Among the suggestions from the survey we sent out in December was the idea of hearing more from Administration. We get to talk to you in conducting tours, Open Houses and Parent Events, but the rest of the time we step back and let the teachers take center stage, very much as teachers step back in the classrooms and let the students take ownership.  So, here are a few notes about what’s going on in the “back of the house” as we think of our work. 

Leith Strachan recently completed his Masters in Business Creation at the University of Utah. With Emily Squadroni, Leah Linebarger and Duna Strachan working on their doctorates at University of Wisconsin River Falls and Bruce King a master of education and a continual student of the world, we have lately had frequent discussions on organizational structure.We all agree that our organization is one where we work side by side and learn from one another. One model for our business is a labyrinth style with each level of the school in close supportive contact with one another but all employees circulating and mingling, exchanging ideas and discussing at our daily meetings. Just like students in a classroom everyone on faculty has ownership and a voice in the workings of the school. Each of the administrative team has our own ideas we are working on and with the synergy of what has been developing we recently rearranged our job titles to be more descriptive of our work.

Bruce is still Project Manager and CFO. He has for 37 years been making sure we stay mostly in the black and he has a skill for looking into the future and adjusting for any approaching changes. He is organizing the next addition, a wing just like the new infant wing but at the south end of the school. This will accommodate our growing Upper School program and help to meet our financial goals that will benefit faculty as well as students and their families. Construction is expected to begin in the spring. 

Leith has several curriculum complements he is working to install in the Upper School Program focused on tying together the established curriculum with STEM components, like his Punkin Chunkin’ catapult, and a massive new piece he calls “Human Impact” designed to take a look at the natural world, and what humans are capable of. This will begin at the end of the month. Talk to any Upper School student about how this is coming along.  Leith is now Upper School Director. He and Emily’s husband, Cody, are designing an innovative new school management system to be unveiled at our Utah Montessori Council Conference on January 24th and then at the National American Montessori Society Conference in March. This comes from years of trying new management systems and attempting to improve each of them. The system is called Cosmic Education Management. It is aimed at how Montessori schools are managed but can be used by any type of school. When we are suddenly operating more efficiently you will know Cosmic is doing it’s job!

Leah is an artist at making sure the school is fully equipped every day, coaching teachers, working with children of all ages and explaining the pedagogy to those new to Montessori. She is involved in every aspect of keeping the school running smoothly and her new title is School Operations Director. She will soon begin writing her dissertation on Planes of Development from Childhood through Adulthood.

Emily teaches Physics for the Bridgemont Secondary Program. We have seen some of her students presenting their work, resembling professors twice their age. Emily got Bridgemont started and stays involved with them but is now working with her first love, infants, toddlers and early childhood as Lower School Director. Her dissertation is on Complexity Leadership Theory. 

Duna’s role is visionary. She oversees the school community, designs the curriculum and acts as storyteller for many school events. After 39 years of observing Montessori communities her dissertation asks about life satisfaction of teachers in general and Montessori teachers in particular. Her title is still Executive Director, but she likes to think of it as Pedagogical Director.

All 5 of our administrative team spend time observing classes, coaching faculty, children and parents and supporting the Montessori community in our revolution in education as many in the Montessori movement have called it. We are onto something that results in peaceful, joyful and productive citizens of the Earth. And we are thrilled to be a part of it!