We have exciting news to share! After years of dreaming, brainstorming, and planning, we are ready to announce the launch of our new venture, the Greenspring Center for Lifelong Learning!
Why this? Why now?
As Montessorians, we believe that children are the hope for humankind. We know that education is second only to homelife in children’s development as self-actualized human beings and global citizens. And of course, the secret to educational excellence is strong teachers.
Yet there are not enough educators and administrators to meet the growing needs of children and families. Some 300,000 teachers and other staff left the field between February 2020 and May 2022, a nearly 3% drop in that workforce, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
teachers and staff left the field since the start of the pandemic
And while there are strong training centers out there preparing teachers to take their first steps into the world of education, once they are through training, support can be minimal and ineffective. Many new educators leave the profession before becoming seasoned professionals.
Data collected by Zippia indicates that 44% of all teachers quit in the first five years, many leaving the profession altogether. This figure is even higher for Montessori-trained teachers: a staggering 72% of Montessorians leave teaching in the first five years.
%
of Montessori educators quit in their first five years
This staffing crisis puts an incredible strain on those who are rising to the challenge and leaves our children without the support they need.
Our Mission
Every challenge, even one of this magnitude, can be overcome by sharing successful structures and strategies. We at Greenspring Montessori School feel it is a moral imperative to share the knowledge and strategies we have gained in more than 50 years of experience and from a rich network of leaders in the field. The Greenspring Center for Lifelong Learning’s mission is:
Elevating and supporting the emerging generation of Montessori educators, leaders, and schools.
Our Resources
During the first phase of our launch, we are offering a toolbox of resources designed to serve our mission.
Voices in Montessori Podcast
Our podcast, Voices in Montessori, will share interviews with seasoned Montessori educators and leaders, as well as learning specialists, child psychologists, and other experts to inspire and support our growing community of adult learners. Our three themes are: Building Cultures of Belonging, Montessori for All Learners, and The Montessori Triad (The Prepared Environment, The Prepared Adult, and the Prepared Learner.)
On-Demand Workshops
On-Demand Workshops
Our library of on demand workshops will be tailored to leaders and educators at every level. We are creating learning modules to support onboarding new staff, provide ongoing education for school teams, and build the skills of individual classroom teachers.
Annual Conference
We are revitalizing the popular Baltimore Montessori Conference. Our new model – Deepening our Practice – will provide full day workshops so that educators can dig deeply into important topics and leave with actionable ideas to implement in their classroom and school. The conference is scheduled for June 20-24, 2023.
Coaching Communities
When teachers are just starting out, they need ongoing, high-quality support. We will be facilitating year-long, virtual coaching communities for Children’s House and Elementary Guides in their first years of teaching and new school leaders that provide high-quality education and practical help in real-time.
And there is more to come! We hope you will join us in celebrating the launch of this exciting project. Please visit our landing page at greenspringcenter.org. The full site will launch on December 1st.
How you can help!
In the meantime, please support us by joining us and sharing the news on social media!
