Dear Parents and Students,

We are all Montessorians in practice and growth, as are you - your child’s first and most valuable teacher. I was a child of Montessori, my daughters attended Montessori school during their primary years, and I am a Montessori educator. Throughout my career, I have advocated for children and families in every community where I have lived and worked—Northern Virginia; Westchester County, New York; and now Rochester, where I was born and raised. I have instructed children from many countries, socioeconomic backgrounds, and language communities, and I have experienced that children are children everywhere. They need patience, love, and the opportunity to learn in a safe and nurturing environment.  I hope to weave my experience and knowledge into the Webster Montessori Community by advocating for children and supporting the families, teachers, and staff who believe in the powerful growth that a guided, individualized education can inspire.

Montessori pedagogy is a privilege for both child and family.  The educator who is dedicated to this philosophy carries great responsibility. To observe and see each child as an individual, separate from their parents and family unit, is a role only those called to this vocation fully understand. From an early age, children begin to distinguish themselves from their families as they seek independence in the world. While parents wish childhood could last a little longer in a world that can be difficult to explain, it is often children who teach us to let go: “Watch me!” “Look what I can do!”

In this ebb and flow of independence and guidance, we find the child.  Follow them.

Sincerely,

Christine Young

Interim Head of School