Montessori Fundamentals for School Leaders helps school leaders understand the fundamental elements of Montessori philosophy, curriculum, and pedagogy.

“I was able to understand more fully why Montessori education was designed, how it functions
and the unique challenges when bringing Montessori into the public sector.”

Montessori school leaders, especially in public schools, don’t always come to the work with Montessori training or a clear understanding of how the approach works or what it’s trying to achieve. This course gives leaders what they need to support trained teachers and fully implement Montessori as a whole-school model.

Participants will learn about:

• The fundamental principles and practices of Montessori education.
• The meaning and importance of Montessori terms such as “Prepared Environment”, “Planes of Development,” “Sensitive Periods,” and more.
• The function and importance of Montessori materials.
• How Montessori education supports children’s intellectual and social-emotional development.
• Implementation of a Montessori program in a public system, considering district requirements, state standards, and community engagement.

Participants will need access to the book Montessori: Behind the Genius, available on Amazon for $26.79.

Format

• eight hours of readings, videos, and written reflections
• six one-hour live sessions 
• Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET

Calendar

Attendance and certificates: Certificates of attendance are available for participants who attend 80% or more of live sessions.

Live session recordings: When available, recordings of live sessions are accessible to participants for six months after the date of the session. 

Financial aid: Financial support for professional learning courses is sometimes available. Priority is given to NCMPS individual members serving in public schools. Apply for financial aid using this form.

Paying by check: We accept payment via most credit cards. To request to pay by check, use this form. You will not be registered until your check has been received. We confirm payment and registration via email. Questions about payment? Contact payments@public-montessori.org.

Photos and video: NCMPS may take photos or record video during this course. By participating in this event, you consent to your likeness being used for promotional purposes without compensation, and you release NCMPS from any liability related to this use. If you do not want your likeness used in this way, you may inform the course staff, and NCMPS will make its best effort to prevent such use.

Can’t make this course? Bring this course to you! Please email pd@public-montessori.org for information about hosting this course as a face-to-face or virtual workshop at your school.

About the Instructor

Sandra, a native South African, has been a teacher, mentor and  administrator. Starting out as a science teacher in a British public school, she moved to Montessori Elementary Education, gaining an AMI Montessori Elementary Certification in Bergamo, Italy, after which she immigrated to the United States.  After working in private Montessori schools for many years, in the USA and Australia, she was involved in the development of the Zanetti Montessori Magnet Public School in Springfield MA, an urban public school with a racially and socio-economically diverse population for students ages 3 to 14, at first as the Montessori Mentor/Instructional Coach and then as its Principal. After leaving Springfield Public Schools. Sandra taught in the online Masters program for Montessori credentialed students at the College of St. Catherine, was a course instructor for the Southwest Montessori Training Center and worked as a Montessori Educational Consultant. Presently she is a Senior Associate for the National Center for Montessori in the Public Center. Sandra also holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Education Administration and an AMS Montessori Administrator’s Certification.