Words from Graduates
Primary (3-6) Graduates
Here are a few words from Joen Bettmann's graduates from Cleveland, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia. Frequent comments from graduates reflect the personal attention and playful yet intimate atmosphere in her training courses.
Video: Alefiya talks about what Montessori has meant in her life (2:06)
"My training helped form my adult life. I gained a new perspective on my self and the world in which we live. Joen's patient, stimulating, caring instruction and example have been a huge influence on my ways in the world. I felt very prepared for working with children in the classroom, but also empowered as an individual. That year of training was invaluable to me, certainly as a teacher and now as a parent, but further, as a person."
—Jennifer Shields, a graduate of the first OMTI academic-year course taught for many years in the Washington, DC area. She is now an AMI Primary Trainer.
"I have no doubt that Joen Bettmann’s influence has affected the lives of many children, both directly and indirectly. Her kindness, compassion and love of humanity are gifts to all under her tutelage. As a student of Joen’s I felt lucky to be able to share these gifts. Her commitment to the Montessori principles and pedagogy were passed on to her students with great joy, humour, wit and wisdom."
—Catherine Moore was a Montessori directress for many years at The Maria Montessori School, Toronto.
"Looking back in retrospect, nothing can ‘prepare’ you for your first year teaching in a Montessori classroom. Each person must grow and develop, just like the children, into the person and teacher they ultimately become. The training left me with an in-depth understanding of Montessori theory and philosophy, and the importance of respect and trust in the natural ability of all children. The base of my understanding of child development is always the driving force for me to improve myself, and therefore improve my ability to help children. Thanks Joen."
—Joe DiCarlo went to a Montessori school as a child. After OMTI training and a number of years as a Primary teacher, Joe took the AMI elementary training, and is now an administroator in the Milwaukee Public Montessori Schools. He is married to another OMTI graduate!
"I missed my family a whole lot but my classmates were always there and they always supported me. I remember watching movies with them, going for coffee at that great coffee place near the training center and just meeting them and becoming really good friends! I'm so happy that I'm still in touch with some of them through air and e-mail.
"It was a rich experience because I was able to meet and learn about people from different parts of the States and even the world. I had classmates who were also from the Philippines, and from Brazil and Korea as well. We were able to share so many things about our countries and our culture but mostly we were able to share ourselves.
"Joining the training then made me realize that I could do so many things that I've never thought I could do before. Things like being independent and interdependent. I also realized that I could draw [due to the assigned] illustrations for my albums."
—Anna Tupas is from the Philippines, where she realized her dream of owning her own Montessori school.
"When I first took Montessori training with Joen, I had no idea what a lifelong pursuit and devotion it would become. At the time, my own children were 5 and 2, and my training helped me to appreciate the unfolding of their development in a unique and insightful way. As they grew, so did my own work in Montessori, and I eventually took the AMI elementary training, worked in a 9-12 class, started a middle school program, and am now involved in a Montessori Farm School for adolescents. The training I began with Joen inspired me, challenged me, and gave me hope that real reform in education is possible. This is beautiful, powerful work. Thoughtful, devoted, remarkable people are drawn to it. And it supports the growth of children in a way that no other pedagogy I have seen comes close to."
—Laurie Ewert-Krocker, a Montessori parent, works with 12- to 15-year-olds. She and her colleagues have been asked to speak nationally, while working regionally with adolescents, as they participate in the Erdkinder/Montessori farm school in Ohio.
“As a Montessori child, I can’t help but remember the joy that came from learning. It was fun. Learning was always fun; it was exciting and I could never wait for that next lesson that I was going to be given or that next experience that I was going to have. I read encyclopedias when I was little because I wanted to know everything that was in there and I think that joy for learning, it stays with you. I feel like Montessori actually creates in a child that desire to learn more, constantly, and it never really goes away. To be able to return as an adult and allow other children to have that same experience, I feel every child should have that experience. But I know that at least as a guide I can provide that to whatever children are given to me.”
—Kamilah Scales, former Montessori child, currently teaches in a Primary environment in Atlanta.
“I saw a totally different philosophy from my education classes in college, and I wanted to be a part of that. And now that I’ve taken the training, I love it even more and think that it’s a way to change the world, and I’m glad to be a part of it.
"The children in the Montessori classroom were happy, they were healthy, they loved learning. They weren’t hindered from making their own progress and unfortunately, in traditional schools, there were just a lot of rules and a lot of children sitting at desks all day who would get in trouble for moving and for speaking, and they didn’t have the spark and the love of learning that I saw in the Montessori children.
"And what brought me to this course was the Master’s degree. I had planned to go to Baltimore but when I saw on their website that it came here, that’s what brought me here.”
—Christine Thompson transitioned from traditional education to Montessori education. She now works in an Atlanta-area Montessori school.
“I’ve found the friendships that I’ve made here and the experience of working with such a diverse group of people to be incredibly enriching on a personal level because every person that is drawn to this course has an inner passion. Also the administrators on the course and Joen the trainer and Connie our course assistant live with the deeply felt passion that can sometimes get lost in our culture. And so, we’ve been lucky to be surrounded by 27 people filled with that fire and I think that it’s spread between us and now as we graduate and move on, and start the sharing of this work with others, we’ll take it with us.”
—Natalie London, from Austin, Texas, is a former Montessori child. After training, Natalie returned to Texas to teach in a Montessori school.
“I chose Montessori because I worked as an assistant in a Montessori class and I was always struck by the poise and integrity of all of the Montessori guides that I was able to work with. And I came to this course hoping not only that I would learn the practical side of things and how to teach and work with children, or guide children, but also to bring about a change in myself and hopefully embody that integrity and that poise that I saw in my co-workers. It’s also very different being a male in this course but I would encourage any man who has the strength to do it, to do it.”
—Peter Ferrari first found Montessori as a child. He returned to the same All-Day environment where he formerly served as an assistant.
“I chose to study Montessori as a second career choice. I had already received my undergrad in geography and had a pretty good career path with that with map-making but I knew that my place was really with children in some capacity. But I’d always struggled with conventional education. I first heard about Montessori in India about 10 years ago. When I finally decided that was the path for me, it didn’t take long to discover that AMI was really the best route to go on as far as just what’s involved with album writing, and material making, and just really in-depth learning about this whole process.”
—Laurie Orso is currently teaching in California in a Montessori school.
“I used to be an engineer and I worked at NASA. And I was really feeling unfulfilled by my job and one day I met somebody who introduced me to the concept of Montessori and I was totally amazed. And the very next day I called Joen, and I said, ‘tell me more about this and how can I sign up?’ So, after talking to Joen I saw that I really wanted to come to the Montessori Institute of Atlanta because she has a combination of quiet wisdom, or gentle wisdom, along with a real passion for what she’s doing. So I wanted to have that embodied in my training and also be able to embody that myself. So that’s why I chose to come to Atlanta versus any of the other training centers in the United States.”
—Jennifer Cerny teaches Primary children in South Carolina.
Elementary (6-12) Graduates
Here are a few words from J McKeever’s graduates and colleagues.
"I came from New Zealand for my AMI training and J made every effort to make me feel at home. She is very supportive, caring, and genuinely interested in each student as an individual. J is very easy to talk to and approachable and I found her presentations energetic and dramatic."
—Sharon Udy, AMI trainee, New Zealand
"I had the privilege of being instructed by J McKeever. On top of being a wonderful person, she truly cares about her students and the Montessori Method. She was always available to answer any questions that I may have had and made practicals a pleasure. There is a lot of information given in the training and she was always on top of her game. I really enjoyed her lectures, 'talks,' and found that she was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. It is very obvious that she has a true passion towards Montessori and has the best advice to offer when it comes to helping students. I also love her added humor which makes long days enjoyable! Everyone will be truly blessed to have her as their Trainer."
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Amy Hayward
"Currently, I am studying at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, where I am fortunate enough to have J as a professor. She is always willing to make time for us, and has an optimistic approach to teaching. J is also a very talented and creative person and puts her heart into everything she does. However, J is more than a professor, she is a mentor, and a person that anyone would be lucky enough to have in their corner."
—Jan Golembiewski
"I studied under J McKeever at The Montessori Institute of Milwaukee during the 2006-2007 academic year. I enjoyed attending all her lectures. There wasn’t a dull moment in there. She brought the classroom to life with her songs and her great sense of humor.
"I found her to be a woman of strong character, who is always patient and cheerful and able to communicate well. I was impressed with her ability to work well with all the students and she was more than willing to go out of her way to help and encourage. In my opinion, her knowledge and years of experience makes J an excellent choice to head up the Montessori Institute of Atlanta. She will be a wonderful influence in the lives of those she intracts with."
—Venus Kohler, AMI Elementary Montessori Teacher
"J has the true heart of a Montessorian which glows through her every action, thought, and deed. She supports all of her trainees, during and after training, helping each of us grow into the best educators and people we can be, helping us reach our potentials, just as the children will reach theirs through our work. Using the lightest of touches to support us and direct our feet upon the path ahead, she bubbles with the fun and excitement of Montessori education while staying true to this powerful directive to help children reach their potentials and become fully contributing adults able to transform our society. Trainees blessed to enjoy J’s sparkling personality, commitment to Montessori, and fun and loving spirit during the hard work of their training will have the best of training experiences (and life transformations). I did."
—Beth Olshewsky taught as a Montessori primary guide and elementary teacher for many years in California, Washington, and British Columbia and is a graduate of the San Diego Montessori Institute, where J was a course lecturer and course assistant for the 2000-2002 summer elementary course. She is now a District Teacher-Librarian for the San Marino Unified School District.
"I first met J at an Elementary Writing Workshop that she presented; I was impressed by how well she was prepared for the workshop. She brought wonderful examples of the children's work and gave us many new ideas and strategies to help children write. She was so inspiring that I couldn't help thinking that the children in her class must be very lucky to have her as their teacher.
"Later on I knew her as a colleague when she came to help our school when we unexpectedly 'lost' one of our teachers. She was able to bring discipline and a work ethic to a group of children who needed it very badly. In a very short time these children experienced the satisfaction that work can bring to them. She not only offered them the curriculum but also love, respect and guidance; all this within a short time frame. It was during this time that we became friends; I found her to be a wonderful listener and it was very easy to open up to her.
"
Recently she was at our school as a Consultant. Her subtle ways of observing the teacher and the class without making any judgments make her an exemplary consultant. She was able to help and advise us without imposing in any way; she leads with her heart and that is what makes her unique; she is going to be an amazing trainer."
—Jacinta Edussuriya (Elementary Directress), St. Catherine's Montessori, Houston, TX 77025
"As a Montessori School Executive Director and teacher, I have known J McKeever for many years. She has been at our school a number of times as both an AMI consultant and supervisory teacher trainer. She has helped our school progress in its understanding and implementation of Montessori.
"Having been an AMI primary teacher for many years, I decided to take AMI elementary training in Milwaukee—a three-summer course with Allyn and J. J has been especially helpful in helping me understand the many elementary materials both in theory and practice. Her insightful comments have helped me greatly."
—John Page, Meher Montessori School, Mehermontessori.org
"J McKeever first came to our school as a consultant when we most needed a person with a firm grasp of the Montessori principles. She then took on a lower elementary class for a time when our school was in crisis. She demonstrated how to take a group of children and transform the class into a model Montessori classroom. She has a way of gently, but firmly bringing the children to an understanding of freedom with responsibility, and helping them to find joy in their work.
"J has worked hard to become a trainer over the last years, but she has also been willing to come to our school as a consultant to remind us of the important principles that are the foundation of a true Montessori environment. She is positive, while helping us to see the rewards of adhering to the Montessori philosophy.
"I will always be grateful to J for her devotion, understanding, and encouragement to be the best we can be for our children."
—Pam Warren,
St. Catherine's Montessori School, Houston, Texas
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