After the AMI Refresher Course in Phoenix

February, 2018-
We are fresh off our attendance of the AMI Refresher Course Conference in Phoenix and had great conversations and connections while there! I can’t believe its been over 2 months that we met in Alexandria to present TMN with the Montessori Leaders Collaborative!

We continue to make progress and of course it is slow at times as we manage those little things called full time jobs but progress regardless. I heard many positives about Trust For Learning and the progress that has been made bringing together AMI, AMS. The Trust For Learning and Montessori Leaders Collaborative hired Neimand Collaborative to conduct extensive research regarding Montessori. They concluded a year long research project that basically states everyone wants Montessori education they just don’t connect Montessori terminology with what they want!

Also, that teachers are the lead point of contact and should be the ambassadors to the parents. Rich’s message to the AMI folks at the closing keynote was fantastic. And Lynne Lawrence pushed everyone to weigh in on how they can help the bold goals cause…so timing continues to be right for The Montessori Network! Also, all of these findings and bold goals will be made available when the AMI folks send out info packet following the conference.

UPDATES - Summary

• Attended the AMI refresher in Phoenix and connected with a variety of folks…also got a good feel for the conference layout, flow and ways to capture workshops, keynotes etc.

• Connections and conversations at AMI Refresher

• Mary Ellen Kordas – AMS Board President & Tim Purnell, new Executive Director at AMS…Mary Ellen wants us to attend AMS Board Meeting…how cool is that to even type that AMS personnel attended part of AMI conference.
• Michelle Shane- President of Montessori Administrators Association…very good conversation…she wanted to know what voice we were not connecting with or who we needed to hear from. She thinks The Montessori Network is a great idea…asked if we could be patient as they are trying to bring together MAA, AMI EAA, and others
• Matt Hillis – MAA and marketing, Head of School Bergamo in CA…
• Spoke briefly with Rich Neimand after his closing keynote at refresher course…it was very well received and as he reiterated to me, “Montessori has to do something to get a coordinated communication effort going.”
• In general, many folks were extremely enthusiastic about the Montessori Network and are now connecting the idea with applied knowledge…are asking for website and ways to dig deeper into the concept.
• Assessing AMS Conference attendance in March…waiting to finalize next steps with AMS and Mary Ellen

• Work continues on “sizzle reel” and website.

• To look at vertical approach (Ideal Learning Network) need to connect with Reggio and Waldorf thought leaders

 
At this point we are confident that the concept and idea of TMN is good based on reactions from MLC et al. The relationships we are building are key in this entire process. I’ve mentioned this to everyone that the setup (We run it, Montessori Organizes it) can be discussed and shaped as we see fit. The goal is to help Montessori by giving teachers more tools to help them and establish the coordinated communication effort!