MPS Debuts Classrooms that will Produce More Montessori Teachers for the District

(MILWAUKEE, WI) – Milwaukee Public Schools on Thursday, November 2, debuted Montessori model classrooms that will allow MPS to produce more Montessori teachers for its schools.

The classrooms, located at the top of Grant Gordon Learning Center, 921 W. Meinecke Ave., will allow applicants to be credentialed to become Montessori teachers. The district is seeking 40 applicants to become Montessori teachers and will pay their tuition for credentialing. The credentialing will be done by two outside vendors.

MPS is recruiting applicants now for the session beginning in January. For those interested in learning more, the school district is holding an open house at the classrooms from 4:30-6:30 p.m. November 2. Potential applicants wishing more information also may contact MPS Montessori Coordinator Abigail Rausch at rauschav@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Montessori schools are in high demand by families in the district. By investing in credentialing more Montessori teachers, MPS will be able to serve more students, according to Jennifer Mims-Howell, chief academic officer for Milwaukee Public Schools.

MPS, which is marking the 50th anniversary of Montessori education in the district, has the largest cluster of public Montessori schools in the country. It has eight Montessori schools, including a dual language Montessori and a K-12 Montessori, and it enrolls more than 3,800 students at them.

Applicants for credentialing must hold a bachelor’s degree (in any field) and must commit to work for MPS for three years after being credentialed.

The applicants must be MPS employees, but applicants can be hired for openings around the district before enrolling in the credentialing program, which begins in January.

The credentialing courses, which will be held evenings and weekends, are designed to accommodate working adults.

The classrooms at Grant Gordon will be used to credential 20 teachers for grades 1-6. Teachers for grades 7-12 will be credentialed at Craig Montessori School.

The rooms at Grant Gordon are the only such credentialing classrooms in Wisconsin that are affiliated with Association Montessori Internationale.

The Montessori method of teaching was founded in Italy more than 100 years ago. It was based on observations of how children naturally learn, through hands-on exploration and by asking questions.

Children in Montessori schools are able to accelerate their learning, or they can take their time to gain confidence in their grasp of the subject matter. Students learn in classrooms with a range of ages; for example, students in 1st through 3rd grades work together.

The curriculum encourages children to become problem solvers and to develop their critical thinking. It also hones their creativity and social skills.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.