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Montessori - How Our Journey Started

5/17/2019

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August 1980, we were dealing with the fallout of Mount St Helens erupting in May and were getting ready to welcome in Ronald Reagan as our new president after the upcoming November election.
 
What was significant for me in that late August of 1980 was that my Dad was getting ready to head to Washington D.C. I had no idea at the time what was going to come from this sabbatical that he was taking but I can look back now and point this this as the inspiration for The Montessori Network.

My Father, Thomas Cavanaugh, a life -long advocate for children, found himself on a transcendent educational journey that year which landed him on a year-long sabbatical training with Ms. Margaret Stevenson at the Washington Montessori Institute. He returned transformed, motivated and intentional! Being described as a “Montessori Pioneer” by the newspapers for starting a public Montessori classroom in the 80’s was powerful to me!

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My emotional reactions continued when I watched my older sisters start their careers in Montessori. My nieces and nephews thrived in their Montessori education which positively impacted their lives. And then witnessing the journey my own children are having with their Montessori experience is as inspirational as it gets! I was in awe and felt a calling.
 
Dad is no longer with us but the spirit of what he began back in 1980 speaks as profoundly as his answer to my question in early May of 1981. He was winding up his sabbatical and the Detroit Tigers had just broken their 10 game losing streak. We were talking on the phone about the Tigers and I switched gears away from sports and asked him a Dad type question that he always asked us, “So where do you think the Montessori thing is going to take us in 5 years?”
 
He said, “Oh, I don’t know but I do know it is going to be a hell of a journey!”
 
Dad, it is a hell of a journey and it continues to be a gift to children around the world. And as you mentioned during that phone call, “I’m not sure where this will take us but I love the process and know I love what the future holds delivering Montessori as a path way to a child’s passion rather than the traditional road.”
 
Using our GPS – Combining our Greatest skills with our Passions will lead us to our highest point of Service

 
Where will Montessori or The Montessori Network be in 5 years? Who the hell knows but I know a journey that includes helping teachers find an easier way to access inspiring professional development from all over the world and a coordinated communications effort to let the world know that Montessori is here IS be a noble path to pursue.
 
I am grateful to dance with inspiration and the gratitude train includes:
 

  • AMI Bold Goals
  • @trustfrlearning
  • @goodlifeproject
  • The Fuddhist
  • @simonsinek
 
And yes Dad and of course Mom, the idea about growing so you can give and that feeling of fulfillment IS what it is all about! So I am grateful to you both!

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What the Montessori Network Content Offerings Would Look Like

2/15/2019

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The sense of fulfillment and gratitude that comes from this journey to create The Montessori Network continues to amaze me. The connection to family that I wrote about in the last blog post certainly contributes a great deal but the opportunity to work with people that have a generous essence is remarkable.
 
The generosity that is focused on kids and education brings about a sense of community and belonging that comes from sharing common goals. This notion was recently reflected in research conducted by The Neimand Collaborative for the Association of Montessori Internationale where they stated:
 
“A capable individual is the most valued outcome of childhood development for existing and potential Montessori parents.
Parents value these attributes and associated benefits for their children from Montessori early childhood education because parents believe they lead to the development of a capable individual (competent, confident, focused, smart, secure, and empowered). 
Becoming capable matters deeply to Montessori parents and potential Montessori parents because they believe that capability is a step on the path to becoming individuals who will enjoy lives built upon: 

  • Fulfillment (high self-esteem, truly happy with themselves, sense of belonging, enjoy life, inner peace, 
emotionally secure, fulfilled); 

  • Productivity (good employee or professional, productive work, financially secure); and, 

  • Connection (in a loving relationship, good parent, strong family, good friend, able to bond with others). 

 
Being around like minded people is motivation enough to help them reach children and offer up this great opportunity
 
The inspiration you get from educators and more importantly the energy drives you to want to give just a little bit more. I had this feeling recently during an email idea exchange with some key members of the Montessori Network faithful. Ashley Grob, who is Director of Admissions at the Montessori School and Susie Hyatt who is Head of School at Montessori Radmoor School, were sharing what the offerings would look like on the network’s platform and how the menus could be displayed.
 
Ashley reply was not only insightful into what the potential of the Montessori Network can be but also incredibly thoughtful in that she was focusing on gratitude throughout this process.
 
HI Susie and Tom,
 
I hope you both enjoyed the long weekend!  We celebrated my father-n-law's 80th birthday with a big party!  So many amazing tributes --he's such an inspiration!... a philosophy professor for 
more that fifty years as well as a peace activist and holocaust scholar.  He is actively meeting with UN ambassadors to engage in Peace initiatives in the Middle East. He embodies love and peace --his life-long commitment to live what he learns /teaches is so beautiful.... 
 
I feel lucky to be surrounded by people, both family and friends, who are committed to serving and inspiring others. You both are doing incredible work.  Thanks for including me in this conversation. :)
 
I like what you put together in the attached example.  I have a couple of thoughts/questions.  Currently on the website, Building the Montessori Network, you have three prompts before going into detail about 45 North and who you all are.  
 
1.  Saves you time
2.  Easy Access
3.  Spread the Word
 
For somebody just learning about TMN, I wonder if we can answer these questions more directly: Who, What, Why, How. ?  Most of the answers are already on the website, but I'm wondering if people might receive/process the info better with shorter descriptions and the order a little different? .....
 
Who
The Montessori Network is a media platform that combines purpose driven technology with Montessori pedagogy so that Montessori professionals can access quality content and resources to further enhance and support their commitment to children everywhere. 
 
What
The Montessori Network compiles the best Montessori videos, conferences, podcasts, and blogs in ONE location to support the professional development of teachers, schools and organizations.  
 
The Montessori Network provides access to current research on child development, parenting, family systems, neuroscience, and human potential.
 
Montessori organizations and collaborators work together with The Montessori Network to further Montessori efforts and advocacy worldwide.
 
The Montessori Network offers original programming and packages such as: Montessori News show; Multi-media platform kit for schools; Red Table Conversations; Education Round table; Sunday talk show, and more!  
 
Why
Your time is precious! The Montessori Network consolidates valuable information relating to the Montessori philosophy, child development and human potential so that you can continue teaching and working with families. 
 
How 
The technology to access content on The Montessori Network is simple. Through your membership, you will log in and create a personal profile.  
 
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I feel like people will want to know upfront what they are getting -- and then you will have more buy-in.  After they know the what, then you can tell them the next great part: why and how. 
 
I hope this feedback is helpful!
 
Wishing you both a great week!

 
 
 
That is a glimpse of how this journey gives back and how easy kind, caring people make it to be part of something bigger than yourself. We would love to have you join us in this journey by giving us your thoughts or becoming part of our advocacy group!

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Building on AMI's Bold Goals and how The Montessori Network can help!

2/27/2018

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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 The Montessori Network 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! I heard many positives about Trust For Learning and the progress in bringing together AMI, AMS. The Trust For Learning and Montessori Leaders Collaborative hired Neimand Collaborative to conduct extensive research about Montessori. They concluded a year long research project that states everyone wants Montessori education they 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 Neiman'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, these findings and bold goals will be 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 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 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 finish 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!
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Trust For Learning and Montessori Leaders Collaborative Include us in their Annual Meeting- December 2017 Update

12/21/2017

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The Montessori Network- Update- December 2017 For all of you that have been a part of this journey by supporting the idea, connecting us with other Montessorians or cheering us on, I wanted to give everyone an update after a very successful MACTE conference and meeting with the Montessori Leaders Collaborative in Alexandria, Virginia!

  • A brief look back at this past summer’s notables… Summer 2017 Highlights

  • July - Established Trust For Learning/Montessori Leaders Collaborative (TFL/MLC) connection (Stephanie Miller-Exec Director TFL and Marianna McCall)

  • Very good feedback from TFL/MLC

  • TFL/MLC thought so much of the Montessori Network idea that they connected us with the groups below and invited us to their annual MLC meeting in December: 

  • Montessori Foundation

  • Montessori for Social Justice

  • National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS)

  • MPPI

  • August- Above groups provided great feedback


·       Connections in the works with: Montessori Administrators Association, MACTE and NAMTA

After those calls over the summer we processed the feedback, tweaked and refined the Montessori Network proposal. A few highlights:
  • At its core the content that would be available first would be conferences, workshops, refresher courses.

  • We are refining the “start-up” number of schools needed to launch the network and estimating that range to be in the 500-750 schools

  • Concerns surrounding AMI and AMS resisting conferences being available on the network and taking away attendees in person would addressed by putting an embargo on content for a few months or not releasing conference content until a minimum number of attendees registers.

  • Subscription costs to The Montessori Network for schools would range in cost estimates depending in number of schools subscribing. Estimate would be $750-$1500


Heading into our meeting with the MLC these were our goals:
  • Goal #1- understand and gain clarification surrounding any concerns from MLC individuals and organizations they represent with regards to The Montessori Network

  • Goal #2- gain MLC support of The Montessori Network initiative

  • Goal #3- partner with MLC members to communicate TMN and gain insight into what they would consider to be an effective communication plan with schools and Montessori community

  • Goal #4- After clarifying assumptions and an intellectually rigorous examination of ideas, schedule meeting with key AMI and AMS personnel to present and gather their feedback and questions 

  • Goal #5- Gain insight from AMI, AMS, MLC members and their organizations surrounding what they consider to be key steps in initiating the TMN plan.


These are the headlines and takeaways from attending the MACTE conference and the MLC meeting/Q&A/feedback session:
  • A good number of concerns expressed before were addressed

  • Dr. Stephen Hughes (MLC member, noted presenter in Montessori community) is very excited about this concept and will help advocate

  • The understanding of what Over the Top (OTT) is, what The Montessori Network is and the potential it has, will take time for folks to comprehend or take it all in

  • It was suggested that we make a video describing the Network…we call it a “sizzle reel” or movie trailer type short video to let everyone see what it looks like and how it works

  • Also suggested we create “screen grabs” of what the TMN front page would look like

  • The idea of going vertical has come up a few times, “The Ideal Learning Network,” would incorporate Reggio, Waldorf other Trust For Learning early childhood education platforms to help TFL reach their 20 million children

  • Question came up about Non-profit vs Profit approach

  • Is this a Business to Business or Business to Consumer setup

  • Stephanie Miller- Executive Director of Trust for Learning and head of Montessori Leaders Collaborative stated at the end of the meeting, “I was somewhat hesitant when I first heard about this but I have to say after hearing everyone's reaction today I am feeling very good about The Montessori Network and how it is developing!”


We have been working on the “sizzle reel,” and screen grab examples to help everyone get an idea of what The Montessori Network looks like. Our next steps are:
  • Follow ups with AMS, AMI, MACTE

  • Build sizzle reel and screen grab examples

  • Consideration how to get the info in front of schools

  • Targeting the February AMI refresher course and March AMS Conference to hopefully have had enough time for schools, personnel, AMI and AMS to take it all in and get closer to the “ask” of the schools.


Our current consideration is how do we get this in front of the schools. Do we make the sizzle reel and explainer elements available to them as a teaser? Possibly send out a survey to some schools and try to determine interest that way after they have viewed the sizzle reel? As I’ve mentioned before these topics are much more enjoyable to discuss in person over spirits of choice but the steps we made over the past few weeks have been significant! Very exciting to say the least with lots more work to be done! Any and all suggestions or feedback is encouraged! Hope everyone has a great holiday!
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    Follow @MontessoriOTT

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    Tom Cavanaugh is one of the driving forces behind the concept of The Montessori Network.

    The Montessori Network is a media platform that combines purpose driven technology with Montessori pedagogy so that Montessori professionals can access quality content and resources to further enhance and support their commitment to children everywhere.

    These updates are part of our journey and desire to spread the transformative social impact of Montessori globally. Where service of others, grace, courtesy and being intentional about worldly contributions start with a mindfulness and self awareness to be part of something bigger than yourself..seems like the world could use a little of that.

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