Giving Thanks BY CAROLYN PINKERTON, PH.D. Director of Communication and State Relations Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
The season of giving thanks is upon us and at MACTE, we
have much to be grateful for. First and foremost, we are grateful for our Montessori teacher education programs (TEPs) and their continued dedication to preparing future Montessori teachers. We are also grateful for the health and well-being of our staff. And while we experience technology frustrations from time to time, we deeply appreciate that technology has allowed us to work effectively from our homes, for Montessori TEP classes to remain in session, for field supervisors to safely observe adult learners in children’s classrooms, and for people to remain connected and communicating with one another.
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Thanks to the internet, we have been able to continue partici-
pating in conferences where we share the importance of accredi-
effective and engaging online education takes an incredible
tation, grow professionally, and spend time with dear colleagues.
amount of thoughtful work, and we are incredibly grateful to the
While we will not be holding the annual MACTE Symposium this
program directors and staff who have poured countless hours into
December, we are looking forward to the possibility of an April
doing so.
event. In the meantime, MACTE will continue to conduct webinars
about the accreditation process and we plan to host a virtual open
been able to continue conducting onsite verification visits, one
forum to provide policy updates and answer questions. (Please
of the final steps in the accreditation process, because of the
check the MACTE website and follow our Facebook page for
power of technology. Verifier volunteers are still able to collect the
dates and details.)
necessary evidence (through interviews, review of materials, tours
The option to teach online has permitted programs to remain
of sites) that the programs are meeting MACTE’s Qualifying Prin-
open and dedicated to working with future Montessori teachers.
ciples via these virtual visits. Program directors are continuing to
At this time, we have reviewed and approved over twenty accred-
find onsite visits to be a positive experience. Dr. Leslie Lasseville,
ited TEPs for temporarily providing online instruction. A number
program director of Barry University Montessori Teacher Educa-
of these programs have shared they plan on making online teach-
tion Program, recently completed a virtual onsite verification visit
ing a permanent part of their program after receiving strong posi-
for her program’s Secondary I and II levels. Dr. Lasseville shared
tive feedback from their adult learners. MACTE knows creating an
her feedback regarding the virtual visit experience:
Finally, while travel has drastically slowed down, MACTE has
©MONTESSORI LEADERSHIP | WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG/IMC | VOLUME 22 ISSUE 4 • 2020
