ablackwell@montessorihawaii.org
I found Montessori after I finished my BA in Elementary Education. I was looking for a job and found an asst. position on Craigslist and within 6 months I had fallen in love with the method and wanted to pursue training. I received a Masters of Education in Montessori 6-12 from Lander University and taught at Montessori schools in Charleston, SC, Warsaw, Poland, and Honolulu, HI. I have consulted with Montessori schools in Georgia and observed Montessori schools around the world.
Currently I am completing a PhD in Educational Foundations, Global and international Education from the University of Hawai'i. My dissertation focuses on Montessori education in Poland, in particular the importance of adaptations to the Montessori method to meet local communities needs. I believe that adaptations are inevitable, but that they need to be done carefully and intentionally in order to ensure the fidelity of Montessori schools.
In addition, I think continuous growth and lifelong learning is necessary for all individuals, but especially individuals in education. I hope that through working with MECR I can support others lifelong learning as we grow together.
Doctorate, University of Hawai'i
nconyers@mecr.edu
I was a Montessori student myself in my early childhood years and have many fond memories of loving school and learning. As a college student, I took a job as an assistant in an Elementary I classroom which led me to seek my Elementary credentials after graduating with my BA in Psychology and Communication.
Master's Degree in Education, St. Catherine University
sfranzen@mecr.edu
My introduction to Montessori began in 2009 as an Art Teacher at a Montessori school in northern Virginia. I quickly fell in love with the Montessori approach that so seamlessly weaves together child-centered, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learning, and knew I wanted to expand my teaching to include all curricular areas. After completing my EI-EII training at the Institute of Montessori Studies (IAMS) at Barrie, in Maryland, I worked for 7 years as a bilingual Elementary II guide at the Latin American Montessori School in Washington, DC. I served as an Instructor for EI-EII Art, and then EII at IAMS as well before moving to Denver in 2020. After working as a Secondary Sciences (Occupations) guide at the farm school of Denver Montessori Jr/Sr High School for two years, I took a break to give birth to my daughter in 2022. We decided to return to Montessori together, and we both now attend Monarch Montessori School of Denver, where I again have the pleasure of serving as a bilingual EII guide and Upper Elementary Team Lead.
Masters of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Montessori Education, St. Catherine University
dprosch@mecr.edu
Dakota started teaching in 2000 with Teach for America in the Chicago Public Schools. After 8 years, she learned of Montessori and got her training at Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. After 5 years at Near North Montessori, she returned to the public schools of Chicago and enjoyed the satisfaction of high fidelity Montessori in the public sector. She has worked for 5 years at a Dual Language Montessori School in Denver, and teaches in Spanish as well. She is a trained SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) leader and has facilitated conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward social justice. She completed the Montessori Coaches Training with NCMPS in 2020 and loves talking with teachers about Montessori practices in their classrooms.
Masters in Education, National-Louis University
jwade@mecr.edu
Freedom within limits defines a key component of the Montessori realm for me. I came from a public education background but I was fascinated and drawn by the choice given to children both in academics and in how they learned to behave within their environment. I started as an assistant working in ‘aftercare’ while in my last year of high school. By that time, I was hooked and just couldn’t leave this wonderful philosophy which was designed to nurture the whole child. In Montessori philosophy, I found the nurturing, guidance and choice that I myself needed as I grew to adulthood. After earning my degree, I taught both lower and upper elementary classes before eventually fostering and adopting my son. I have recently specialized in forming inclusive support strategies for unique learners in the Montessori classroom. I now enjoy sharing my passion for Montessori with adults who are new to this ‘freedom within limits’ philosophy.
Masters of Arts in Teaching, Metropolitan State University