National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector Equity Statement

The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector recognizes structural racism, inequality, and violence inherent in American social and political life, and stands in solidarity with all those who are working for change. We hold the vision of an education system committed to human flourishing for all children. We focus on equitable access to just and sustainable Montessori education because schools are powerful levers of change, and Montessori schools can be powerful levers of change for a just society.

Talking with children about race

Becoming Upended: Teaching and Learning about Race and Racism with Young Children and Their Families — National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Talking to children after racial incidents — University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say to Your Child to Advance Racial — Raising Race Conscious Children

George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children? — Alia E. Dastagir, Beverly Daniel Tatum, and Erlanger Turner in USA TODAY

George Floyd, Racism and Law Enforcement — Anti-Defamation League

Talking Race & Kids Webinars—embrace race

How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism — Parent Toolkit


Anti-Racism Resources

Anti-Racist and Social Justice Resources — Montessori for Social Justice

Justice for George Floyd — Wildflower Schools

Resources — Embracing Equity


Resources for People of the Global Majority

Resources for People of the Global Majority — Maati Wafford


Resources for White People

Anti-Racism Resources — Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein

Cheyenne Eete Kippenberger

Cheyenne Eete KippenbergerCheyenne is a Seminole and Chilean woman, advocate for Indigenous people and a former Miss Indian World. She has utilized her platform as an ambassador to advocate for environmental protections of the Florida Everglades, overturn adverse stereotypes and stigmatizations of mental health in tribal communities, encourage healing through identity and self love, and combat the negative, stereotypical narrative of Native and Indigenous people through education. Cheyenne also provides motivational speaking presentations, empowerment workshops, pageantry coaching, cultural and historical consulting, hosts and emcees, and presents on topics such as culture as prevention, identity, human trafficking, domestic violence, and much more. She strives for authenticity and to live a healthy life physically, mentally and spiritually through her culture and teachings.

Desmond Blackburn

Desmond BlackburnFacing History and Ourselves is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 to “use lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate.” Today, Facing History and Ourselves is a global organization with a network of hundreds of thousands of educators reaching millions of students worldwide, providing extensive curriculum, professional development, and resources. CEO Desmond Blackburn began his public education career as a high school math teacher in Florida and rose through the state’s school system, including serving as principal at a public Montessori school, to become Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools. Blackburn has served as CEO of the New Teacher Center, a national nonprofit that works to disrupt the predictability of educational inequities for systemically underserved students. He was previously Deputy Chancellor of School Leadership for the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation, before joining Facing History and Ourselves this year.