News Type: AMI/USA Office Updates

2023-24 Sanford Jones Fund for the Arts The Sanford Jones Fund for the Arts provides AMI/USA members with the opportunity to expand on arts related activities in their Montessori environments. Grant awards may be used to purchase art materials, art history materials, musical instruments, songbooks, costumes and set decorations, and to attend professional development workshops. Grant awards average $400.00 per applicant! Click here for more information! Application opens Feb 17, 2024  

Are Montessori Educators Barely Awake, Woke, or Too Woke for Our Time and Place? This discussion and respectful dialogue, not a debate, will center some important questions. What does being “woke” really mean in the context of education in the United States? Is the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy fundamentally “woke”? Are Montessorians “too woke” or are we “barely even awake” as we strive to meet the challenges that all teachers, families and children face in education and our society today? Join us as moderator Sheri Bishop guides a discussion between Montessori colleagues as they offer different perspectives about “wokeness” in the Montessori Movement. Click here for more information on this session!

Supporting Students by Supporting Teachers For Classroom Teachers and Those That Support Them These virtual professional development sessions are designed for classroom guides, assistants, and others that support teachers in their work. These are real discussions about real issues in Montessori teaching work spaces that may hinder teachers from experiencing the true joy of their chosen profession. The goals of the series are to help teachers more effectively cope with the many career stressors, model social and emotional skills for students, create academically supportive prepared environments, and guide students to engage more deeply in their learning. Join us for these impactful discussions that can positively influence your daily teaching practice! All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST Click here for more information and to register!

A webinar with Dr. Elyse Postlewaite on her recent study: Experiences of Montessori Guides and Administrators Supporting Students with Developmental Delays or Disabilities. January 9, 2024 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Location: Zoom Administrators and educators are invited to hear Dr. Elyse Postlewaite, an independent researcher, who recently completed a development screener study (ASQ) that may interest educators who work with potentially neurodivergent students. AMI/USA supported this study and is inviting you to learn about the findings and possible implications. Click here to register! We look forward to having you join us!

The 2023-2024 theme for the AMI/USA teacher-focused webinar series is “Supporting the Whole Teacher”. These virtual professional development sessions are designed for classroom guides, assistants, and others that support teachers in their work. These are real discussions about real issues in Montessori teaching work spaces that may hinder teachers from experiencing the true joy of their chosen profession. How many times have you heard a teacher say, “I teach because I love the children” and “Teaching is rewarding”? Yet, nearly half of teachers serving children in a classroom daily leave the profession before their fifth year. There are lots of reasons why we have a national teacher shortage. Besides pay, a major teacher experience that fuels the shortage is being in “a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion”. Caring for ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically may seem like another task on the endless list, however it will serve us well to make this effort a personal priority. Gaining and strengthening skills in this area is no less important than didactic skills if we are to effectively cope with the many career stressors, model social and emotional skills for students, create academically supportive prepared environments, and guide students to engage more deeply in their learning. Be a part of these impactful discussions that can positively influence your daily teaching practice.  All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. Click on the Teacher Webinar Series session title for more information: March 18, 2024 Building a Culture of Belonging for Adults with Tamara Sheesley Balis April 29, 2024 Affirming the Humanity of All Teachers with Patrick Harris II May 20, 2024 Navigating the Complex Emotional Territory of Education with Dr. Lisa Sanden We look forward to having you join us, registration coming soon!

AMI/USA is excited to continue learning alongside our community through a series of webinars focusing on issues of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through a Montessori lens. Our hope is that with involvement in each JEDI Series session, participants will build greater capacity to engage in conversations about race and impact in American society, and justice and equity within the Montessori community. Join the dialogues to listen, learn, share, and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible. All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. Click on the JEDI Series session title for more information and registration. November 20, 2023 Building the Capacity to Educate for Peace: What Everyone Should Know About Peace with Uduak-Abasi Akpabio December 4, 2023 The Future of Montessori Education: The AMI/USA and AMS U40 Summit with Dr. Ayize Sabater January 29, 2024 Are Montessori Educators Barely Awake, Woke, or Too Woke for Our Time and Place? with Sheri L. Bishop We look forward to having you join us! Click here to submit your request for a professional development certificate for these sessions.

Association Montessori International of the United States (AMI/USA) seeks an experienced Sr. Director of Finance (SDoF) to join our leadership team. This is a hands-on leadership role that support the organization’s operations and financial functions. Oversees fiscal planning, business operations, and human resource functions. The SDoF is responsible for supporting and executing AMI/USA strategy through effective leadership and strong business acumen. The SDoF reports to and works closely with the Executive Director (ED), collaborates regularly with a cohesive team of Program Directors, contributes to Finance Committee and Board discussions, and interfaces with members, donors, partners and other constituents. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of related experience, preferably within a non-profit environment. Job Title:  Sr. Director of Finance (SDoF) Job Type:  Part Time – Exempt Job Location:  Remote + 1 in-person office day per week (AMI/USA Office’s is in Alexandria, VA) Download the position description. To make a confidential application, please submit resume with salary requirements to montessori@amiusa.org. Essential Duties Leads and analyzes a variety of financial information (e.g. budget variances, cost projections, operational and capital outlay needs, etc.)  for the purpose of providing direction and support, making recommendations, maximizing use of funds, and ensuring overall operations are within budget. Federal and/or state financial filings or applications. Assists a variety of external agency personnel (e.g. auditors, grant representatives, regulatory agency staff, etc.) for the purpose of providing information and general finance/operations support. Collaborates with a variety of personnel for the purpose of implementing and maintaining services and programs. Compiles data from a wide variety of sources for the purpose of analyzing issues, ensuring compliance with organization policies and procedures, and monitoring program components. Conducts internal audits for the purpose of ensuring program operations are within budget and in accordance with fiscal practices; presents Board of Director updates, as requested. Coordinates technology programs and databases for the purpose of completing activities and directing services in a timely manner. Facilitating and/or attending meetings, workshops, seminars on a wide variety of topics (e.g. financial procedures, regulatory requirements, community or outside agency requests, interdepartmental needs, etc.) for the purpose of identifying issues, developing recommendations, supporting other staff, and serving as a representative of the organization. Maintains a variety of fiscal documents, files, records (e.g. accounts payable, accounts receivable, special projects, contracts, asset inventories, etc.) for the purpose of providing an up-to-date reference & audit trail. Administers bidding process and contracts for partnerships (e.g. prepare specifications, evaluate bids, recommend vendors for the purpose of securing items and services within budget and in support of the strategic plan. Champions Montessori efforts on all fronts to include travel (local and international), as requested. Perform other related duties as requested by ED Education and Experience Requirements  Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business, finance or related field. In-depth knowledge of organizational finance/accounting, operations and communications. Proven, successful experience in a related role for an organization or significant department/program. Non-profit organization experience is required. Solid working knowledge and experience with information systems, internet, office/accounting software platforms, and related tools and technologies, with demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel and QuickBooks […]

Click here to download: the AMIUSA 2023-2027 Strategic Plan

Download our 2023 Montessori Experience Media Advisory here

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 16, 2023 On this day of service, the nation will honor the memory and tireless work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  On this day, and after it passes, all educators, from all backgrounds, will be well served by continuing to critically examine his philosophy regarding the purpose of education in our society, particularly for children of color.  Dr. King’s dream for education was “far grander than integration alone”. He envisioned education to be quantitatively and qualitatively equitable.   “It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture.  Education must enable a man to become more efficient and to achieve, with increasing facility, the legitimate goals of his life.”  This philosophy and ideology align with the basis of the Montessori movement founder Maria Montessori’s belief that, “This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them as to a single center.” Historically, some marginalized communities within the United States, including African American communities, identify with Dr. Montessori’s message of inclusion and hope.  We are on the cusp of Black History Month.  It is the perfect time to explore the question posed by the great African American poet, Langston Hughes, in his historical poem, “What Happens to a Dream Deferred?” and to address if the current Montessori movement has succumbed to gradualism or is intentionally moving toward systematic equity… that complex combination of interrelated elements consciously designed to create, support, and sustain social justice.  Are Montessorians using personal and collective power and privilege, to, as past Montessori parent, advocate and philanthropist Kyle Galbraith expresses, “put our focus on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as a logical outgrowth of our spiritual understanding of the Oneness of all life?”  Have Montessorians realized that “all lives are intrinsically interconnected, we cannot create a world that works for ourselves and our loved ones unless it also works for everyone else?” This is service to humanity. In honor of Dr. King and educational philosophy and work to bring equity into all schools, please join a diverse panel of Montessorians as they discuss how power and privilege in the Montessori community can be used to realize the dream of right of entry and justice in all Montessori spaces.   Panel Participants Sheri Bishop, AMI/USA Human Rights and Social Justice Advisor, Moderator Maia Blankenship, Co-CEO, Black Wildflower Funds Jimmy and Kyle Galbraith, Past Montessori Parents, Montessori Advocates, and Philanthropists Fatima Green, Assistant and Montessori Primary Level Trainee, Lee Montessori Public Charter School Sinuda Kapalczynski, Head of School/Guide, Fulton Montessori School BethAnn Slater, Head of School, Middleburg Montessori School and AMI/USA Primary Trainer Alex Brown, Advisory Board member, Black Montessori Education Fund Link to Registration: https://amiusa.org/2023-jedi-series-registration/

Hot off the (virtual) press. To see our schedule, session descriptions, presenters, and more, please download: 2023 Montessori Experience brochure. Plan to join us in Baltimore at the Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses and More by registering here.

AMI/USA is growing! We are adding three brand-new positions to our team and are looking for qualified candidates to apply. Come join a dynamic team dedicated to advancing inclusive Montessori education in the United States. Click on the links below to review the job descriptions and instructions for applying. We look forward to speaking with you! Position: Chief Operating Officer Position: Director of Innovation and Advancement Position: Virtual Events Coordinator 

Association of Montessori International/USA Black History Month 2022   How We Teach History is Just as Important as What We Teach A Word to Guides

We are so grateful for the diverse skills, knowledge, cultures, and human experiences of the AMI/USA community. There are many talents and voices within our membership that can be amplified via AMI/USA platforms. We are extending an invitation to our members to collaborate with the AMI/USA team to pen statements for national holidays, national heritage days and months, and international days that are relevant to our mission and that align with the AMI/USA equity statement. You may want to educate, lead a call to action, and/or reflect on the importance of these occasions in your communities. In the recent past these commentaries and statements have been written from the “Desk of the Executive Director” or other AMI/USA staff.  As we move forward and grow in our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) work and approach, and after receiving suggestions from learned Montessori colleagues, we want to broaden the circle of social thought and facilitate opportunity to listen and hear the voices of those most impacted by history, current social situations, and have lived experiences that are relevant to the topics. During month long celebrations, we can accept more than one statements, stories, and/or social commentaries. Seeking Writing Proposals for Upcoming Topics: 04/22/22          First Day of National Poetry Month                            First Draft Due   03/15/2022 05/01/22          Asian Pacific American Heritage Month                    First Draft Due   04/15/2022 05/01/22          Mental Health Awareness Month (Self-Care)            First Draft Due   04/15/2022 05/02/22          National Children’s Book Week                                First Draft Due   04/15/2022 06/01/22          Caribbean American Heritage Month                        First Draft Due   05/15/2022 06/22/22          Pride Month                                                               First Draft Due   05/15/2022 06/19/22          Juneteenth                                                                 First Draft Due   06/06/2022 07/04/22          Independence Day                                                    First Draft Due   06/15/2022 09/22/22         International Day of Peace                                         First Draft Due   09/07/2022 If you are not quite ready to pen a full statement or social commentary, writing a post for our social media outreach is a great start. First drafts are due 5 days before the designated celebration day. 04/15/22         First Day of Passover (Judaism) 04/17/22          Easter (Christianity) 04/27/22         Holocaust Remembrance Day (from a justice and reparations perspective) 05/05/22          Cinco de Maya (Media Post) 05/08/22          Mother’s Day (Media Post) 05/30/22          Memorial Day (Social Media) 06/18/22          Autistic Pride Day (Neurodiversity) All writers will collaborate with Sarah Kozicki, AMI/USA, Director of Communications and Digital Strategy for AMI/USA formatting and Sheri Bishop, HRSJ Advisor and/or Ayize Sabater, Executive Director, for content review. To express interest, please complete the form at https://amiusa.org/human-rights-social-justice-forum/. In the “share” section include a short biography, the topic of interest, a title of the intended statement or commentary, and the major idea(s) for the content. After your completed form is posted, Sheri Bishop will reach out to discuss the proposal. As an appreciation, $100 will be paid to those writing full statements after the writer submits an invoice to AMI/USA for payment. Those that have social media content published will benefit from cross-posting on desired social media platforms.

Coaching and mentoring offer effective support for high fidelity practice and teacher retention. Individualized growth paths, especially early in a teacher’s career, can make a significant difference in job performance and satisfaction. AMI/USA’s Coaching Program assists our schools in achieving excellence and stability. We have a pool of consultants who are available to offer their expertise in professional development for practitioners. Individual Coaching and Level Workshops will be designed according to the needs of your school community. For more information and to request a Coaching Session, please complete the application here. Customized packages are also available; contact us to discuss how we can create a package that suits the needs of your school.

From the Executive Director’s Desk – Guest Essay – Sheri Bishop AMI/USA Human Rights & Social Justice Advisor The Truths are Self-Evident On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence to dissolve the connection between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies declaring the “United Colonies of North America” to be free and independent states. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This declaration embodies major ideas, people have certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, all men are created equal, and as individuals we have a civic duty to defend these rights for ourselves and others. Also defined and protected in the founding document are stated freedoms.   The Declaration of Independence has given this nation a great legacy and at the same time achieving equality and freedom for all has been America’s greatest challenge. “It took the Civil War, which President Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address called “a new birth of freedom,” to vindicate the Declaration’s famous promise that “all men are created equal” (Rosen and Rubenstein). Still today, it is not unreasonable to adamantly question if equity and freedom has been realized for all. Some would say that our nation is more divided than ever. Yet, because of children, it is never too late to support and advocate for change.   We have time between the end of this unique and taxing 2020-2021 school year, and the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, to rest and reflect. The time around July 4th is prime time to determine how we will move forward to fully reimplement Montessori practices next fall. On this holiday I remember that Dr. Montessori “shed genuine light on social, political, scientific, and religious thought” (Peace and Education, p. ix). She was an activist. She advocated for equity within our human race. However, unfortunately, the Covid -19 pandemic showed us that equity can be an illusion. Many families and children did not have the resources needed to fully engage in the full educational process, Montessori or otherwise. As guides rose to face the challenges of the limitations of a virtual classroom, the children’s freedom of work choice, their freedom of movement, the freedom for them to work and collaborate with others, their freedom to socialize and build their social communities was interrupted.   As we prepare to welcome our children back to the physically open environments, we must prioritize her philosophy regarding freedom, and above all else, establish the conditions for it. As Dr. Montessori states, “freedom is a conquest and not a gift. No one can give freedom to anyone. It has to be conquered…” (Joosten). The Montessori concept of freedom means that each child, each person is navigating in our space and time under conditions that are favorable to their lives (Ramani). The fundamental freedom – the freedom of […]

Dear AMI/USA Colleagues, Members, Collaborators and Community Members At-Large, Since the first day of the 2020 AMI/USA Refresher Course in Seattle, many of you have been speaking to issues of equity and have called for organizational analysis and transformation. After months of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training received by AMI/USA leaders and after building our foundational anti-bias/anti-racist knowledge, we embarked on the task of formulating an equity statement for publication in October 2020. There were numerous meetings and after several iterations of the statement, a broad-based group that included representatives from the AMI/USA Montessori Experience, the Executive Director, members of the Board of Directors and organizational staff (view Board and staff here), the Human Rights and Social Justice (HRSJ) Committee (view committee members here), the HRSJ Advisor (Sheri L. Bishop, M.Ed.), and at-large Montessorians was convened. Rachel Feres, moderator of Equity 2020 Group, Cierra Littlejohn and Betsy Romero from Lee Montessori Public Charter School, and Sinuda Kapalczynski from Fulton Montessori School were willing participants. This ad-hoc committee reflected who we are as an organization, AMI/USA leaders, school level leaders, guides, public and independent Montessorians, colleagues working at wealthy schools and those working at schools that charge sliding scale fees. Most importantly, all of us, with our own many diverse identities were able to agree on this one most important value that is now held by AMI/USA… “We value the lives, lived experiences, contributions, and talents of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with whom we work and serve and strive to establish an organizational ethos that prioritizes humanity.” With this in mind, we as the Executive Director and the Chair of the Board of Directors of Association Montessori International of the United States (AMI/USA) submit this to you, and to all those with whom we collaborate, our living and forever evolving equity statement. Sincerely,        Ayize Sabater, Ed.D.                  Mary Levy AMI/USA Executive Director      Chair, AMI/USA Board of Directors

From the desk of AMI/USA Executive Director, Ayize Sabater, Ed.D.

Dear AMI/USA Community: The AMI/USA Board of Directors would like to announce the selection of Dallas Nelson, Jacqui Miller, and Barbara Williams to serve on the Board of Directors. We had a robust response to our call for nominations and these individuals were selected from a pool of excellent candidates. Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara’s personal strengths, breadth of experience and diverse perspectives strengthen and widen our AMI/USA leadership. Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara are deeply connected to the communities they serve and bring their thoughtful, active and steadfast leadership to AMI/USA at a time great change and transition for our organization. Please read about Dallas, Jacqui and Barbara below and join us in welcoming them to the AMIUSA board of directors.

Click here or the image below to read the full announcement!

  Check out the recording from Sheri’s webinar that took place on Sunday, November 15, 2020 – Preparing Ourselves Spiritually and Mentally for Revolutionary Social Change – click here!

In accordance with Phase I of Virginia’s “safer at home” re-opening plan, the AMI/USA Bookstore is once again open for business and operating on a limited shipping schedule. Orders will be shipped every other Friday starting Friday, June 19th. Please plan to place your order by the end of the day on the Thursday prior to each shipping Friday. Bulk orders should be placed by emailing sarah@amiusa.org. We will continue to monitor the guidelines set out by the state of Virginia and adapt our schedule accordingly. We appreciate your patience as we take steps to serve our community while keeping the safety and well-being of our staff in mind.

  On Friday, February 15th at the opening of the 2019 Refresher Course, AMI/USA Board President, Gretchen Hall, and MAA Board President, John Churn, announced plans to consolidate into one organization. Read their joint statement here. Questions? See below: AMI/USA and MAA Consolidation FAQ Following years of active collaboration to consider more opportunities for improved services and efficiencies among the affiliates of AMI in the United States’, MAA and AMI/USA have reached an agreement to enhance support for administrators through a consolidation of activity within one organization. On 1 March 2019 the functions of MAA will be transferred to AMI/USA. MAA will close all operations as of the transition date. AMI/USA will provide a continuity and amplification of the existing supports for school administrators, previously provided by MAA. This consolidation will also increase the focus of the work of AMI affiliates in the United States to support all Montessori schools, teachers, and parents. This document aims to answer some anticipated questions about the consolidation. If you have other questions, please reach out to AMI/USA at montessori@amiusa.org. What will happen to my current MAA memberships? Current MAA members will become members of AMI/USA; the dues amount that they pay will stay the same at $99/year. Current MAA members will renew with with AMI/USA as AMI/USA Administrator Members. AMI/USA will take over planning and running the Summer Administrators Retreat in partnership with former MAA trustees. How will this affect my current and future dues payment with MAA? There are no planned changes to the membership dues with MAA. Your current member dues cover your membership through the end of your membership period. When your membership is due to renew, your will renew through AMI/USA. What if I am an administrator who is already a member of AMI through AMI/USA, but not a member of MAA? All members of AMI/USA will have an option to change their AMI/USA membership status to Administrator Member and gain access to the additional benefits including the online forum and the administrators document vault. The AMI/USA Administrator Member rate is $99/year. To make this change in your membership, send an email to Director of Membership, Denise Wanits (denise@amiusa.org). What if I am a member of both MAA and AMS? AMS members who are currently members of MAA become members of AMI/USA on March 1, 2019.  Membership in AMI-USA provides Administrator Members with all of the benefits currently available to MAA members plus benefits provided to AMI-USA members such as newsletters, member rates at events, and publications. How does AMI/USA include, connect with, and support members who are not AMI trained? AMI/USA is an organization for everyone interested in Montessori. AMI/USA, NAMTA, and MAA have been open to everyone to join! Having earned an AMI diploma is not a requirement for being a member of AMI, nor is it a requirement for attending most of AMI/USA’s current annual professional development offerings. How will administrators benefit from this consolidation? Simpler memberships: the consolidation of MAA with AMI/USA will provide all of the resources now available within both organizations to be available within […]

On Friday, February 15th at the opening of the 2019 Refresher Course, AMI/USA Board President, Gretchen Hall, and MAA Board President, John Churn, announced plans to consolidate into one organization. Read their joint statement here. Questions? See below: AMI/USA and MAA Consolidation FAQ Following years of active collaboration to consider more opportunities for improved services and efficiencies among the affiliates of AMI in the United States’, MAA and AMI/USA have reached an agreement to enhance support for administrators through a consolidation of activity within one organization. On 1 March 2019 the functions of MAA will be transferred to AMI/USA. MAA will close all operations as of the transition date. AMI/USA will provide a continuity and amplification of the existing supports for school administrators, previously provided by MAA. This consolidation will also increase the focus of the work of AMI affiliates in the United States to support all Montessori schools, teachers, and parents. This document aims to answer some anticipated questions about the consolidation. If you have other questions, please reach out to AMI/USA at montessori@amiusa.org. What will happen to my current MAA memberships? Current MAA members will become members of AMI/USA; the dues amount that they pay will stay the same at $99/year. Current MAA members will renew with with AMI/USA as AMI/USA Administrator Members. AMI/USA will take over planning and running the Summer Administrators Retreat in partnership with former MAA trustees. How will this affect my current and future dues payment with MAA? There are no planned changes to the membership dues with MAA. Your current member dues cover your membership through the end of your membership period. When your membership is due to renew, your will renew through AMI/USA. What if I am an administrator who is already a member of AMI through AMI/USA, but not a member of MAA? All members of AMI/USA will have an option to change their AMI/USA membership status to Administrator Member and gain access to the additional benefits including the online forum and the administrators document vault. The AMI/USA Administrator Member rate is $99/year. To make this change in your membership, send an email to Director of Membership, Denise Wanits (denise@amiusa.org). What if I am a member of both MAA and AMS? AMS members who are currently members of MAA become members of AMI/USA on March 1, 2019.  Membership in AMI-USA provides Administrator Members with all of the benefits currently available to MAA members plus benefits provided to AMI-USA members such as newsletters, member rates at events, and publications. How does AMI/USA include, connect with, and support members who are not AMI trained? AMI/USA is an organization for everyone interested in Montessori. AMI/USA, NAMTA, and MAA have been open to everyone to join! Having earned an AMI diploma is not a requirement for being a member of AMI, nor is it a requirement for attending most of AMI/USA’s current annual professional development offerings. How will administrators benefit from this consolidation? Simpler memberships: the consolidation of MAA with AMI/USA will provide all of […]

Greetings from your AMI/USA Board! In an effort to better communicate and connect our membership with the work of the board, we will be including brief quarterly meeting updates in this and future newsletters. We hope that they serve you as intended. Our July board meeting was held in Simsbury, Connecticut. The location served as the perfect place for review of our past fiscal year, and great discussion regarding the future for AMI/USA. Challenges and opportunities within our Core Programs and Strategic Initiatives, as well as the Affiliates Meeting which has since been held at the IMC in Prague, served as the bulk of our agenda. A highlight of the meeting was our time with Tom Sevigny, President of the MES Fund, with regard to our work together. It was a productive weekend. We wish those starting the 2017-2018 school year much inspiration and discovery ahead! Respectfully, Your AMI/USA Board

The AMI/USA Board would like to announce the selection of KaLinda Bass-Barlow and Connie Black to serve on the Board of Directors. KaLinda and Connie were selected from a pool of excellent candidates and bring both a wealth of experience and a diversity of perspective to the governance of AMI/USA. The Board looks forward to the contributions of KaLinda and Connie as we serve our mission of bringing the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori to the education of children through its support and advancement of the AMI Montessori community in the United States. KaLinda Bass-Barlow is mother of four remarkable young men and a passionate Montessori educator. She currently serves as the Principal of Harold Holliday Montessori School, a public Montessori School in Kansas City, Missouri. KaLinda has been dedicated to the field of education for 13 years, and has served in urban school districts in Houston, Texas and Kansas City and overseas in Abu Dhabi, UAE. As an administrator, KaLinda has been shaped by the successful school leaders that have influenced and molded who she is as a leader. While relatively new to Montessori, KaLinda is committed to providing access to quality Montessori education to all children. She is currently working towards her AMI Primary Teacher Training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas. She is honored to work in collaboration with the AMI/USA Board to serve the AMI Montessori community. An AMI 3-6 Trainer, Connie Black currently serves as Director of Outreach programs at the Montessori Center of Minnesota. In that role, she oversees their AMI EsF recognized Montessori Partners Serving All Children initiative, whose mission is to provide exceptional, quality early childhood education experiences for underserved communities. Connie also serves as Director of Training for the Montessori Training Center Northeast satellite three-summer course, offered in Boston 2017-2019. She also serves as an AMI consultant and examiner. Connie holds a B.A. in English and Theatre from the University of Tennessee Martin and a M.Ed. from Loyola University of Maryland. She has 15 years of experience in Montessori Children’s Houses, as well as 8 years in public school settings working with children with special needs. With over ten years of experience implementing “Montessori Year Round” as well as “Montessori All Day,” Connie is interested in seeing Montessori education being made more broadly available to all children. Her three children are now grown, and she finds great joy in being “Grand” to four grandchildren. Connie lives with her husband, Lynn, in Duluth, Minnesota.

The AMI/USA Bookstore will be closed February 15-19 while our staff works to make the 2018 Refresher Course a successful and productive event. Please place orders before Wednesday at 12 noon ET or wait until Tuesday, February 20. We look forward to seeing everyone in Phoenix!

The AMI/USA Bookstore will be closed for business during the week of Thanksgiving (November 20-24, 2017) and from December 25, 2017 through January 1, 2018. You will still be able to place orders online, but they will not be processed until the bookstore has reopened for business. Anyone urgently needing books before these dates should place their orders BEFORE 12:00 P.M. (Eastern Time) on Friday, November 17 and Friday, December 22. Please keep in mind that the AMI/USA Bookstore can only process orders during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.) and therefore does not process orders on weekends. We look forward to fulfilling your orders. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact sarah@amiusa.org.

AMI is governed by an international board, nominated by our members. This board plays an important role in the strategic direction of our Association. Next year April, board member Guadalupe Borbolla will be retiring, as she will have completed two full terms. We owe her a big thank you for her dedicated service and many contributions to AMI’s work.This is a call to our membership to help nominate candidates to fill the vacancy, as per April 2018. In light of the current composition of the Board, this position needs to be filled by an AMI diploma holder. AMI welcomes candidacies from all backgrounds, as we are dedicated to diversifying our board. If you want to see who currently make up the AMI Board, please have a look at their photos and names below. For a short introduction, and to view all profiles, please click here.  Nominations need to be in by 8 December 2017 All nominations need to be received by 8 December 2017 by the AMI Secretariat (send to nina.monfils@montessori-ami.org), after which they will be evaluated by the AMI Nomination Committee, chaired by Jennifer Davidson. This committee will make final recommendations to the full AMI Board. If you would like to know more and become involved, here are three official documents to be downloaded. The pdf forms can be filled in digitally. Download Profile of New Board Member Download Nomination Form to be Signed by both Nominator and Nominee Download Board Nomination Form to be Filled in by Nominee

The AMI/USA Board is seeking nominations for two new board members to replace Debby Riordan, who assumes the position of Executive Director in June, and Jamie Rue, who resigned from the board.  Jamie and Debby have each served the AMI/USA community for more than 3 years and their contributions as board members will be missed. We are seeking candidates for these vacancies now to ensure a seamless transition process for the new board members, who will assume their board positions in July 2018.  We would like to fill one vacancy with a current AMI trainer or an AMI trainer in training.  The other vacancy does not have any specific requirements. Nominations should be sent directly to Alyssa Schwartz.  Please submit a letter supporting the nomination of your candidate and accompany it with the candidate’s resume or CV by December 15, 2017.  Before suggesting a candidate, you must confirm with that person that he or she will be willing to serve if selected.

The Board of Directors of AMI/USA is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra (Debby) Riordan as the new Executive Director of AMI/USA.  Debby will assume her position by June 9, 2018, replacing interim Executive Director Alyssa Schwartz.  The Board will work with Debby and the AMI/USA office to create a plan that will ensure a smooth transition.  Debby has a rich diversity of experience to bring to the position and has demonstrated support to AMI/USA in numerous capacities; attached is a letter introducing her to you. Currently, Debby is the founding head of Southlake Montessori; an AMI/USA recognized school in Southlake, Texas.  Debby started her Montessori journey as a parent and served on school committees and Boards before deciding to undertake AMI Elementary teacher training.  Since receiving her diploma, she has served as an elementary guide, an assistant head and founding head, all with  AMI/USA  accredited  schools.  Her passion for  Montessori  inspired  her  to additional service beyond her school communities.  Debby is co-chair for the Montessori Alliance of Texas steering committee, a collaboration of AMI and AMS schools that advocates on state requirements and regulations.  She has presented at AMI/USA refresher courses on topics related to advocacy and parenting.  Debby founded Montessori360, an education consulting firm grounded in AMI Montessori education.  She holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Ohio State University.  Debby currently serves on the Board of Directors for AMI/USA as well as the MES fund board.  Previous to her work in Montessori, Debby worked in marketing and research, skills which will compliment her new position well. The AMI/USA board is thankful to Heads Up Educational Consulting for providing a detailed process which resulted in a robust pool of candidates.  The AMI/USA Board began the search process by identifying important stakeholders in the Montessori community to serve as an advisory committee.  Heads Up interviewed each of the advisors, along with the AMI/USA staff, to identify key candidate criteria as well as to help us gain a deeper understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses as an association.  We were grateful for this valuable input, which informed us that our community wants a passionate, inspirational leader who will work collaboratively to move the association forward while honoring the rich history and authenticity that defines AMI in the United States.   We are confident we have found these qualities in Debby Riordan. In her philosophy of leadership statement submitted with her application, Debby wrote: There needs to be a “leader” who can see and guide towards a vision, who can be creative in approach, who can ensure that efforts are not stalled and who keeps enthusiasm and hope alive, who takes the problems and challenges that no one wants and turns them into opportunities and who, at the end of the day, knows that it is not by his or her efforts alone that incredible things happen, but rather by the efforts of a team that he or she has built and nurtured and supported and empowered. The AMI/USA Board looks confidently towards a […]

Heads Up Educational Consulting and Triangle Associates are leading the search for an executive director for AMI/USA,  a membership organization for American Montessori schools and educators dedicated to preserving and expanding authentic Montessori education. Founded in 1970, the association today is a vital operation serving approximately 3,400 individual and school members. The deadline to submit an application for the executive director position has been extended to August 15, 2017. AMI/USA is seeking an executive director to lead the organization’s operation and growth, and in concert with the board of trustees, to define its direction and future. AMI training and experience in Montessori education are preferred but not required. Deep education experience, association leadership, and/or advocacy work will also qualify strong candidates for consideration.  While AMI/USA is located in the Metro-DC area (in historic Old Town, Alexandria), a candidate who would need to telework rather than relocate will be considered as well. Pat Bassett, Rich Odell, and Judy Schechtman are working with the AMI/USA Board to conduct this search. The position is available January 1 or July 1, 2018, depending on candidate availability. Please click here to find more information and email any of the consultants or AMISearch@ta-stl.com if you have questions or would like to arrange an exploratory conversation.

AMI/USA is pleased to announce its two new members of the Board of Directors. Zack Nauth and Durkin Ledgard will take their seats on the Board this July, at the Board meeting in San Francisco. At that time, AMI/USA will wish a fond farewell to Adam Lewis and Roger Ochs, both of whom have given so much of their time and dedication to AMI/USA over the years. Please join us in wishing Adam and Roger the best, and welcome Zack and Durkin to AMI/USA leadership! Zachary Nauth for 10 years has been the Administrator of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois Benefit Funds in Chicago. He manages the day-to-day operations of a 50-employee office providing service to 21,000 health and pension plan participants who work in health care and social services. He has worked for 20 years for SEIU in various capacities—from organizing contract negotiations, to strategy and politics, to employee benefits. Prior to that, he founded and ran a non-profit organization in Louisiana dedicated to improving the environment, education and social services. Mr. Nauth is a journalism graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and has worked as a reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Los Angeles Times and other publications. He has served on the board of Human Rights Watch (Chicago). His wife, Ileana Gomez, has worked as an AMI-trained elementary teacher for more than 20 years, and currently is the owner/director of seed, a Montessori-based afterschool program. The two reside in Oak Park, Ill. Durkin Ledgard practices law, and consults on energy, infrastructure and transportation issues. He served as Chief Legal, Commercial & Administrative Officer of BPZ Resources, Inc., a publically traded oil and gas exploration and production company focusing on Latin America. Mr. Ledgard also served BPZ as Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining BPZ, Mr. Ledgard was a Partner of the law firm Eastham, Watson, Dale & Forney, LLP, where he specialized in Admiralty and Maritime law. Mr. Ledgard was an Assistant Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel for the Department of the Navy. He has over 30 years of experience in the energy and marine transportation industry and holds an Unlimited Tonnage Master’s License issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. He earned his B.S. in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M University in 1982 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1992. He is active in the local community as a past President and current Member-at-Large of the Memorial Meadows Homeowners Association, and serves on the Troop Committee of Boy Scout Troop 673 where he was the past Committee Chair.

As we are in the process of welcoming our two new board members to the AMI/USA Board of Directors, we are again reaching out to our valued community for recommendations of candidates to fill two upcoming vacancies to the board to replace Adam Lewis and Roger Ochs. Both Roger and Adam will be missed for their contributions. Their terms will complete in July, 2016, and we are seeking candidates for these vacancies immediately as we are eager to ensure a seamless transition process for the new members, with the intent of overlapping for board meetings this year. We are hoping to find candidates with private sector expertise. Currently, Adam is a lawyer who has offered a legal and business-minded perspective to the association’s board. Roger is the President of HD Vest Financial Services in TX and has been a welcome contributor toward the association’s investments and finances, as well as its business practices. Board recommendations should be sent directly to bonnie@amiusa.org. Please submit a letter explaining why you think the candidate will be attractive and accompany it with the candidate’s resume or CV and a letter of intent by September 21st. Before suggesting a candidate, you must confirm with that person that he or she will be willing to serve if selected. We are looking to make a decision in October of 2015. As we are in the process of welcoming our two new board members to the AMI/USA Board of Directors, we are again reaching out to our valued community for recommendations of candidates to fill two upcoming vacancies to the board to replace Adam Lewis and Roger Ochs. Both Roger and Adam will be missed for their contributions. Their terms will complete in July, 2016, and we are seeking candidates for these vacancies immediately as we are eager to ensure a seamless transition process for the new members, with the intent of overlapping for board meetings this year. We are hoping to find candidates with private sector expertise. Currently, Adam is a lawyer who has offered a legal and business-minded perspective to the association’s board. Roger is the President of HD Vest Financial Services in TX and has been a welcome contributor toward the association’s investments and finances, as well as its business practices. Board recommendations should be sent directly to bonnie@amiusa.org. Please submit a letter explaining why you think the candidate will be attractive and accompany it with the candidate’s resume or CV and a letter of intent by September 21st. Before suggesting a candidate, you must confirm with that person that he or she will be willing to serve if selected. We are looking to make a decision in October of 2015.

AMI/USA has moved to its permanent offices in Alexandria, Virginia. The new address is: 206 N. Washington St., Ste. 330 Alexandria, VA 22314 Please update your address books to include our new address. We look forward to hearing from you! As always, you can reach us by phone at (703) 746-9919 or by email at montessori@amiusa.org.

AMI/USA is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Board members.  Debby Riordan and Mary Levy will join the Board this summer. Mary Levy and Debby Riordan will replace Pat Forte and Harris Gordon, as their terms expire this summer. Mary and Debby have reputations for dedication to AMI Montessori, fearlessness and collegiality. They were selected from a pool of excellent candidates, the existence of which is testimony to our fervent belief that our community is replete with talent. Mary Levy, Head of School at Mountain View Montessori School in Reno, Nevada, brings a unique combination of experiences to the Board. Mary has worked in Montessori for the last eighteen years, the past twelve at Mountain View Montessori. Prior to her Montessori experience, Mary worked in banking and business. She has an affinity for children and a passion for building positive parent relationships through parent education, cultivating a cohesive school community. Mary holds a B.A. in History from Knox College, has completed graduate work in education at the University of Nevada, completed University of Nevada Non-Profit Professional Studies Program, and is certified in Positive Discipline. Debby Riordan is the founder and Head of School at Southlake Montessori, in Southlake, Texas. Debby first came to Montessori as a parent to four children, serving in leadership roles in parent organizations and on school boards. Debby received her AMI Elementary diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota, and taught in both lower and upper elementary classrooms. She helped to complete the Common Core Curriculum Mapping, published by AMI/USA in 2014, and is co-chair of the Implementation Support Team. Debby also serves as co-chair of the Montessori Alliance of Texas Guiding Coalition, is a member of the Montessori Institute of Texas board, and is an inspector for the AMI Teachers of Texas. Her breadth of experience within the Montessori world, as well as pre-Montessori experience in marketing research, will offer a new and constructive point of view for the AMI/USA Board. We look forward to the contributions Mary and Debby will make to AMI/USA and to the Board. We also wish a fond farewell to Pat and Harris, whose service to AMI/USA and AMI has been extraordinary. Pat and Harris have been invaluable members of the AMI/USA Board during their terms, providing their own unique insights and perspectives on the affairs of the Board. They have also been friends to us all. We thank them gratefully and will miss them both personally and professionally, though we are pleased that they will remain integral parts of the AMI community here in the United States.

AMI celebrated the accomplishments of out-going president, André Roberfroid and welcomed new president, Philip O’Brien at the Annual General Meeting in April. Close to two hundred AMI members enjoyed a wonderful AGM/Montessori Weekend in Amsterdam. Many people enjoyed getting to know colleagues from over 30 different countries and learning about the innovative Montessori work that is done across the world by many fellow Montessorians. The 10 years of André’s presidency have been significant for the organization, and gratitude was expressed for his groundbreaking work. In recognition he was awarded honorary membership in AMI. Members were then introduced to Philip O’Brien who assumed the presidency on May 1, 2014. O’Brien is currently the Senior Adviser at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics Aids Foundation. He was previously Executive Vice President for Communications Advocacy and Development at the Foundation. Prior to joining Elizabeth Glaser, Philip worked for UNICEF in a number of positions and roles, including as Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, and Director of Private Partnerships and Fundraising. He has lived and worked in Asia, Africa, US, and Europe. He holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Wales, Swansea UK.

September 11, 2013 Dear Friends: We are both glad and sad to announce that after 30 years of service to AMI/USA, including the last quarter century (yes, quarter century) as Executive Director, Ms. Virginia McHugh Goodwin will be retiring at the end of the coming academic/fiscal year, 2014. We are glad because Virginia has earned the peace and fulfillment of retirement. Our sadness is, of course, due to our losing her remarkable skills, energy and services in a position that she has continued to grow even after these many years. As impossible as it will be, at the appropriate time in the coming year we will try to give Virginia her due. Suffice to say at the moment that the richness of her career is the product of her innate talent and her commitment to the goals of Montessori education above all rather than short-term personal goals. She has always understood that if she were true to the cause of Montessori, her career would take care of itself. And so it has, to our everlasting benefit. After an extensive search that culminated with in-person interviews, the AMI/USA Board has selected Bonnie Beste to replace Virginia, who participated intimately in the selection process. Bonnie holds an AMI primary diploma from the Teacher Training Center of Northern California, and a B.A in English Literature from the University of California, Davis. Bonnie worked extensively as an Associate Director for a large research organization in marketing and member relations before beginning her career in Montessori education. She subsequently served as a primary guide and parent education liaison at a private AMI school in Northern Virginia until 2010. Since that time, she helped to establish an integral position with the District of Columbia Public Schools as the Early Childhood Montessori Specialist for their public Montessori program. Bonnie oversaw the AMI recognition of all 15 primary classes, as well as forging professional partnerships and gaining experience collaborating with government agencies and other education associations. Bonnie will spend the year working with Virginia to acquaint her as much as possible with the Executive Director’s responsibilities, the AMI community, and AMI/USA’s affairs. She will begin this work now, in September 2013. Sometime in the summer of 2014, we will be moving the AMI/USA office from its long-time home in Rochester, New York, to the Washington, D.C. area. We believe that transfer will be to AMI/USA’s ultimate benefit, as our role in advocacy continues to expand. We know you will like and grow to admire Bonnie, as you have done with Virginia. Please join us in welcoming Bonnie to her new position. Yours truly, Adam Lewis, president AMI/USA Board of Directors