made decisions on a case by case basis, taking each
student’s situation into consideration. Having a program
director serve as a voice of reassurance and respect
has helped ease the transition and stress for everyone
involved. Marjorie Horton, program director of
Chestnut Hill Montessori Teacher Education Program,
shared, “We use our weekly Zoom meetings primarily
for listening to our student’s concerns and triumphs
and trying to answer questions about almost anything.”
Stronger Together
It is touching to witness how the Montessori
community has rallied to support one another during the
pandemic. Program directors are freely sharing resources,
organizing virtual town halls, answering questions, and
being so generous with their time. Rather than putting their
heads down, people are looking up and asking, “How can
I help you succeed?” As Katie Keller Wood said, “We all do
better when we all do better!”
Grace and Courtesy
We are unsure what the future will look like, and guidelines
seem to change from day to day. To be certain, people have experienced
disappointment with plans being changed and frustration
with challenges out of our control. But by believing we are
all doing the best that we can and extending grace and courtesy to
all, we are getting through this thing! Personally, I have had Zoom
conferences with a one year old on my lap, phone calls while standing
outside in my backyard, and meetings timed around my working spouse’s
schedule; I am continually grateful for the grace and courtesy everyone
has extended to me. At MACTE, we are grateful for the role we
can play, even during a pandemic, in supporting our programs who are
continuing to prepare high quality Montessori teachers, thus benefiting our
children, our communities, and the future of our world. And at this moment,
the promise of a brighter future is needed more than ever. Please do not
hesitate to rely on the staff at MACTE for any support you may need
during these uncertain times. We are here for you.
VOLUME 22 ISSUE 3 • 2020 | WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG/IMC | ©MONTESSORI LEADERSHIP ����
/IMC
