About the Montessori Foundation /
About the foundationAbout Us
The mission of the Montessori Foundation is:
to nurture, inspire, and support the development of strong, successful Montessori schools around the world, and to help to build an international Montessori community of joyful, loving young people and adults, working together to build a world in which kindness, compassion, sanity, and peace can finally blossom.
History
The Foundation was established in 1992 by four leaders of the American Montessori Society [Nancy McCormick Rambush, Marie Dugan, Patty Calvert, and Tim Seldin, along with the our Executive Director, Joyce St. Giermaine] to create an independent source of assistance, encouragement, and support for the international Montessori community.
The Montessori Foundation works with the entire Montessori community, regardless of affiliation, as well as parents, educators, schools, and schools systems who are interested in learning more about the insights, research, and approach pioneered by Dr. Maria Montessori.
In 1998, The Montessori Foundation organized an independent membership organization, The International Montessori Council, to offer a wide range of programs and support to Montessori schools around the world, including school accreditation, professional development for teachers and school administrators.
The Montessori Foundation and its membership organization, The International Montessori Council, work together with Montessori schools, parents, and local and national Montessori organizations to promote the mission of the Montessori movement to: Develop the human potential
- Inspire academic excellence
- Nurture curiosity, creativity, and imagination
- Awaken the human spirit
The Montessori Foundation reflects a heritage of international education and a commitment to the highest standards of Montessori program and curriculum development, the implementation of cutting edge educational technology, the development of a strong sense of community and family friendliness within our schools, and a return to Dr. Montessori's focus on building a better world by helping children discover their capacity to live in peace, learn without boundaries throughout their lifetimes, find meaningful work, and discover the joy of friendships and community.
The Foundation's Projects & Activities
Tomorrow's Child Magazine
The Montessori Foundation's first project was the creation of Tomorrow's Child, the one and only magazine written specifically for parents with children enrolled in Montessori schools. To our surprise, Tomorrow's Child is also enjoyed by Montessori teachers and administrators around the world.
We recognize parents as the true driving force behind the Montessori movement, potentially far more influential than teachers and administrators have been alone. We try to write in a loving, humorous, and hopefully entertaining fashion. In the four years that it has been a part of the Montessori community, Tomorrow's Child has developed a terrific following of more than 50,000 Montessori parents, teachers, and heads of schools in North America and abroad.
We offer Montessori schools the opportunity to buy Tomorrow's Child in bulk orders of 50 copies or more to send home with families as part of their parent education program for just the cost of our printing and shipping.
We also offer schools a special program in which the Montessori Foundation donates $5 back for each one of their families who takes out an individual subscription.
On-line School Directory
We offer a Directory of Montessori Schools in North America which is available on-line.
We also sponsor a membership organization for Montessori parents and educators around the world, the International Montessori Council.
Our Book Store offers a growing collection of books and other materials of interest to Montessori teachers, parents, and heads of schools.
Center for Montessori Leadership
Our Center for Montessori Leadership offers a broad program of in-depth and practical workshops and courses in Montessori leadership. We offer seminars on a wide range of topics, from school design to fund raising, recruitment, internal communications, and curriculum development.
Montessori Leadership Magazine
Montessori Leadership is our Montessori journal written specifically for Heads of Schools, educational coordinators, key parent leaders, and trustees.
The Montessori Academy for Peace
Our Center for the Development of the Human Potential sponsors The Montessori Academy for Peace and its program of retreats, workshops, and symposiums on issues specifically connected to the development of Peaceful Children, Peaceful Families, and Peaceful School Communities.
Montessori Help Line
Our Montessori Help Line (941-729-9565) offers counsel, without charge, when schools need a 
friendly ear and some advice. The only catch is that you will need to pay for the long distance call and it is possible that we may need to schedule your telephone conference for a time when a consultant is free from other duties.
Our Montessori School Consultation Service provides a wealth of knowledge and experience when schools need more intensive on-site counsel.
We work with boards, Heads of Schools, and faculties. We consult with schools on such areas as finding a new head, designing new facilities for Montessori programs, fund raising, capital campaigns, the search for corporate and foundation support, marketing issues, the preparation of brochures and other publications, assistance in program and curriculum development.
Montessori Leadership Council
Our Montessori Leadership Council helps schools organize local support groups for Heads of Schools and key leadership staff. Leadership Councils are independent consortia of 4 to 12 Montessori schools whose leaders voluntarily form a close bond for fellowship, mutual growth, and cooperative projects for their schools.
Montessori Foundation Resource Library
Our On-line Resource Library offers an ever growing collections of on-line information and Montessori resources, including our Directory of Montessori schools, a list of teaching positions available nationwide, scores of articles and monographs, and an on-line link to our Montessori bookstore.
Contact Us
Montessori Foundation
The International Montessori Council
19600 E State Road 64
Bradenton, FL 34212-8921
941-729-9565 • 941-745-3111 (fax)
Email: timseldin@montessori.org
Tim Seldin
President
The Montessori Foundation
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