THESIS AND DISSERTATION AWARDS

The American Montessori Society offers annual awards for graduate level work that furthers the public understanding of Montessori education. The awards are:

  • Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation:  First Place: $1000, Second Place: $500.

  • Outstanding Master's Thesis: First Place: $750, Second Place: $250.

Candidates whose works have been accepted by an accredited university and meet Assessment Criteria are invited to submit a CD (plus hard copy) of their dissertation or thesis, for consideration, to Dr. Phyllis Povell: 14 Gray Avenue, Dix Hills, NY 11746. Please include your home address and e-mail address. To ensure anonymity in reading by the committee, all identifying factors should be removed from the copies wherever possible.

Submissions for awards will be accepted November 2, 2007 - November 1, 2008. Notification to candidates will be by e-mail and United States Postal Service mail. Winners will be announced at the AMS Annual Meeting, which will take place at the AMS 2009 Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.

For more information: Dr. Phyllis Povell.

Dissertation Awards Committee

Phyllis Povell, Chair
Marlene Barron
Betsy Coe
Jackie Cossentino
Peggy Loeffler
Anna Perry

Recent Award Recipients

2008:  Linda Gatewood Massey, “Pilgrims and Guides: A Phenomenological Study of Montessori Teachers Guiding and Being Guided by Children in Public Montessori Schools” (Doctoral Dissertation)

Michelle K. Yezbick, “How Montessori Educators in the U.S. Address Culturally Responsive Education” (Master’s thesis, first-place award)

Alison Stern, “Observational Assessment of Literacy Development: The Use of Running Records in the Montessori Classroom.” (Master’s thesis, second-place award)

2007:  Nanette S. Schonleber, “Culturally Congruent Education and the Montessori Model: Perspectives from Hawaiian Culture-based Educators” (Doctoral dissertation)

Peggy E. Pate-Smith, “Implications for Peace: Montessori Elementary Education” (Master’s thesis)
 
Noreen Sullivan, “Characteristics of Early Elementary Homework: Montessori and Traditional” (Master’s thesis)

2006: Joan J. Mariani Gomes, "Using a Creativity Focused Science Program to Foster General Creativity in Young Children: A Teacher Action Research Study” (Doctoral Dissertation)

Angela Kinney Murray, "Identifying Challenges to the Future of Public Montessori Elementary Schools" (Master’s Thesis)

2005: Carolyn Daoust, "An Examination of Implementation Practices in Montessori Early Childhood Education" (Doctoral Dissertation)

2004: Laura M. Opfer, "A Descriptive Research Study Examining the Use of Standardized Testing by Montessori Teachers of Kindergarten Through Sixth Grade Students” (Master’s Thesis)