori programs. AMI, AMS and Independent credentialed. His pedagogical interests include imagination, holism, classroom leadership, cosmic education, mathematics, and storytelling. He has authored The Deep Well of Time: The Transformative Power of Storytelling in the Classroom and his latest, Hatching the Cosmic Egg. A new book will be released in Autumn 2022 called Grammar Tells a Story.

This is his 51st year of activity in Montessori. Michael has taught Toddlers, Children’s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School. He has been a teacher educator working with adults for 35 years. Michael wrote the charter for the nation’s first Montessori charter school.

Michael is a very frequent school consultant, Michael was a board member and president of the Minnesota Alliance of Montessorians, International Association of Montessori Educators, and the American Montessori Society.

Michael is retired as Director of the Center for Contemporary Montessori Programs at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. He also founded (Founding Director) the Institute for Montessori Innovation at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT.

Michael Dorer may be reached by email at mjdorer@gmail.com or by telephone at + 1 651-353-2109. 

Paul is the educational director of Designs for Lifelong Learning. He has worked in education as an administrator, university professor, teacher trainer, classroom teacher, researcher, consultant, and author.

A highly regarded international and inspirational speaker, Paul brings transformative learning experiences to educators and parents throughout the world. He is the author of numerous articles and books including An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. He is also the co-author of The 60-Day Montessori Observation Workbook and The Montessori Way, a definitive work on the Montessori experience.

His administrative experiences include working as a head of Montessori schools, and he brought the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program to one of the schools. Paul also works as a director and instructor of Montessori teacher education programs. He has been a Montessori classroom teacher in Montessori early childhood, middle, and high school programs.

Paul holds Montessori teacher certification in early childhood and secondary levels one and two from the American Montessori Society and his doctorate is in Cultural Anthropology.

Christine Lowry is Montessori credentialed and has two graduate degrees in special education. She shares her wealth of education and many years of experience supporting children in a variety of settings, including her students at an Inclusive Montessori school she founded. Christine currently offers consultation and coaching to schools wishing to implement and inclusive Montessori program, and provides customized professional development for schools, organizations, and Montessori educators and families. You can follow her at Montessori Inclusion for Today’s Children on FB, or her website Montessori-Now.com.