Professional Director
There is 1 open position on the AMS 2013 Board in the category of Professional Director. The position is for a 3-year term.
Voting
Voting is now open. To vote online, log in and click “Voting” in the left-side navigation menu on your Member Page.
The last day to vote is Friday, January 4.
Candidates
Kim Bednarek
Jacksonville Beach, FL
Head of School, Discovery Montessori School; Jacksonville Beach, FL
AMS-credentialed (Administrator)
BA (English), University of New Hampshire
I have been engaged with Montessori education for the past 10 years, a time in which both education and the economy have transitioned dramatically. Discovery Montessori has experienced the economic downturn as a catalyst for many significant and successful shifts. Discovery redefined itself and continued to thrive while being recognized for consistency with best practices in education, environmental stewardship, and operational efficiency. This experience honed my business acumen, development, and leadership skills, all attributes that I believe can support AMS’s national profile and current goals. My regional success with brokering partnerships between diverse educational institutions compels me to consider my work with the American Montessori Society on a more comprehensive and national scale. I am adept in strategizing around vision/mission and have the capacity to execute details to completion with a clarity of purpose. I have the will, drive, and skills to support AMS as a relevant and necessary national education force.
Résumé
Melinda M. Harris
Jackson, TN
Principal, The Montessori School at Bemis; Jackson, TN
AMS-credentialed (Elementary I)
MEd (Elementary Education), Vanderbilt University
I am interested in a leadership position with AMS because I have 22 years of Montessori experience, both public and private, and feel that my experiences have given me the practical knowledge to assist other educators in dealing with the real issues that Montessori schools face. My experience includes teaching, serving as a curriculum coordinator, and currently serving as a public Montessori school principal. This array of experience allows me to have working knowledge of both private and public Montessori schools and to understand the issues that both schools face. My top priorities would be to build a strong support network for teachers and administrators, with an emphasis on the public sector. I would also like to see an increased emphasis on public Montessori teachers within training programs. Having worked in a public Montessori school for 16 years, I have a true knowledge of the state and national initiatives and how they are implemented in Montessori education.
Résumé
Laura Saylor
Cincinnati, OH
Head of School, Central Montessori Academy; Cincinnati, OH
AMS-credentialed (Early Childhood, Elementary I & II)
MEd (Montessori Education), Xavier University
Having benefitted from the many supports of AMS over the past 25 years, I am excited about the possibility of serving on the AMS Board as a professional director. I have assisted professionals in their growth, analyzed programs, and creatively solved perplexing issues in education and school management. My experiences as a Montessori teacher, head of school, and teacher trainer, combined with my understanding of current research, will aid me in helping AMS provide “the leadership and inspiration to make Montessori a significant voice in education.” An important priority for me is to address policy issues in order to ensure Montessori schools and teachers the necessary freedoms to educate children though use of the authentic Montessori pedagogy. Further, with more states adopting the Common Core Curriculum, I would like to encourage dialogue about how and where these fit into the Montessori curricula instead of how Montessori can fit into the standards.
Résumé