New Leadership in the IMC –Teacher Education Committee

by Kitty Bravo

The International Montessori Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Teri Canaday Freeman and Cathie Perolman as the new Co-Chairs of the IMC Teacher Education Committee. Cathie and Teri have been IMC-TEC committee members for several years and now bring a wealth of Montessori experience to their new role.

While stepping down as the TEC Chair, Kitty Bravo will remain active with the committee as the IMC Board Liaison. Kitty noted, “It is important for us to have leadership with deep roots in the Montessori community; Montessorians who bring diverse perspectives from working with different age groups, a variety of schools, and multiple teacher education programs. Cathie and Teri have such strong commitments to Montessori and supporting teachers that I am confident they are the right team to move the IMC-TEC forward.”

Cathie Perolman has been involved in Montessori education for over 40 years, in which she has served as an Early Childhood, 3-6 assistant teacher, classroom, and level leader. Her work has also expanded beyond work with children as an instructor with several teacher education programs and as a college professor.

Cathie currently mentors teachers, conducts workshops for teachers and administrators, and writes for her blog and magazines. She also serves as a consultant for schools and a school validator for the Montessori Schools of Maryland. Cathie is the creator of the Color Coded Sound Games and the Rainbow Reading System, as well as other reading and cosmic printable materials to enhance classrooms. Cathie is retired and lives with her husband in MD.

Teri Canaday Freeman started her Montessori career in 1973. She helped start the first AMS public Montessori school in Cincinnati, Ohio, under the leadership of Nancy Rambusch in 1975. Since then, Teri has helped start several public Montessori schools and taught in both small and large private Montessori schools. She was Executive Director of the Montessori Early Childhood and Elementary School in Jackson, TN, for 28 years and Director of a MACTE teacher education program. Along with her work as an adjunct instructor at different universities, Teri taught in various Montessori teacher education programs. She has worked as a private Montessori consultant for both schools and Montessori material companies. Her love for filmmaking resulted in her helping produce two Montessori videos with Edvid. Teri’s Montessori certifications are at the Early Childhood and Elementary Levels.

Teri has served IMC and CGMS as a conference presenter, field consultant, member of the Teacher Education Committee, and committee member tasked with creating teacher education standards that are more equitable.

Retired from working in Montessori schools, Teri is now involved with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She is certified at level 3 and has just finished creating a new atrium where she works with 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students. She also facilitates groups that promote emotional healing in prisons and the free world.