Sara Suchman

Sara Suchman

Executive Director

sara.suchman@public-montessori.org

Sara leads and directs the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector.

Sara holds an MAT in ESL from the School for International Training, an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At Harvard, Sara worked in organizational leadership and school reform and her research examined the intersection of learner-centered education methods (including Montessori!) and government-mandated standards and testing. Sara has served on the founding and governing boards of Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School in Washington, DC and as co-clerk of the Community Anti-Racist Anti-Bias Alliance for her daughter’s school.

Sara’s interest in education began when, as a child, she moved between eight different traditional, progressive and Montessori schools over the course of 11years. A passionate student of teaching and learning, Sara began her career as an elementary math and computer teacher and went on to teach math and ESL in both independent and public schools in the US and abroad (Japan, Thailand and Mexico). She has served as a Middle School Director and Director of Curriculum. She taught and supervised in Harvard’s teacher education program and directed the Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy, a partnership between Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and Cambridge Public Schools.

Publications:

  • Suchman, S. P. (2012). Negotiating dual accountability systems: Strategic responses of Big Picture schools to state-mandated standards and assessment. Harvard University.
  • Childress, S., Marietta, G., & Suchman, S. (2008). Boston Teacher Residency: Developing a Strategy for Longterm Impact. Harvard Business School N9-309-043.
  • Suchman, S. P. (2008). Montessori and No Child Left Behind: Strategic Responses of Public Montessori Schools to the Standards and Testing Requirements of NCLB. Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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.