Join host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds consulting in conversation with Dr. Eric Dustman about school leadership. Eric is a school leader, consultant, author, and presenter. You can learn more about Eric at https://nuancegroupllc.com/ . Eric is also co-facillitator of the AMS Emerging Leader Fellowship Program (ELF).Jess and Eric discuss ways to help school communities heal after big changes, how to build trust within faculty and board, how to build relationships through storytelling, and more. Eric's latest book, Puff Leadership: How Flexing Your Soft Skills Can Strengthen Your Lead is out now and available through Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Puff-Leadership-Flexing-Skills-Strengthen/dp/B0DXW19W39

This month host Jess Davis discusses the breadth of Montessori education across the ages with co-authors of the new book Implementing the Montessori Method: Learner Centered Education from Birth through Adolescence, Trisha Thompson-Willingham and Dr. Susan Zoll. This includes discussion of how differnt the environment, goals, and roles of the adults are in the different planes of development, highlighting how the Montessori method evolves with the child. The panel deep-dives into one thread throughout Montessori education: character development, including its importance, ways of framing character development in the classroom, and strategies for creating a classroom culture that nurtures strong character.key topicsMontessori developmental continuum from birth to adolescenceThe role of character development in Montessori educationSupporting teachers through high-quality training and ongoing supportPolicy challenges and opportunities for Montessori schoolsCreating a Montessori culture that meets developmental needsThe Complete Montessori Continuum: From Birth to AdolescenceBuilding a Montessori Culture: Support for Teachers "Intelligence plus character is the goal of true education.""Montessori education is more than the sum of its parts."ResourcesCharacter Labhttps://www.implementingthemontessorimethod.org/https://www.dr-susan-zoll.com/https://www.trishathompson-willingham.com/

Join host Jess Davis for an engaging conversation with Dr. Laura Saylor of Mt. St. Joseph University about the many intersections of Montessori and cognitive science research. Discussion covers routines, formats, and language to decrease cognitive load for students, the importance of nonlinguistic representations (visual learning materials to go with verbal information), and the effects of technology on learning. Resources mentioned: The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025 https://www.edutopia.org/visual-essay/the-10-most-significant-education-studies-of-2025/ISTE Technology Standards https://iste.org/standardsBook Recommendations: The Digital DelusionScience of Learning: 99 Studies that Every Teacher Needs to KnowPowerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning

Host Jess Davis, MEd and EL I-II, dives into ways schools can build proactive, resilient practices to support students with disabilities. Jess reviews major components of visionary leadership for inclusion, the importance of building community investment, and dives into Multi-tiered Systems of Support (or MTSS) to effectively use a school's limited resources for greatest positive impact for the most students.

In this "part 2" conversation, host Jess Davis talks with one of her favorite Montessori leadership coaches, Jonathan Wolff, about the science and art of applying Montessori principles to supporting adults in our school environments (Montessori andragogy).Jonathan is a consultant, trainer, speaker and author who infuses his work in leadership development with 30 years experience as an educator and administrator.Jonathan provides retreats, workshops, and consultations, along with coaching for parents, educators, leaders, Boards of Directors, community organizations, and learning communities around the globe.The best-practice leadership retreats and workshops he leads facilitate community building, strategic planning and improved organizational effectiveness.After earning his B.A. degree in Secondary Education from Temple University, Jonathan began teaching at-risk youth in Philadelphia. Early in his career, he read several books on the Montessori philosophy and quickly recognized the power her work in human development had to effect transformation not only within the young child, but within adults as well. He went on to study with Mother Isabelle Eugenie, one of Dr. Montessori’s first students, earned his Early Childhood Credential through the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), and began his career as a Montessori educator at one of the first Head Start Montessori Centers in the United States.Jonathan’s incisive ability to apply Dr. Montessori’s educational constructs to training adults led him to positions as a teacher trainer, as the director of education and training for various education and business organizations, and as the administrator for several nationally recognized schools. Thirty years in the field have provided him with solid first-hand experience in leading and managing rapidly growing for-profit and not-for-profit schools, education institutions and business organizations.Today, the primary focus of his consulting practice is on leadership development – designing best practices and writing books and articles that enhance individual and organizational performance. His creative, interactive programs, his humorous and inspiring teaching style, and his deep insight into the needs of people and organizations are in demand by organizations around the world.