Montessori School Consultation
Our team of Montessori consultants has the experience, expertise, and passion to provide practical help and deliver meaningful results for your school!
Whether you need to increase enrollment, plan for next year, give your staff some great professional development, strengthen your existing program, fundraise, or hear the calm, outside voice of experience to help your school community build a bridge over troubled waters … we achieve results!
None of the world’s great Montessori schools try to go it alone, and neither should you.
We make consulting affordable and targeted to meet your school’s specific needs. We can even help if you dream of starting a new school.
Our expertise covers every aspect of Montessori school leadership, admissions to alumni, facilities to finances, and from building a strong Montessori board to strategic planning, curriculum development and program evaluation, designing logos, websites, writing copy for brochures, and just about anything else your school might need.
Before we go any further, the big question all Montessori schools should be asking is: What can we do RIGHT NOW? The answer is: A LOT!
We have been helping Montessori schools like yours since 1992. They depend on outside mentors to help them stay on course. When facing challenging times, or when attempting to plan and implement something new, experience, expertise, and a fresh outside perspective is absolutely invaluable.
Until now, assistance from a team of expert Montessori school consultants has been outside the reach of most schools. As a nonprofit international organization, we will work with you to structure a plan that works for your school’s budget.
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.
Here are just a few ways we help schools
Click here to schedule a free initial consultation to assess your school's needs.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.
Searching for A New Head of School?
Montessori schools thrive when they are led by educational leaders who are both knowledgeable and committed to Montessori education as well as the individual school. Our national and international network, and decades of experience in working with schools of every type and size, can help you to clarify what you most need if you’re ever in search of a new head. Then we can go out and help you find the perfect match. Even if you cannot find someone who is both Montessori certified and an experienced school leader, we can provide coaching and support to help your new head of school make a smooth transition through that first year.
Our Unique Three-Day School-Wide Institutional Assessment
Whether as a first step in preparing for accreditation, or gaining a fresh perspective from outside expertise of the school’s strengths and opportunities, our senior consultants can work with you both before the visit and during the visit to gain clear insight into the school’s strengths and opportunities in all ten areas of school operation: institutional identity and core values, educational program, the faculty and staff, the school’s finances, your facilities, the administrative team, the board or ownership in this relationship to the school as a whole, recruitment added missions, the strength of your school community and retention, and addressing any ongoing needs in the area institutional advancement and fundraising.
Inspiring, fundraising, and engaging your school community
Money: The thing that makes everything else possible
Budgetary assistance in planning for your next school year helps ensure conservative sustainability with room to grow. Our in-house financial experts can help you sift through conflicting challenges to identify and make responsible financial decisions for the future.
Annual Reports
Messaging
Staffing
Professional Development
Board Retreats
After the challenges of the last few years, your board members may be discouraged and burned out. Give us a weekend or a series of weekly calls to show your appreciation for all they have done to get through this tumultuous year and ask for their continued help to move the school forward. Acknowledge and toast to your school’s plans for the future.
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.
School Consultation Team
Tim Seldin
M.Ed. AMS, Senior Consultant
Areas of Expertise: School Leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, professional development, marketing, school culture change, facilities design, board development and training, financial analysis, Montessori teacher education and curriculum, curriculum development, recruiting families, building strong and stable school communities, institutional advancement, partnership education, starting new Montessori schools, adolescent programs, organizing new Montessori middle and high schools, leadership coaching, managing change.
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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 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, Montessori For Every Family with Lorna McGrath, 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
Daniel Robinson Howe, III, EdD
Areas of Expertise: School Leadership, organizational development, elementary and secondary Montessori programs, professional development, facilities design, board development and training, financial analysis, strategic planning, teacher education and curriculum, curriculum, recruiting families,
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building strong and stable school communities, parenting education, the deelopment of elementary and adolescent/secondary Montessori programs, and the recruitment and coaching of Heads of School.
Dr. Daniel Robinson (Robin) Howe began his Montessori career at the age of two at the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland, 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 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 Co-Head of School and as a Senior Montessori Foundation School Consultant.
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Kathy Leitch
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.
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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 led a Montessori School in Florida for more than 20 years. She has over 20 years experience as a Montessori Teacher Trainer, School Consultant and Accreditation Commissioner. Additionally,Kathy is a certified Parenting Instructor and Mindfulness Facilitator.
Kathy has a twenty (20) year history of serving the Montessori Foundation as a senior consultant, IMC board member, and school accreditation specialist. These experiences have given her perspective, insight, understanding, and appreciation of the unique needs of Montessori schools around the world. Kathy’s passion, experience, and skill have inspired and supported the development opf strong and stable Montessori schools.
Renee duChainey Farkes
Areas of Expertise: Supporting and coaching Heads of School in all areas of school operations including strategic goal setting and enrollment management (retention and new admissions), parent relationships and communications, faculty professional development including evaluation, school accreditation, tuition strategy, building school communities, financial health analysis in relation to budgeting and tuition structuring, and Board development and assessment.
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She is a dedicated advocate for, and driver of, excellence in the educational experience of students and parents. Renee is passionate about children and their learning, the development of teachers, and partnerships with parents and the family to achieve the best outcome and learning experience. She is highly committed to assisting all schools to establish a successful path forward.
Renee is recognized for her success in shepherding educational institutions through profound growth as well as financial and community crises. Renee is experienced as an adaptive leader who helps schools adapt and thrive in challenging situations. She is experienced in working with a diverse group of schools small to large, from start-up, crisis and turnaround situations, enrollment growth to board leadership and organization in schools. She has demonstrated capability in Enrollment Management, Marketing, Communications and Writing, School Operations, and Budget and Fundraising. Renee brings a profound belief in the value of customer focus/customer relations as it supports enrollment management: retention and new admissions. Renee specializes in the value of the parent and student experience in schools.
Renee has served on the American Montessori Society for two terms, with a focus on “Chair of the Head of School” Section and is most comfortable working with Heads of School and their roles. She is a 20+ year Board member of the Montessori Schools of Massachusetts.
Renee has a personal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through teaching, professional activity and/or service. She is also author of several educational articles including “Parents as Partners” and “On the Road with Maria,” both published in Montessori Leadership. (Renee spent her sabbatical in 2018 visiting 65 Montessori Schools nationally and internationally. Her article describes the experience and findings.)
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Sheila Linville
Areas of Expertise: 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.
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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.) 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.
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Christine Lowry, MEd
Areas of Expertise: Special Education; 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, Supporting Families., Montessori Advocacy.
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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,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.
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Jonathan Wolff
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.
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parenting education, the development of adolescent/secondary Montessori programs, and the recruitment and coaching of Heads of School.
Jonathan Wolff is a senior Montessori school consultant and leadership educator with the Montessori Foundation. He is also the Founder & Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership. Jonathan is a teacher trainer, speaker & author who infuses his work in leadership development with 30 years of experience as an educator & administrator. Through the Montessori Foundation and Learning for Life, he provides retreats, workshops, consultations & coaching for parents, educators, leaders, Boards of Directors, community organizations & learning communities around the globe. The best-practice leadership retreats & workshops he leads facilitate community building, strategic planning & improved organizational effectiveness.
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I own and operate Montessori Nido through Primary schools in the Bay Area of California and the North Austin area of Texas. Both areas are known for having lots of Montessori schools, but very few are Fully Implemented Montessori.
Back in 2013, my school, along with the other Montessori schools, could be categorized as a nice preschool that tried to follow the Montessori method, but not quite. Even though our Lead Guides were formally trained, we just couldn’t cross that bridge to fully implemented Montessori. I could see it, but I couldn’t get there.
I began following the Montessori Foundation and Tim Seldin back in the early 90’s, never missing the NCME conference in San Diego. I attended all his workshops and read all his books. I was in awe of Tim Seldin. However, it took me until 2013 to reach out and ask for help.
In my 34 years as a Montessori administrator, guide, and school owner, this was and still is the very best decision I have made for my schools. Tim flew out to meet with me for a week at a time over the course of 18 months. We started each day with breakfast, planning our day and ended each day with dinner, wrapping up our day. Tim would host an all-staff workshop in the evening at least once a month. We spent time in each of my 3 schools, in every classroom, observing and working on the floor. Tim would model working with children. Then, we would meet with our heads of school, and Tim would lay out the plans for us to make the necessary changes.
What is different about Tim – from other Montessori consultants I have worked with:
Tim met us right where we were and worked from there. Other consultants I have worked with started by asking teachers what they wanted to see change. I found that instead of coaching them to grow and talk about the steps forward, they would turn the laundry list over to me without a plan or path forward.
Tim met us right where we were and worked from there. Other consultants I have worked with started by asking teachers what they wanted to see change. I found that instead of coaching them to grow and talk about the steps forward, they would turn the laundry list over to me without a plan or path forward.
Tim, on the other hand, worked directly with me and my Heads of School to develop the skills necessary to lead our staff on their journey to fully implement Montessori in the classrooms. He monitored the growth and, over the course of the engagement, layered different ways to work with our staff to lead to full implementation of Montessori. He would then give whole-school workshops with the staff.
The time he spent working with our leadership team enabled us to work with the staff even more effectively after he left. This approach also enabled the leadership team to continue effectively leading the staff on its journey to fully implemented Montessori. In addition, this approach has had a lasting impact on our organizations: three of our Heads of School, as well as our Program Director and several of our Lead Guides who participated with Tim are still working with us several years later. They are the core staff that mentor and train our new hires.
Tim Seldin uses concrete methods to guide change—“ Stop doing that, do this instead,” I heard often. It has been 10 years now that I can confidently say that our four schools operate each day with fully implemented Montessori, starting with our Nido program and continuing through our third-year kindergarten students. I do not believe we would have been able to make this transition without the help from The Montessori Foundation, particularly Tim Seldin.
Tim was the idea behind our brand, “The Montessori School of Silicon Valley,” or “MSOSV” for short. Check us out at https://msosv.com/
Working with Tim, we refined our enrollment process, marketing, and staff training. Today, our school thrives with people waiting to get in.
Forever grateful,
Consultation Fees
Why pay for a consultant?
From working with a small group of committed parents begin the daunting task of creating a new school, to organizing a new level of Montessori instruction (such as adding infant/toddler, middle school, or high school programs), to working with school communities to ‘save’ a school facing serious challenges, or guiding a school’s transition from long-time founder leadership to supporting the entire school community through the process — the Montessori Foundation’s consultants are here to help.
Our Montessori consultants and staff have incredible depth with the knowledge and skills to help give Montessori skills the edge to survive and thrive through good times and hard challenges. Sometimes the relief on a school leader’s face is palpable when they hear: “We’ve got this. Let’s get started.”
For most schools that are new to the consulting staff at the Montessori Foundation, we like to include a day of onsite consulting. Not because it’s expensive, but because even one day of speaking in person with leading members of the school’s community (administrators, teachers, students) provides invaluable information as we create a customized work plan for each school.
Meeting in person, walking the grounds, breathing in the environment and sense of commitment of the entire school community guides the choice of services and consultants best suited to meet your school’s specific needs. It is also an opportunity for school leaders to meet representatives of the Montessori Foundation in person and get to know us.
Zoom is great; spending a day (or more) together is even better. Obviously, Covid has imposed restrictions to safeguard health; however, we have consultants all over the world, which often reduces travel time and makes in-person visits safer and more practical. Seriously, Zoom has literally and figuratively a lifesaver during these most unusual of times.
Whatever your school needs, we have people with the skills to help you accomplish it.
1 Hour (phone or in person) Consultation for School and/or Administrators and Board Members
$200 US per hour | $150 per hour for IMC member schools
Contact us today to schedule an online consultation with one of our senior consultants. Many schools schedule a series of online consulting sessions to help them through a time of challenge or critical planning and transition.
Daily Onsite Consultation for School Administrators and Board Members
$2,000 (US) per day (plus expenses) | $1,500 per day (plus expenses) for IMC member schools
We come to your school. Schools cover transportation, food, and lodging. We follow up with an in-depth report at the end of the visit with an analysis of challenges and opportunities in order to move forward.
1 Hour Custom-designed Live Online Professional Development Workshop
$300 (US) | $275 for IMC member schools
We will meet with you beforehand to customize your workshop experience. These ninety-minute interactive workshops allow for participation and discussion.
1 1/2-Hour Custom-designed Live Online Professional Development Workshop
$450 (US) | $425 for IMC member schools
We will meet with you beforehand to customize your workshop experience. These ninety-minute interactive workshops allow for participation and discussion.
2-Hour Custom-designed Live Online Professional Development Workshop
$600 (US) | $525 for IMC member schools
This 120-minute interactive workshop is available for up to 65 participants (includes assessment and practice exercises).
3-Hour Custom-designed Live Online Professional Development Workshop
$900 (US) | $825
Usually organized as two ninety-minute sessions with a break for coffee or lunch, these three-hour workshops allow time to go into more depth and discussion, or to address two separate topics.
We also offer full-day Custom-designed Live Online Professional Development Workshops
$1,500 (US) | $1.375
These six-hour full-day workshops can be scheduled in many ways, including spreading them out over two or more days. They allow the time that we all need to go into depth, participate in learning activities and discussion, or address two or more topics.