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The CGMS Leadership Team has been saddened to learn of the passing of Jackie Cossentino on Sunday, December 14, 2019 after an eleven-month battel with colon cancer. Jackie was a dedicated Montessori leader.  She founded the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) with her husband Keith in 2012 to provide resources and support to Montessori public schools. She was passionate about making Montessori education accessible to all children. Her work has been inspirational and has truly made a great impact. Jackie’s legacy will continue in the work of NCMPS and with all of us whom she inspired over the years.  The Center for Guided Montessori sends our most heartfelt condolences to all Jackie’s family, friends and colleagues at NCMPS. We have such appreciation for the contributions Jackie has made and pledge to continue to support her vision for high quality Montessori public education. A donation site has been set up to honor Jackie Cossentino  and support her legacy  with a contribution to NCMPS, https://www.public-montessori.org/support-public-montessori/

The new year will bring new learning opportunities for the adult learners in the CGMS first Montessori School Leadership Certification course. The first cohort starts January 27, 2020. The course will include 16 months of online work, a one-week residential session, and a 9-month leadership practicum. The course development has been a collaborative process between CGMS and The Montessori Foundation. Martha Carver, experienced Montessori educator and school leader and former CGMS Early Childhood instructor, will serve as the Instructional Guide for the first cohort. Martha will also serve as Co-Director of the Leadership program with Kathy Leitch and Tim Seldin.  We are also excited to have an amazing group of video instructors presenting such topics as Leadership from a Montessori Perspective, Faculty and Human Resources, School Leadership and Governing Bodies, Educational Programs and Survey of Montessori Education, Marketing, Building Enrollment, and Developing Healthy School Communities, and more. The program will be interactive and engaging, providing opportunities to connect and learn with other Montessori school leaders. 

There is limited space available and a discount for enrollment in this first cohort. For more information, contact info@cgms.edu and visit our website, https://www.cgms.edu/programs/leadership-training-program/

In the last few years, CGMS has experienced incredible growth. While every level from Infant- Toddler through Secondary have experienced an increase in enrollment, the elementary level has grown by leaps and bounds! One of the factors contributing to this growth is the addition of the stand alone Elementary I and Elementary II programs.  In a sense, the Elementary level is now actually three programs. With this growth of enrollment comes a need to expand our Elementary Leadership Team. We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Pullman has been promoted to Elementary Director. Ann Winkler will continue to lead the Elementary Team as our Senior Elementary Director. Ann and Stephanie will be working together to meet the needs of our adult learners and faculty while also working on various projects for continuous improvement of the course. We are fortunate to have this dynamic duo sharing their wisdom and experience as we prepare the next generation of Montessori Elementary Guides.

Kathy Leitch  and others Honored at the MACTE Syposium!

Kathy Leitch, CGMS Infant Toddler Director and Co-Director of our new Leadership course, received the MACTE Wisdom of the Elders award at the MACTE symposium on December 5, 2019. This award honors Montessorians who have provided significant leadership and guidance to the Montessori community. 

Kathy was introduced to Montessori during an experimental project in high school. This inspired her to continue reading, researching and visiting Montessori schools. In 1971, while serving as an assistant teacher at a Montessori school, Kathy was given the opportunity to take her first Montessori certification course and became credentialed at the Early Childhood level. Later she went on the receive her Infant-Toddler certification. Kathy founded Renaissance Montessori in Fort Myers in 1992 and during her tenure there, the school served infants – secondary students. 

Kathy is currently the Executive Director of the International Montessori Council (IMC). This position provides Kathy the opportunity to support Montessori schools around the world. In addition to this work and her work with CGMS, Kathy is an International keynote and workshop presenter and a school consultant. She passionately shares her commitment to children, families, and schools and truly makes a difference in her contributions.

In addition to Kathy, two CGMS field consultants, Roseann and Peter Larrow, as well as five other dedicated Montessorians were honored with the 2019 Wisdom of the Elder’s award. Roseann and Peter have run a mobile Montessori training program for many years. They have worked across the US and abroad guiding new Montessori educators in both public and private schools.

Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners. We appreciate your dedication and the amazing work you have and continue to do.

2019 MACTE Wisdom of the Elders Award Winners:

Mimi Basso                         K.T. Korngold

Robyn Brieman                  Peter Larrow

Barbara Ervin                     Roseann Larrow

Dr. Merri King                     Kathy Leitch

2019 Denis Sharpiro Award for Innovation in Montessori Education Winner: Rita Nolan

Rita was honored for her work at the Montessori School of Englewood and the Chicago Montessori Residency (teacher training center). After a long career in private Montessori education in the Chicago area, Rita now works in one of the most impoverished communities in the US. Committed to the concept of the “pedagogy of poverty,” Rita educates local teachers to serve the children in their community, with a focus on equity and access. Her work is truly making a difference!

From left to right: Elaine Glier (CGMS IT Practicum Coordinator), Martha Carver (CGMS CO-Director of the new School Leadership program), Cathy Carpenter (Instructor for the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies), Tanya Ryskind (CGMS EL IG), Jana Morgan Herman (CGMS EC IG), Kathy Leitch (CGMS IT Director, Co-Director CGMS School Leadership program, Ex. Director, IMC), and Kitty Bravo (CGMS Director of Education).   Also attending but not in photo, Jocelyn Swanson (CGMS Secondary Director) and Mercedes Castle (CGMS IT IG). 

Several CGMS faculty members attended the Seventh Symposium of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) in Charlottesville, VA, December 5-7, 2019. The symposium brings together Montessori teacher educators from across the country and around the world. It is a great opportunity to learn and collaborate with other teacher educator and focus on how we can better serve adult learners and as a result the children of the world.  

The symposium began with a presentation by Angeline Lillard on how Montessori is validated by current research. Lillard shared research indicating the value of Montessori programs committed to high fidelity and that Montessori education supports the development of executive functions. She also noted that Montessori works because it is a holistic system. She listed the key components of the Montessori System as: developing self-determination by providing opportunities for children to work with peers, engaging in interesting work that is self- correcting and interconnecting, providing order and organization, intrinsic rewards, strong attention to executive function and the embodiment of cognition and a positive relationship with a teacher who provides warmth and direction.

Another presentation by Sara Robinson, director of a center for child and family crisis services focused on the effects of childhood trauma on learning and development. Ms. Robinson discussed the ACES assessment which measures adverse childhood experiences. She shared research showing that high ACE scores are directly connected to health and life challenges. Childhood trauma can have lasting repercussions disrupting brain development and neurological functioning, causing social, emotional and cognitive impairment, and leads to health risk behaviors that can last a lifetime causing ill health and serious life challenges. Most importantly, Robinson shared steps we can take to support children in the development of resilience; building relationships, building and mastering skills, and building community with resources and access to support.  

Our faculty feel strongly that as compassionate educators we must learn more about trauma informed teaching. CGMS is committed to learning more and providing this information to our adult learners and graduates so we can all work together to support the children who need us the most.

The symposium also provided opportunities to better understand the value of accreditation with a presentation from a panel of accreditation specialist. This presentation highlighted the important role of accreditation and specifically MACTE accreditation has in assuring Montessori educators have opportunities for high quality teacher preparation courses leading to certification that is recognized worldwide. 

The presentation from John Hunter on the World Peace Game was truly inspiring.  Watch John’s Ted Talk to see why!  Jon also shared a  great activity to help us look at topics and issues from a variety of perspectives. It was fun and eye opening. We’ll be adding this activity to our residential and live class schedules.

One CGMS faculty member commented, “One of the big takeaways for me was that adult learners need to feel empowered around delivering parent ‘education’. Many AL’s come out of training without the confidence to educate parents in how to work together with schools in service of their child’s growth and development. Presenter, Martha Teien, gave us a great foundation for a parent ‘network’ curriculum that can be shared with our adult learners.” 

The program ended with an afternoon of round table discussions. This provided a great opportunity to share ideas and tackle important topics with other Montessori teacher educators. Clearly the networking that happens between sessions and during meals and at these round table discussions is one of the most valuable things about this symposium. A good time was had by all. We learned and came away with a renewed commitment to support the next generation of Montessori educators and leaders.