MACTE Update

By Carolyn Pinkerton

The start of a new year ranks solidly at the top of favorite seasons at MACTE. We are energized to reexamine our forever-expanding project list and strategize how to reach our goals for 2023. The new year means conference season is right around the corner, and we always look forward to connecting with colleagues and friends. We also took the time to reflect on the year behind us. We ended on a wonderful note with the MACTE Symposium held in our hometown, Charlottesville, Virginia.

We kicked off our Symposium week with two MACTE Board meetings. The Board voted on accreditation decisions and discussed several MACTE policies and strategic priorities. MACTE members and staff gathered Montessori leaders from across organizations to discuss how we will further the work in the Montessori community. MACTE looks forward to participating in future discussions regarding how to continue the advancement of Montessori around the world.

The 9th annual MACTE Symposium kicked off on Thursday, December 8. We felt inspired listening to Dr. Ana María García Blanco, executive director of Instituto Nueva Escuela, as she shared pictures and stories showing her deep dedication to building community through Montessori in Puerto Rico. John Hunter, founder of the World Peace Game, told engaging stories about his work and led Symposium attendees through a reflective activity. We laughed and were intrigued while listening to Dr. Daniel Willingham, Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, discuss learning and how Montessori aligns with contemporary science. Dr. Herman Bounds, Director of Accreditation Group, Office of Post Secondary Education at the United States Department of Education, delved into accreditation as evidence of quality. And we had MACTE Board members share about the work they do and what they find rewarding about their roles. (Should you be interested in serving as a MACTE Board member, please subscribe to our newsletters and follow our Facebook page to learn more about future open board seats.)

The MACTE Symposium rounded out with Table Talk sessions when attendees can move around to participate in conversations about topics of interest. We always enjoy seeing and listening to lively discussions during this time. MACTE’s President, Dr. Rebecca Pelton, thanked everyone for coming, and we wished our attendees easy and safe travels back home! So much effort is put into planning the Symposium by our small and mighty MACTE team that it is always a mixture of emotions when the event is over: elation, fatigue, and a bit of relief that we can rest. We are already planning for next year’s event! Whether it is at a spring conference, our NEXT winter Symposium, or a Zoom meeting, we hope our paths can cross with you, the dedicated leaders in this community, soon.