Harmony

I just returned from Sarasota, where I spoke to a group of Montessori educators on the topic of Leadership. It is always enjoyable to re-connect with my friends from the Montessori Foundation and the International Montessori Council. I love the gathering because it is rigorously "non-denominational" in it's approach; it appeals to those in the audience at the very start of their Montessori journey's as well as established Montessorians looking to recharge in Florida's autumn sunshine.

It was lovely to see so many of our graduates at the event! - those who had just finished up their degrees this summer (...and are now working in exotic Caribbean locales...you know who you are...) and even experienced educators that remember their time at Loyola from a decade (or more...) ago.

I am very lucky to be able to be able to travel the country meeting Montessori educators from Louisiana, Oregon, Massachusetts and all points in between. This weekend's conference also allowed me to make new friends from England, Nigeria and Poland. It reminds me of how large and diverse the Montessori Industry has become and yet, when we come together, it always feels like a community.

It is an honor to particpate in the global Montessori movement. I feel a great sense of pride that I represent the small but significant role Loyola plays in merging Montessori study with higher education. Graduates from our AMI training centers are taking a rigorous treatment of Dr. Montessori's work, and are using it to make a difference in every setting where adults stand beside children and assist their development. I am humbled by their contribution.

Unfortunately, I believe I brought a Northeastern chill with me on my journey and mixed with a couple of late afternoon rain showers, the cocktail of weather dampened our enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits. Still, indoor options to occupy our time were abundant and I am grateful for the conversation and fellowship.

#harmony

Houston Montessori Institute

It was past time for a visit to Loyola's newest AMI training partner, the Houston Montessori Institute, located at the gorgeous Post Oak School in the city's Bellaire neighbourhood. I remedied that condition this past week.

My schedule included meeting Mirani Smith, one of the HMI trainers and the Early Childhood Director at the Post Oak School. I also convened with the 2015 cohort who will complete their AMI training next summer before they make the pilgrimage to Loyola to finish their Master's degree in 2016 - what a delightful group of students!

My visit corresponded with an Open Session for the next multi-summer Primary cohort starting up this summer. Lot's of interest! Exciting times in Houston.

But the visit would not have been complete without a comprehensive tour of Post Oak with their Head of School, John Long, a delightful gentleman and a true thought leader in the Montessori Community. John could not have been more gracious with his time, and it was a pleasure to see a Montessori School so advanced in it's planning and vigorous in its practice. I believe the kinds of developmental high school models emerging at locations such as Post Oak will truly be the vanguards of education in the next 50 years.

Houston itself was a bit of a surprise to me, more cosmopolitan than I imagined, with a terrific museum district that the Post Oak students frequent. However, I don't mean to imply that I saw anything near the city's extent. As with everything "Texas Sized" (including my order of scallops) it's a 50 mile journey from one end of the city to the other, so there's more to see.

And speaking of site seeing, a word of caution, when the gentleman at the Derek Hotel tells you that it is impossible to walk from the Galleria District to Bellaire, while carting a fancy little knapsack over your shoulder and dressed in dress shoes and a tie, you would be wise to believe him. An hour into my walk-about, attempting to circumnavigate 15 lanes of freeway traffic as the Houston humidity came out in full force; I had visions that Houston might indeed be my final resting place. But not so, I made it - and if I was the first to do so, I will add it to the growing list of impetuous world's records I hold driven by my foolish need to say - nah I can do that!

The West Coast Swing

I had a lovely trip to California last week to visit the Montessori Institute of San Diego located in the gorgeous La Jolla neighborhood. There was so much energy at the center and it was my pleasure to introduce a new cohort of Loyola students into the graduate program. I enjoyed catching up with Greg MacDonald, the elementary trainer, and the team at the institute. As always, I was treated amazingly by Sharon and Vivian who spoiled me with a dinner out on the harbor; I hope that the Dean is not reading this post because the next time I make it out to the Institute I am definitely tacking on a day to my journey - I need to investigate the WWII aircraft carrier on the bay and the lure of the Torrey Pines golf course is too great.

It was exciting to learn more about the inclusion workshop which was held at the institute in the summer. I could scarcely believe how large a contingent came to the San Diego this summer (over 150 attendees!) to discuss Montessori's application to students with diverse needs. I look forward to watching this seminar continue to grow over the coming years.

Always so much happening at all of the centers and we look forward to orienting new students in Milwaukee, Atlanta and Portland in the coming weeks.

Back to Portland

The mid-west was sunny and cool; Portland was scorching! The thermometer hit 99 degrees but I still persevered and walked from my hotel to the training institute for my orientation with six new Assistance to Infancy trainees at Montessori Northwest.

Nancy Lechner, Montessori Northwest's new A to I trainer and former graduate of the Masters program at Loyola was on hand to help me orient the students. It turns out, as it always does in Montessori circles that she had been to my former school in Canberra, Australia, presenting a workshop - I missed her by a day. It is a small Montessori world.

The team at MNW were gracious enough to have me over for a quick social which was the perfect way to end my sojourn. It's been only six months, but I feel like an "old" friend whenever I visit.

The train continues with academic year programs starting up in Atlanta, San Diego, Milwaukee, Portland, and of course right here at home at the Washington Montessori Institute, Loyola's on-site training partner, located at our graduate center in Columbia, Maryland. I look forward to meeting a new group of Montessori practitioners in the fall.

Well enough of this diversion. I must return to marking the ED 625 Advanced Studies papers turned in from the recently concluded intensive summer session. There are some extremely articulate individuals in our program and the advanced study is a great way for them to demonstrate all that they know.  And I get to read them all :), I promise to reference all of your great ideas when I introduce the program to a new summer group in 2015. 'till then.....

Montessori Institute of Milwaukee

I am standing in front of an old All-Girls Catholic School, which has now been redeveloped into office space for multiple Wisconsin based not for profit groups. To my right is the mighty and picturesque Lake Michigan, it recalls to me why the Great Lakes are so named. A quarter turn to my left and through a patch of Maple trees I can see the skyline of downtown Milwaukee in the distance, just close enough so it's there if you need it. I am talking to the Director of the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee Allyn Travis, who is pointing out the features in her view and explaining why she can never leave. Inside the Institute is state of the art, a full classroom of Montessori teacher trainees are being skilled on the finer points of Montessori elementary pedagogy, as Allyn uses a projector to capture every detail.

So many students at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee are taking up the Loyola Masters of Education option. They are an international group that has come to this lovely center to pursue their AMI elementary training over a 3 summer format. Others wait in the wings taking the foundation course and are ready to jump into the academic year format in the fall.

Thank you for the tour Allyn I promise to say hello to Carolyn Hunter and Jackie Kirk. Two beloved Montessori teachers from Australia who you have similarly helped along in their careers.

Peace,

Jack

Meet me in St. Louis

I thought I had been everywhere, but as I flew into St. Louis last week I realized it was my first visit to the city.

I was there to greet a new cohort of Loyola students just starting out in their multi-summer AMI primary training odyssey. A journey that will conclude when they wrap up their Masters of Education in Baltimore at the conclusion of their AMI diploma.

The group has just moved into a lovely facility which will serve as a teacher training facility, as well as a lab school. Dr. Annette Haine's the primary trainer gave a beautiful presentation on the thermic tablets which captivated the attention of the group. There is something so amazingly therapeutic about Montessori Education and it is why with all wonders in the world it must be seen to be appreciated.

Annette let me know that the Institute will be hosting an academic year program starting in the fall of 2015 in addition to their multi summer cohorts, busy times ahead.

I am a little miffed that I only had a few hours to spend in St. Louis what a fantastic city, still I spent those fleeting minutes wisely with a drive along the Mississippi and check in at the arch, a peek at the Ball Park and the finest slab of ribs I have ever tasted.

What a town. I'll be back!

Connect

When I first left teaching to become a school Principal, I secretly wondered if I was still an educator. After spending 12 years at the vanguard of the educational process, I  believed that a teacher's vantage point was the only position from which to impact learning. I was wrong.

I found out that a Head of School has a surprisingly large ability to impact what goes on in the classroom. The effect is a little more indirect but the people you hire, the professional development you support, the culture you create and the respect that you demonstrate is scrutinized endlessly. The effect is difficult to measure on a daily basis but over a 3 or 5 year period there is no more impactful position at a school that its leadership.

As a Head of School I still considered myself a participant, never a pundit. People would ask me "what I believe" and I would quickly redirect to conversation to "watch what I do".

Now after 24 years as a teacher and school leader I come to a new position as Director of a gradate program in teacher preparation. Am I still an educator? Are my effects so indirect to be rendered superficial? Am I am "pundit" and if I was a teacher would I listen?

Last Friday was the end of my first season on the job, only 6 months but nevertheless a full campaign cycle with students completing their Montessori training, coming to Baltimore and finishing their Masters degree. For my part, I was involved in coordinating the show and participating as an instructor in two classes of advanced studies in education.

But it wasn't until the reception at the Dean's house on Friday that I understood the role I was playing. It turns out I am a matchmaker! I looked over the lawn and saw representatives of the 118 Montessori Teachers that completed their degrees in Montessori Education this year. I saw friendships being made, colleague relationships forming, ideas being shared, tears being shed and people in harmony. My role is to lead that jazz band of experiences without ever playing a note.

At times I miss preparing my classroom or leading a school through a sticky situation but now my role is to set the conditions to ensure that there are 100's more every year ready to do the same. From the graduates I met during my first summer I can only be sure of one thing:

The future is in good hands.

Peace

Jack

Mile High and the summer in Baltimore

The Summer Session is in full swing. Our cohort of 100 recently trained Montessori teachers are completing their graduate studies over the next 3.5 weeks in Baltimore and will emerge with a Masters of Education. It is the final stretch of a rewarding road that for some candidates began almost 5 years before! Dean Smith greeted the students at orientation two weeks ago and highlighted the tremendous partnership that Loyola enjoys with the 10 AMI training centers we work with, creating a model that is innovative and unique. It is lovely to see students from Portland to Atlanta working together, creating presentations, studying, socializing and forging friendships that will travel with them throughout their careers. I am thoroughly enjoying teaching my two sections of ED 625, Advanced Studies of Education it is exhilarating to be a resource for so many talented young teachers who are asking poignant questions about education and their craft. 

As a contrast to those completing their Masters, I took the time last Thursday to pop up to Colorado to orient students that are just beginning their Graduate studies in the multi-summer A to I format in Denver. It was fantastic to see Judi Orion who operates an incredibly popular training center in the Mile High city. I last saw Judi in Canberra, Australia in one of her many circumnavigations of the globe while, spreading the word of Dr Montessori. 

My words to the incoming cohorts at orientations was about the fantastic people that you meet in a career in teaching. I am in an honored position when I get to call people like Dean Smith and Judi Orion amongst my colleagues.

Last Friday the group assembled on campus for a some much needed refreshments after class and this Wednesday in a test of my organizational skills I am bringing a group of 50 downtown to an Orioles game. Wish me luck. 

A big shout out to Carrie Stroup, our program coordinator for her incredible skills in organizing the programming from intake to completion and thank you to the entire Loyola community for making the Montessori gang feel at home.

Two more weeks to go .... I'll keep you posted.

Green Green Rocky Road

When I go back to Baltimore
Got no carpet on my floor
Come along and follow me 
We'll go down to Galilee

2 weeks until the summer session for our Montessori M.Ed. students begins, so forgive my folk singing with the Baltimore reference. All faculty are in place are ready to go! Elana Rock, Sharyn Rhodes and Marie Celeste, will be delivering our course on working with Special Needs students. The well loved Jim Snow and prized new comer Denise Bike are ready to proceed with our educational research course. And noted Montessori educator John Feeley and myself will advise students through their Advanced Study in Education.

I have been working on preparing materials for my courses and I am going to start with John Hattie's meta analysis to try to get some interesting discussion started on contemporary issues. Looking forward to it!

The Loyola campus is in incredibly "good nick", I went for a 5 minute walk today and it turned into a half hour just because I I didn't want to go back inside. Gorgeous.

I wish everyone safe travels on the way to Baltimore.

Hooka Tooka, Soda Cracker
Does Your Momma  - chew tobacco
If your momma, chews tobacco
Hooka Tooka,, Hooka Tooka Soda Cracker

And if you don't like my version,

Green Green Rocky Road, Oscar Issac

Year End

Lot's of action at our partner sites with the academic year programs closing at the Washington Montessori Institute and Montessori Northwest in Portland. Students are writing exams and completing orals, the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work.

At the International Montessori Institute in Atlanta the Primary Academic Year program is finishing up as noted by the stream of albums coming in to be read and checked. A similar scene can be witnessed in San Diego, Portland, Houston and at Loyola's graduate center in Columbia where the Washington Montessori Institute is housed.

Soon multi-summer elementary programs will commence in Milwaukee and the Montessori Institute of Atlanta. A primary multi-summer cohort will begin in St. Louis.

Assistance to Infancy will begin in Portland, San Diego and Denver in July. 

At Loyola we are gearing up for our intensive summer program where 100 students representing all of our training centers will be coming to complete their Masters degree at the Evergreen campus.

It's all happening!

On May 22nd  - wait that's this Thursday.... I'll be hosting a virtual information session for applicants to our 2014 / 2015 sessions. Sign up at http://www.loyola.edu/academic/montessori-affiliate/info-sessions for more information.

The last piece of the puzzle to be placed at this time of year are graduation ceremonies at our partner centers as students celebrate the successful completion of their AMI diplomas. "Congraduations" to all!

It's a race to the finish but hopefully there will plenty of opportunities to celebrate and reflect along the way.

"Free the child's potential and you will transform him / her into the world"

Baltimore's Top 10

Are you coming to Baltimore this summer for Loyola's Summer Intensive program? Not sure what to expect? Here is my quick top 10 list of things to see and do. Feel free to reply and help me out with other must see activities. Maryland is so green and vibrant in the summer you're bound to have a memorable time. 

1. Orioles Park at Camden Yards: Fantastic spot to see a game, and just for the record save the date of July 2nd; I have already ordered a block of tickets, center field bleachers here we come

2. Fell's Point: Walk around the cobblestone pathways of Little Italy, super place to spend an evening.

3. The Inner Harbor: Hop on a water taxi and ponder which restaurant to stop at because you are famished after your tour of the aquarium and science center.... choices, choices, choices

4. Under Armour: World headquarters... enough said.

5. The Evergreen Campus at Loyola: It's summer so I suggest a deck chair, drinking a smoothie outside of the Knott Hall Humanities center (pictured above), see ya there.

6. MARC to DC: Take a quick trip to Penn Station, hop on the MARC train to union Station and 45 minutes later you are staring directly at the Capitol Building. The summer session goes over the July 4th weekend.... just saying.

7. Crab-cakes: mmmmm..... crab-cakes.

8. FAC: Loyola's fitness and aquatic center, take the campus shuttle for a work out and get ripped or float in the pool....either way.

9. The Fort: Get your patriotism on and walk to the sight where Francis Scott Keys penned the National Anthem during the war of 1812 - then find a Canadian and debate for hours about who really one that war....

10. Natty Boh: Don't leave without purchasing some cheesy tourist item containing the label of the National Bohemian Brewing Company, even if you don't try the beer

A to I

The best decision I ever made as a Montessori leader was to introduce the Toddler program at my school. It was an ambitious project involving leasehold improvements, government regulations, operational controls and first and foremost, training for the staff.

In the summer prior to commencing the program we sent four staff members to training.

Within 3 years our student retention rate jumped and subsequently our enrollment soared. For the first time we were a coherent, whole school; consistent in ideology from the first moment parents arrived at our door.

In Australia, we ran a Parent and Toddler classroom which was just as successful and I could not help myself from growing the program from one classroom to two.

This summer three of our partner training centers will be providing the Assistance to Infancy course. New classes are starting in Denver, San Diego and Portland. It is a multi-summer format involving a great deal of observations along the way....and it can be pursued along side our M.Ed.at Loyola.

I invite you to inquire with any of the centers below for more information.

• The Montessori Institute of Denver Colorado  http://www.tmidenver.com/

• Montessori Northwest in Portland http://montessori-nw.org/

• Montessori Institute of San Diego http://misdami.org/

A whole summer studying and observing toddlers, what could be better.

Washington Montessori Institute

The Washington Montessori institute was the first AMI training center in the United States. Founded in the early 1960's, the standard of excellence the institute has always been known for continues today.  Janet McDonell and Carol Hicks direct the primary and elementary training respectively. It has been my pleasure to  meet the staff and current students at WMI, who work tirelessly to understand and apply the work of Dr. Montessori.

Today the institute is located in Columbia, Maryland, inside the state of the art graduate center of Loyola University. I am always impressed by the professionalism of the team at WMI as well as the passion of the students. When I attend events at the Washington Montessori Institute, I return optimistic about the next generation of Montessori teachers. The current group of trainees is an eclectic group of individuals who come from various locations around the United States and the world. They represent different academic backgrounds and it is this diversity that supplies the energy needed to drive the transforming process that is characteristic of Montessori teacher preparation.

On Saturday April 5th at 10:00 a.m., I'll be at the Institute helping to orient new candidates to Montessori training and the graduate program in Education at Loyola. An M.Ed. is the highest tertiary qualification available to Montessori practitioners and Loyola is honored to recognize the extensive work of AMI training as graduate level instruction towards a Masters of Education.

See you there!

Atlanta

Loyola University has two AMI training partners in Atlanta. The Montessori Institute of Atlanta trains Elementary teachers in a three summer format. I was in Atlanta while the trainer at "M.I.A.", J. McKeever, was at my former school in Canberra, Australia giving a music workshop to my "old" staff. I had lobbied for a music workshop for 3 years and it finally happened ... as soon as I left! Rumor has it that J.'s workshop was outstanding and I will have to thank her when I come back in the summer to visit the students in action.

J. McKeever

Joen Bettmann

I then proceeded to the International Montessori Training Institute, where I got to meet an enthusiastic group of Primary trainees that are excited about heading to Baltimore for the intensive summer session. I.M.T.I. trains primary teachers in an academic year format. I was also able to stay for an open house with prospective students for the fall. The Primary trainer, Joen Bettmann, provided a wonderful tour for an interested audience. Joen's led the participants through a guided journey which started by explaining walking on the line and ended with the finer points of cantilever bridges, all in a days work in a Montessori Primary classroom. The audience was overcome with emotion as they discovered the possibilities that Montessori offers the children at the 3-6 level.

My trip to Atlanta ended at the Georgia Dome, along side thousands of red shirted Georgia fans, screaming for their Bulldogs to overcome Ole Miss. Georgia fans are passionate in the pregame, subdued when they are behind and downright insufferable when they are winning. Lesson learned.

As soon as I got back to Baltimore I warned everyone I could about the cohort arriving from Atlanta this summer. The charm city is about to get even more charming.

Montessori Northwest

Andrea welcoming visitors to Montessori Northwest

I've always considered myself more of an East Coast guy. I have lived in Toronto, Montreal, Baltimore and spent quite a bit of time up an down the eastern seaboard; so it takes me a little time to adjust to things in places like Vancouver or Seattle.

With this in mind, I approached my visit to Portland with a certain amount of trepidation but that was all laid to rest when I received a tremendous greeting and personal limo service from Sally at Montessori Northwest. Not only was Sally a perfect host but also a fellow Aussie! I arrived at the center and it was humming with activity. A super vibe.

There is a strong cohort of Loyola students in Portland who are headed to Baltimore this summer to finish off their M.Ed. We spent time chatting about the experience, housing options, Orioles games, etc. etc.

The training center had an open house that evening and I was able to meet the next generation of Portland trainees and introduce them to the Loyola option. It is great to see upcoming teachers who are interested in training at the Elementary, Primary and Assistance to Infancy levels.

A big thank you to Jennifer Davidson, Andrea, Sally, Glenn and all of the trainers for a fantastic introduction to the center and the city.

Montessori Institute of San Diego

The first stop on my tour of Loyola's Partner Montessori Training Centers was in the beautiful city of San Diego. There was a method to my madness which became apparent as soon as I arrived at the airport and the thermometer read 75 degrees Fahrenheit!

I met Sharon and Dr. Silvia Dubovoy who could not have been more gracious. Sharon, the Executive Director of the Institute, showed me the M.I.S.D campus, located in the hills of La Jolla. What makes it so special is that the training center is embedded within a magnificent Montessori school, which I am sure serves as an inspiration to the trainees.

Greg MacDonald gave a lecture on Cosmic Education, the term Dr Montessori used to describe the burgeoning interest level of students ages 6 - 12. Children at this age want the world and more, they enjoy "big" work and their quest for discovery moves from the "what" to the "why". Greg handled the topic beautifully. Many people know me from my time in Australia and come away disappointed when my accent does not come close to Greg's native inflection. My Canadian roots run too deep.

I am looking forward to my next trip to La Jolla, and will need to incorporate an extra day in the future as the Torrey Pines golf club is just too close to be ignored.

Such an honor to be able to work this amazing group of teacher trainers and so proud that Loyola can offer their students a pathway to a graduate degree in education for their hard work.

...And it was only the first stop on the tour