Eleven Important Questions and Answers about Central’s Staff
A Montessori teacher is a remarkable person. For as long as I have taught, there has been a shortage of these excellent teachers for several reasons: training and certifications require years of focused concentration and effort, training programs are often not local. The length of
time needed to train is much longer (two years compared to 6 weeks student teacher training in traditional programs.) The demand for Montessori teachers continues to increase as the number of programs increase because of increased interest and appreciation for Montessori
programming.
Even during this time of Covid, Central has been fortunate enough to find the individuals who are our amazing staff. Central seeks out and hires both experienced Montessori teachers and folks who have the potential to become great teachers.
Central is composed of highly dedicated staff members who are well-trained, very professional,and see the indisputable value in a long day, year round Montessori experience for all children.
What is a Montessori teacher?
A Montessori lead teacher can be:
1. An intern who works with a master Montessori teacher or meets the qualification for a self-regulated internship. Central provides intensive continuous support for self-regulated interns. In addition, they receive extra support from their individual training programs.
2. A certified teacher who has completed extensive training through a MACTE approved AMS training program
3. A master Montessori teacher has taught for a minimum of 3 years and is/or has been responsible for the training and support of an intern.
Do all certified Montessori teachers hold a degree from a 4 year college program?
Montessori teachers either hold a four year degree or have had a minimum of five years of experience with children before applying for entry into a MACTE certified Montessori training program. In addition, an Associate Certification is available to individuals who do not yet hold a
four year degree but who are working toward a four year degree. Other individual exceptions may be made as well.
Special note: Our educational standard is for our teachers and assistants to hold a Bachelor's degree. Exceptions are considered on an individual basis. Currently, 93% of our staff members hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Central is dedicated to hiring a variety of people of
differing backgrounds and economic standing. We feel that our community benefits from this commitment. Please consider that the possession of a Bachelor’s degree is directly related to access, not intelligence or ability. We know that for many people of color, structural racism has disproportionately impacted access to, and the completion of, a higher education degree. We understand that AMS is considering the relevance of these requirements as well. We have shared our thoughts with AMS who report they have received similar feedback over the last year and await their directives.
Who is an ideal Montessori teacher?
Montessori did not want her interns to be trained or experienced in traditional education. She felt that traditional training would prevent many interns from being receptive to a new way of imagining education, a child, and their own contributions. Central hires individuals from diverse
backgrounds to work with our children. We feel that if we all know something a little bit different, then our community knows a lot.
Central interviews and hires certified, experienced teachers, and offers Montessori certification sponsorships for our current staff members who meet the high criteria for certification. We interview many candidates before offering a position to an individual. Our teachers show a high
degree of emotional intelligence, feel a need to contribute to others in a meaningful way, are information seeking, and have a great capacity to inspire and share educational experiences with the children in their care.
Are their Covid considerations that are impacting Central’s staffing?
Yes. Because of Covid disruptions, Central lost many of our wonderful staff members during a two month period at the beginning of the pandemic. Our highly competent staff members were pressed to help their families and neighbors who found themselves in an impossible situation without care for their children. Several did not feel comfortable returning to in-person instruction and moved into different virtual teaching situations or home instruction. Other staff members had health concerns and a few of them were, very legitimately, concerned about children spreading Covid. (We didn’t know at the time that it is the adults who may be most likely to spread Covid). This is a reality in most school systems around the world.
During this time of staff transitions, several amazing people stepped forward to work with our children - during a pandemic! Many of those staff members are still with us and have agreed to move into various positions including self-regulated internships.
Because of Covid mitigation efforts, the teacher/child ratios are much lower at this time. Students are gradually entering our program and ratios will continue to move up to their normal levels over the next year or so. Hopefully, this slower entry process will allow us to more easily
return to more restrictive mitigation should this become necessary, without a return to virtual instruction.
How many interns does Central sponsor each year?
Part of Central’s commitment to the larger Montessori community and to our specific community is to look within our own staff and offer sponsorships for Montessori training. This is a unique opportunity that not all Montessori schools are able to offer to their staff or community. Each year Central sponsors between one and three Montessori interns. Interns have made a commitment to be with us for a period of three or more years. Because of the impact Covid has had on our staff, we currently have five excellent interns with us. Three of them are very close
to completing their certification requirements and all began their internships before the disruption. By offering our assistants the possibility of receiving a Montessori certification opportunity, we increase our staff retention rate. This is a win-win situation.
Does Central provide any additional Intern support during this time of Covid?
Because of the Covid interruption, Central has placed one of our most effective and experienced certified Montessori teachers in a intern support role. Their job is to support and model for these aspiring and talented folks in their classrooms while they are involved in their intensive
training. They are also monitoring the progress of our students in these classrooms.
Why is a Montessori certification required for Montessori teachers, even for infants and toddlers?
Montessori appreciated the amazing developmental phase of infants and toddlers. She told us to extrapolate what we understood about primary programming and be certain that infant and toddler programming received the same excellent care as a primary classroom. The infant and
toddler environments are set by trained Montessori teachers who know what children at this age need to thrive. Language and autonomy and time are all components of the infant/toddler’s daily experience.
How is a Montessori certification different from the traditional teachers’ license?
There are as many differences between Montessori and traditional educational training programs as there are in the actual programming of these two models. The very premise of who a child is, what a child needs, the role of the teacher, and how assessments are done are
all very different. Depending on the grade level a traditional teacher will teach, the time that traditional teacher may have to observe and receive direct in-person training with another teacher in a classroom setting is relatively short compared to the minimum of one year an intern must work with a mentor in a classroom, with children in a Montessori training program. Certification signifies that a Montessori teacher has met the very rigorous criteria to be able to teach children at a particular developmental level and has demonstrated, to a regulatory board,
an ability to serve children in a manner that is in compliance with Montessori pedagogy, methodology, and theory. In addition to professional observations, lectures, and demonstrations of the mastery of materials and instruction, these programs require not a 6 week student teacher experience like many traditional programs, but an in-class experience with support from master teachers of a period of not less than a year to three years.
Does Central offer additional training to their teachers?
Yes. All new staff, regardless of their teaching history or the position they have been hired for, receive a minimum of 40 hours of training before we ask them to be responsible for our children. Staff is cross-trained, which means that most children and staff members know each other, even
if they are not in the same classroom every day. Cross training also increases our retention of staff as it makes it possible to assess where their strengths and interests are. We can place them accordingly in the classroom that might be the best match for them. This also means that
Central is often able to look in-house and identify talented staff members and offer them sponsorships for Montessori certifications.
All staff is trained on the important pro-social language and resolution process that Central has developed and uses with all children. Central teachers receive time to participate in up to 40 hours of additional training a year. This training is offered through AMS or other professional
Montessori organizations. We also bring in meaningful training from our community.
What is Central’s current staff retention rate?
Central experienced a higher rate of staff turnover due to Covid disruptions, similar to many school systems. Our assistants tend to be a bit younger than our leads, and transitions with assistants tend to be more frequent than with our leads. Because they are younger, they are
often just beginning to imagine their professional futures and may be a bit more transitional in their personal lives. We feel fortunate to have them with us for as long as we do. As Kelly often points out, our largest competition is with grad school! Remember, students are only with their
teachers for 10 months or so in traditional school programs.
Our lead teachers tend to stay with us for a time. We love this of course. The average length of time lead teachers are with us, even with last year’s heavier than usual staff turnover, is currently close to six years.
What is the purpose of hosting a Meet and Greet for new and departing staff members?
A Meet and Greet is an event that Central hosts for our parents and staff so they can spend a bit of time together to make acquaintances, put a face with a name, or to express appreciation to staff who are leaving. This offering keeps parents informed, in a very timely and transparent
manner, about staff changes. All parents are invited to participate in these moments.
Special Note
There are many reasons people join our staff and community. There are just as many reasons a staff member might leave. Often the staff have made a determination that another program or profession will be a better fit for them. Life is dynamic! As Kelly points out, the number one
competitor for our assistants is graduate school!
Occasionally, Central has made a determination that our program and a staff member are not ultimately the correct fit and a staff member has been released from contract or a contract has not been renewed. This is a rare occasion, and a process, if appropriate, has been completed
with staff before this decision is made.
Either way, Central chooses to honor each person who has contributed to our program by providing them, and our families, with a time to contemplate and appreciate the contributions that they made while they were with us.
We have all discovered the place we should be by trying out different jobs and professions. This is the way we understand who we are and how we can best contribute. All of the folks who have been with us are wonderful individuals and we wish each and everyone of them the very
best in their future endeavors. I am certain you share these feelings with me.
Over the last few months, Central has hosted numerous Coffee & Conversations and PIN events. On two separate occasions, parents had questions about staffing at Central and we spent time on this important subject. One particular staffing conversation was very informative
because of the excellent questions parents asked. We have had another parent also seeking additional information. I hope the information might be helpful.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of Central’s staffing policies and our current staff, please contact Anita through the front desk. We will hold an additional Coffee & Conversation over the next week or two. Just let us know.
A Montessori teacher is a remarkable person. For as long as I have taught, there has been a shortage of these excellent teachers for several reasons: training and certifications require years of focused concentration and effort, training programs are often not local. The length of
time needed to train is much longer (two years compared to 6 weeks student teacher training in traditional programs.) The demand for Montessori teachers continues to increase as the number of programs increase because of increased interest and appreciation for Montessori
programming.
Even during this time of Covid, Central has been fortunate enough to find the individuals who are our amazing staff. Central seeks out and hires both experienced Montessori teachers and folks who have the potential to become great teachers.
Central is composed of highly dedicated staff members who are well-trained, very professional,and see the indisputable value in a long day, year round Montessori experience for all children.
What is a Montessori teacher?
A Montessori lead teacher can be:
1. An intern who works with a master Montessori teacher or meets the qualification for a self-regulated internship. Central provides intensive continuous support for self-regulated interns. In addition, they receive extra support from their individual training programs.
2. A certified teacher who has completed extensive training through a MACTE approved AMS training program
3. A master Montessori teacher has taught for a minimum of 3 years and is/or has been responsible for the training and support of an intern.
Do all certified Montessori teachers hold a degree from a 4 year college program?
Montessori teachers either hold a four year degree or have had a minimum of five years of experience with children before applying for entry into a MACTE certified Montessori training program. In addition, an Associate Certification is available to individuals who do not yet hold a
four year degree but who are working toward a four year degree. Other individual exceptions may be made as well.
Special note: Our educational standard is for our teachers and assistants to hold a Bachelor's degree. Exceptions are considered on an individual basis. Currently, 93% of our staff members hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Central is dedicated to hiring a variety of people of
differing backgrounds and economic standing. We feel that our community benefits from this commitment. Please consider that the possession of a Bachelor’s degree is directly related to access, not intelligence or ability. We know that for many people of color, structural racism has disproportionately impacted access to, and the completion of, a higher education degree. We understand that AMS is considering the relevance of these requirements as well. We have shared our thoughts with AMS who report they have received similar feedback over the last year and await their directives.
Who is an ideal Montessori teacher?
Montessori did not want her interns to be trained or experienced in traditional education. She felt that traditional training would prevent many interns from being receptive to a new way of imagining education, a child, and their own contributions. Central hires individuals from diverse
backgrounds to work with our children. We feel that if we all know something a little bit different, then our community knows a lot.
Central interviews and hires certified, experienced teachers, and offers Montessori certification sponsorships for our current staff members who meet the high criteria for certification. We interview many candidates before offering a position to an individual. Our teachers show a high
degree of emotional intelligence, feel a need to contribute to others in a meaningful way, are information seeking, and have a great capacity to inspire and share educational experiences with the children in their care.
Are their Covid considerations that are impacting Central’s staffing?
Yes. Because of Covid disruptions, Central lost many of our wonderful staff members during a two month period at the beginning of the pandemic. Our highly competent staff members were pressed to help their families and neighbors who found themselves in an impossible situation without care for their children. Several did not feel comfortable returning to in-person instruction and moved into different virtual teaching situations or home instruction. Other staff members had health concerns and a few of them were, very legitimately, concerned about children spreading Covid. (We didn’t know at the time that it is the adults who may be most likely to spread Covid). This is a reality in most school systems around the world.
During this time of staff transitions, several amazing people stepped forward to work with our children - during a pandemic! Many of those staff members are still with us and have agreed to move into various positions including self-regulated internships.
Because of Covid mitigation efforts, the teacher/child ratios are much lower at this time. Students are gradually entering our program and ratios will continue to move up to their normal levels over the next year or so. Hopefully, this slower entry process will allow us to more easily
return to more restrictive mitigation should this become necessary, without a return to virtual instruction.
How many interns does Central sponsor each year?
Part of Central’s commitment to the larger Montessori community and to our specific community is to look within our own staff and offer sponsorships for Montessori training. This is a unique opportunity that not all Montessori schools are able to offer to their staff or community. Each year Central sponsors between one and three Montessori interns. Interns have made a commitment to be with us for a period of three or more years. Because of the impact Covid has had on our staff, we currently have five excellent interns with us. Three of them are very close
to completing their certification requirements and all began their internships before the disruption. By offering our assistants the possibility of receiving a Montessori certification opportunity, we increase our staff retention rate. This is a win-win situation.
Does Central provide any additional Intern support during this time of Covid?
Because of the Covid interruption, Central has placed one of our most effective and experienced certified Montessori teachers in a intern support role. Their job is to support and model for these aspiring and talented folks in their classrooms while they are involved in their intensive
training. They are also monitoring the progress of our students in these classrooms.
Why is a Montessori certification required for Montessori teachers, even for infants and toddlers?
Montessori appreciated the amazing developmental phase of infants and toddlers. She told us to extrapolate what we understood about primary programming and be certain that infant and toddler programming received the same excellent care as a primary classroom. The infant and
toddler environments are set by trained Montessori teachers who know what children at this age need to thrive. Language and autonomy and time are all components of the infant/toddler’s daily experience.
How is a Montessori certification different from the traditional teachers’ license?
There are as many differences between Montessori and traditional educational training programs as there are in the actual programming of these two models. The very premise of who a child is, what a child needs, the role of the teacher, and how assessments are done are
all very different. Depending on the grade level a traditional teacher will teach, the time that traditional teacher may have to observe and receive direct in-person training with another teacher in a classroom setting is relatively short compared to the minimum of one year an intern must work with a mentor in a classroom, with children in a Montessori training program. Certification signifies that a Montessori teacher has met the very rigorous criteria to be able to teach children at a particular developmental level and has demonstrated, to a regulatory board,
an ability to serve children in a manner that is in compliance with Montessori pedagogy, methodology, and theory. In addition to professional observations, lectures, and demonstrations of the mastery of materials and instruction, these programs require not a 6 week student teacher experience like many traditional programs, but an in-class experience with support from master teachers of a period of not less than a year to three years.
Does Central offer additional training to their teachers?
Yes. All new staff, regardless of their teaching history or the position they have been hired for, receive a minimum of 40 hours of training before we ask them to be responsible for our children. Staff is cross-trained, which means that most children and staff members know each other, even
if they are not in the same classroom every day. Cross training also increases our retention of staff as it makes it possible to assess where their strengths and interests are. We can place them accordingly in the classroom that might be the best match for them. This also means that
Central is often able to look in-house and identify talented staff members and offer them sponsorships for Montessori certifications.
All staff is trained on the important pro-social language and resolution process that Central has developed and uses with all children. Central teachers receive time to participate in up to 40 hours of additional training a year. This training is offered through AMS or other professional
Montessori organizations. We also bring in meaningful training from our community.
What is Central’s current staff retention rate?
Central experienced a higher rate of staff turnover due to Covid disruptions, similar to many school systems. Our assistants tend to be a bit younger than our leads, and transitions with assistants tend to be more frequent than with our leads. Because they are younger, they are
often just beginning to imagine their professional futures and may be a bit more transitional in their personal lives. We feel fortunate to have them with us for as long as we do. As Kelly often points out, our largest competition is with grad school! Remember, students are only with their
teachers for 10 months or so in traditional school programs.
Our lead teachers tend to stay with us for a time. We love this of course. The average length of time lead teachers are with us, even with last year’s heavier than usual staff turnover, is currently close to six years.
What is the purpose of hosting a Meet and Greet for new and departing staff members?
A Meet and Greet is an event that Central hosts for our parents and staff so they can spend a bit of time together to make acquaintances, put a face with a name, or to express appreciation to staff who are leaving. This offering keeps parents informed, in a very timely and transparent
manner, about staff changes. All parents are invited to participate in these moments.
Special Note
There are many reasons people join our staff and community. There are just as many reasons a staff member might leave. Often the staff have made a determination that another program or profession will be a better fit for them. Life is dynamic! As Kelly points out, the number one
competitor for our assistants is graduate school!
Occasionally, Central has made a determination that our program and a staff member are not ultimately the correct fit and a staff member has been released from contract or a contract has not been renewed. This is a rare occasion, and a process, if appropriate, has been completed
with staff before this decision is made.
Either way, Central chooses to honor each person who has contributed to our program by providing them, and our families, with a time to contemplate and appreciate the contributions that they made while they were with us.
We have all discovered the place we should be by trying out different jobs and professions. This is the way we understand who we are and how we can best contribute. All of the folks who have been with us are wonderful individuals and we wish each and everyone of them the very
best in their future endeavors. I am certain you share these feelings with me.
Over the last few months, Central has hosted numerous Coffee & Conversations and PIN events. On two separate occasions, parents had questions about staffing at Central and we spent time on this important subject. One particular staffing conversation was very informative
because of the excellent questions parents asked. We have had another parent also seeking additional information. I hope the information might be helpful.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of Central’s staffing policies and our current staff, please contact Anita through the front desk. We will hold an additional Coffee & Conversation over the next week or two. Just let us know.
