Professional Development Customized for Your Staff
Staff professional development can be expensive. Especially during a pandemic, schools don’t have the option to send their teachers, administrators, or boards off to conferences or retreat centers for renewal and inspiration.
The Montessori Foundation offers the convenience of online professional development. With modern internet communications, more and more schools are finding that live, two-way video conferencing provides the least expensive way to have someone from our teamwork with your teachers, staff, parents, and/or board.
Your staff can participate together in one room or from up to 500 different locations. We will be able to see and hear each other.
We record all sessions, from start to finish, and post them securely online where you and your team can replay them.
The Montessori Foundation’s nationally renowned Montessori consultants and coaches are experts in bringing these services to your school as workshops, weekend retreats, or live two-way video conferences at a fraction of the cost.
Our senior Montessori consultants and coaches include: Michael Dorer • Paul Epstein • Robin Howe • Andrew Kutt • Christine Lowry • Kathy Leitch • Lorna McGrath • Tanya Ryskind • Tim Seldin • Jonathan Wolff.
Our programs and services are customized for your goals. We specifically design them for your school’s needs!
Give your teachers a ‘PREP or PEP’ talk at any point in the year.
The Montessori Foundation can provide your staff with certificates of professional development.
JUST A FEW OF OUR WORKSHOPS
Planning Your School’s Future when Nothing is Certain: Adapting to Different Scenarios
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Parents
Rebuilding Community among Your Children, Parents, and Staff
Building Positive Relations With Parents Early and Often
The Power and Process of School Community Meetings
How to Identify and Respond to Challenging Behaviors as Children Return to In-Class Learning
Practical Life as the Path Back to Normalization in the Age of Covid
Putting the Life Back into Practical Life
10 Characteristics of Effective Montessori Teaching Teams
Classroom Leadership in the Era of Covid-19: Addressing Children’s Trauma, Stress, and Loss
Helping Your Teachers to Be Emotionally Ready for the Uncertainties of this School Year: Fostering Resilience
Getting Your Classroom “Normalized” Earlier in the School Year
Classroom Management That Fosters Self-Directed Learning, Confidence, Higher Order Thinking, and a Collaborative Classroom Community
20 Keys to Helping Students Stay Engaged During and After Lessons.
Moving Toward More Self-Directed Work Planning
SMART Observation Practices: How to Learn More in Less Time
The Three Spheres of the Prepared Environment – Beyond the Materials, Addressing How Teacher Mindfulness and Manners Affect Students
Surviving the Conversations with Parents You Hate to Have
Staying Happy, Healthy, Organized for the Whole School Year
Improving Concentration, Precision, Accuracy, and Work Completion
Is There a Place for Humor and Playfulness in the Montessori Classroom, Especially During a Pandemic?
Storytelling! Excite Imagination and Engagement in a Time of Online, Blended, and Modified Learning
Make the Great Lessons Come Alive!
The Cosmic Curriculum
Bringing Grammar to Life
Elementary Physical Geography
Developing Strong Montessori Adolescent Programs
The New Imperative in Parent Relations: Keeping the Engaged and Onboard
Why Today’s Families Need Parenting Education & Coaching More than Ever and How Schools Can Provide It
Financial Planning and Emergency Fundraising
Parent Education Topics For Parent Education
The True Outcomes of a Montessori Education
How to Raise an Amazing Child: The Montessori Way at Home
The Parenting Puzzle
Yes, You Can Teach It All in Montessori Elementary
And so much more…
Tangible Results
During difficult times, for start-up help, or for faculty/administrator rejuvenation, schools turn to The Montessori Foundation for help because we provide tangible results.
From our experiences working with hundreds of Montessori schools, we can offer solutions to your challenges and identify new opportunities.
As a result of working together, schools enjoy a renewed sense of security, confidence, and support from their families and staff. The schools with which we work discover new ways to increase income and contributions and decrease expenses without compromising the integrity of their Montessori programs.
We are backed by an extensive team of experts in every field of Montessori school leadership from the Montessori Foundation staff and beyond.
Customized for Your School:
We will work together to better understand the specific needs of your teachers.
We will record the live workshop for you to share with your teachers.
Workshop Fees:
1-hour workshop: $300
1-½ hour workshop: $450 More interactive (includes practice exercises)
2-hour workshop: $600 More interactive (includes assessment and practice exercises)
3-hour workshop: $900 Most interactive (includes assessment, practice, and personal action planning exercises)
We offer longer, multi-session, short courses, or ongoing coaching too!
School Consultation Team
Daniel Robinson Howe, III, EdD
Dr. Daniel Robinson (Robin) Howe began his Montessori career at the age of two at the
Barrie School in Silver Spring, MD, which he attended through the eighth grade. Graduating from Dickinson College with two majors (Spanish and Religion), he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Bioethics from University of South Florida.After successfully pursuing a career in the restaurant industry, Robin decided to return to certification from Palm Harbor Montessori
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School (AMS) then attended St. Catherine’s University to earn his Lower and Upper Elementary Certification (AMS). He also attended NAMTA’s Orientation to Adolescent Studies (AMI). Robin holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University and worked with The Montessori Foundation’s management team at NewGate (the Foundation’s lab school), serving as Associate Head of School and as a Senior Montessori Foundation School Consultant.
In his spare time, Robin lives with two Elf cats and has set a personal goal to run marathons in all fifty states.
Contact Info:
941-729-9565 / 800-655-5843
Kathy Leitch
Kathy Leitch has been a leader in Montessori education for over 30 years. She graduated from Barry University and earned her Montessori credentials from the American Montessori Society for 0 – 3 & 3-6. Kathy founded and continues to serve as head of Renaissance Montessori School in Fort Myers, Florida. She
has over 15 years experience as a Montessori Teacher Trainer, School Consultant and Accreditation Commissioner. Additionally,
Kathy is a certified Parenting Instructor and Mindfulness Facilitator.
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Kathy has a twenty (20) year history of serving the IMC as a school member, board member, and accreditation commissioner. These experiences have given her perspective, insight, understanding, and appreciation of the organization. Kathy’s passion, experience, and diverse skills will support the board in setting the course for the future of the International Montessori Council. “With the Montessori community and its many diverse organizations coming together, collaborating, and finding common ground as never before, we are at a crossroads. This provides a call to action with unique opportunities to impact the quantity and quality of Montessori programs world-wide. Those who know me well have called me a bridge builder and steadfast advocate for the respectful appreciation of diverse views and practices, a viewpoint I carry with me into this new position. As I look forward, I am ready to advance IMC’s contributions which include our Peace Academy, affordable and accessible leadership development, school accreditation, teacher training programs, a generous resource library, and our international chapters. I will be working closely with our board and membership to further the vision and mission: to nurture, connect, and inspire the global Montessori community.” Areas of
Expertise: Professional Development for Faculty and Staff; Classroom Leadership – Cultivating Cooperative Classrooms; School Leadership – Compliance and Licensing, Staffing, Admissions (enrollment), Building Strong School Communities (retention); Program Development – Studios (after school activities), All-Day Montessori, Starting an Infant Program, Supporting Families.
Contact Info:
941-729-9565 / 800-655-5843
Sheila Linville
Sheila Linville is a Senior Consultant and also serves as the International Montessori Council (IMC) Director of School Accreditation and Affiliation. She founded Lake Mary Montessori Academy (LMMA) in 1995 where she was a beloved teacher and Executive Director for almost three decades until her retirement in 2021.
She is an educator, mentor, coach, and inspiration to the teachers, parents, and children in her local sphere of influence and beyond earning her Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
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from Rollins College and her Montessori Credentials in both Early Childhood and Elementary I from the American Montessori Society.
In addition to being a valuable resource to families, faculty, and leadership, Sheila is also a distinguished presenter and keynote speaker serving the National and International Montessori community. Sheila has a broad skill set with experience in classroom curriculum evaluation and alignment; classroom and environmental design; Head of School coaching; creating parent relations with Head of School and the faculty; Conscious Discipline teacher training; 7 Habits of Highly Effective Children, People & Families; creating an effective and economical School Guidance Program which positively impacts school enrollment and retention; and School Financial Health analysis in relation to budgeting and tuition structuring resulting in effective tuition collection.
Contact Info:
941-729-9565 / 800-655-5843
Christine Lowry, MEd
With an MEd. in special education and a Montessori credential, and throughout her more than 30 years of experience, Christine has been committed to serving students with special needs in a variety of settings. She has founded, directed, and taught in two Inclusive Montessori schools serving students with needs of behavior and learning. She has successfully guided students in every category of special needs, including sensory processing disorder, autism, attention difficulties, developmental and intellectual delays, specific learning disabilities,
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twice-exceptional, and students experiencing trauma in Montessori classrooms, toddler- adolescent. She has supported families as they partner with the school and community professionals and resources.
Christine has developed The Montessori-based Multi-Tiered System of Support ©, a framework consistent with Montessori philosophy and pedagogy to support All students through Tier 1- universal best practices, Tier 2- Targeted Instruction and Support, and Tier 3, Systematic Individualized Plans of Intervention.
Christine shares her education and experience with schools, and districts as they implement the Montessori- Based MTSS and provides teachers the consultation and coaching they need to support all students in a Montessori environment. She works with families of students with special needs attending Montessori schools. She offers online courses to Montessori leaders and teachers through the Montessori Foundation and is a contributing writer to Montessori Leadership magazine.
Christine is currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado-Denver in Early Childhood Inclusive Special Education and the Coaching Academy.
Contact Christine
Tim Seldin
Tim is the President of the Montessori Foundation and Chair of the International Montessori Council. He is a noted expert in Montessori education, specializing in school leadership. He is a senior school consultant, keynote speaker, workshop leader, and accreditation specialist. His more than forty years of experience in Montessori education includes twenty-two years as Headmaster of the
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Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, which was his own alma mater from age two through high school graduation.
Tim was the co-founder and Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and currently also serves as the Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from The American University, and his Montessori certification from the American Montessori Society. Tim is the author of several books on Montessori Education, including his latest, How to Raise An Amazing Child, The Montessori Way with Dr. Paul Epstein, Building a World-class Montessori School, Master Teachers – Model Programs with Jonathan Wolff, Finding the Perfect Match – Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment, Starting a New Montessori School, Celebrations of Life, and The World in the Palm of Her Hand.
Contact Info:
941-729-9565 / 800-655-5843
Jonathan Wolff
Jonathan Wolff is a Montessori school consultant, leadership coach, teacher educator, and author, who brings to his work 40 years of experience in Montessori education as a classroom teacher and school administrator.
He is the author of numerous educational publications, including The Self-Awakened Child – Character Education Program.
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Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education from Temple University and a certification as a Primary Guide from the Association Montessori Internationale. He studied with Mother Isabelle Eugenie, an early student of Dr. Maria Montessori.
Areas of Expertise: Montessori program assessment: classroom observations and program development; School leadership consulting and coaching; Staff on-site in-services, webinars, and retreats; Parent education and, Board development, consulting, and retreats’ strategic planning.
Contact Info:
941-729-9565 / 800-655-5843