Tim and the Montessori Foundation team have played an indispensable role in the remarkable journey of Creō School. Back in 2012, as I envisioned creating a world-class Montessori school, Tim extended a supportive hand, and I eagerly enrolled in one of his enlightening classes. The wealth of knowledge from those classes equipped me with the essential steps needed to establish a school, leading to the successful opening of Creō in 2014. Today, Creō stands as a highly successful private Montessori school in Gilbert, Arizona, marking its achievements by celebrating our first high school graduate.

The Foundation’s ongoing support has been a cornerstone of Creō’s growth. Whenever doubts surfaced or significant decisions loomed, the Foundation, comprised of a remarkable group of Montessori specialists, provided invaluable guidance and a comforting avenue to seek advice.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the school and the education sector as a whole. However, Tim and the team’s unwavering commitment shone through daily phone calls and webinars, proving to be instrumental for Creō’s survival. Through their hard work and dedication, we not only retained all our students but also successfully opened our doors to a well-prepared program a few months later.

As we navigate the development of our middle and high school programs, the Foundation continues to be a guiding force. Their expertise has steered us towards making informed decisions, and their connections have facilitated collaborations that have contributed to the creation of a new community of supportive parents and an outstanding staff.

Expressing my eternal gratitude for everything the Foundation has done for Creō School and for me personally. Tim’s unwavering support remains a pillar, consistently present whenever I reach out for assistance.

As a leader of a school, you never know when a curveball is coming at you.

Whether it’s been Christmas, Thanksgiving, or a typical day, Tim Seldin picked up the phone and did whatever it took to keep us moving straight ahead. Few things in life are better; I’d say having a baby, the Montessori method, and the Montessori Foundation, particularly Tim Seldin. 

Village Montessori School of Bluemont has benefited from its relationship to the Montessori Foundation and International Montessori Council throughout its’ 18 years of service to the Loudoun County community. I began calling on Tim Seldin for help and advice before the school opened. He has steered me in the right direction at crucial times during these past 18 years. He has been unselfish in giving his time and attention to our growth pains, difficulties with staffing, help with Parent Education, and teacher training for my entire staff.

When our school closed in March 2020, along with all the schools in the state of Virginia, due to Covid, the council set up meetings for Heads of Schools to help support and guide them through the tangle of disruption that everyone everywhere was experiencing. Our school has been a member of the International Montessori Council since 2007 and has held accreditation since 2016. We owe the success of our Secondary program to the ingenuity of IMC and Bridgemont.

As I have grown older in my relationship with the Montessori Foundation and utilized its many areas of expertise, I remain grateful for the peaceful, kind, caring, and wise council I have received and hope to continue to receive through the next part of our journey.

Our school had the pleasure of working with the Montessori Foundation for the 2022-2023 school year. I would sum up the experience as “ You don’t know until you know.” 

When we initially sought the Foundation’s assistance for a school-wide assessment, we were unprepared for the depth of their professionalism and thoroughness. Their willingness to engage with all stakeholders (staff, board members, parents, students) and the resulting comprehensive assessment exceeded our expectations. The Foundation’s insights into areas for improvement and growth were eye-opening, and the steps they outlined for our success were invaluable. 

Our decision to engage the Foundation as consultants for the 2022-2023 school year following the assessment was a turning point. What began as a professional relationship quickly blossomed into trusting relationships and, in some cases, lifelong friendships. This personal connection with the Foundation and its members has been a significant and unexpected benefit of our collaboration. 

Quite often with an assessment a school will become aware of their needs but be unable to see them to fruition. This was not the case with the continued support from Tim Seldin and the entire Montessori Foundation staff. Together we created a strategic plan, blueprint, and new website. We implemented new systems better to support our staff, parents, and students. We saw growth in our enrollment through better marketing and public relations, and we began an adolescent program. 

The leadership skills, administrative knowledge, and confidence I gained through the intimate relationship with the Montessori Foundation were more than I ever anticipated. Knowing that I can pick up the phone and receive the foundation’s support at any time has been a lifesaver. Our school and community’s continuing support is beyond expectations. The Montessori Foundation and its staff are dedicated and passionate about their work. They are shining stars in our book.