Paul is a student of children throughout the world and a highly regarded international and inspirational speaker and author.
As the education director at Designs for Lifelong Learning, Paul leads initiatives that empower Montessori school owners, administrators, and educators. For Paul, Montessori education is a way of life. He has worked in Montessori education for over fifty years as a teacher, school administrator, university professor, teacher trainer, administrator coach, researcher, consultant, and author.
Paul’s doctorate is in cultural anthropology, and he is an AMS early childhood and secondary certified classroom teacher. Paul is the author of An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. He is also the co-author of 60 Days Montessori Observation Notebook and The Montessori Way, a definitive work on the Montessori experience.
Amii Spark
Name: Amii Spark
Your role in WMI/EMC: Future 0-3 trainer and WMI additional location in Malta
When you began working with WMI: In 2023
Age groups you are qualified in as a Montessori teacher and where you studied: 3-6, 6-9 (9-12 almost), with WMI and MCI, currently doing 0-3 training with WMI.
Your Montessori experience: I have experience working directly with parents in playgroups with children aged 6 months – 3 years. I have worked with children aged 0-3 years for 6 years, 3-6 for 3 years and 6 – 9 for 3 years. I also co-own a Montessori school for children aged 12 months – 11 years in Malta.
Country you already do or will provide training in:Malta
Age groups you provide WMI training for in your centre:We will offer 0-3 and 3-6
Other employment besides WMI:School co-owner
Other areas you have studied: Education has been my passion from the beginning. I also have Certificate in Early Years Practice from the Open University.
Name: Maëlys de Rudder – Tanović
Your role in WMI/EMC: Trainee trainer 3-6
When you began working with WMI:I joined WMI in 2023
Age groups you are qualified in as a Montessori teacher and where you studied: I have a qualification for 3-6 Years from Montessori Centre International (MCI), St Nicholas Charity
Your Montessori experience:Montessori nursery and elementary homeschool mother to my children in Paris, 17 years establishing and leading Bloom Montessori school (ages 2,5 -18) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country you already do or will provide training in: I plan to commence WMI teacher training in Ex-Yugoslavia countries
Age groups you do provide WMI training for in your centre: hopefully 3-6 first and then 6-9 and 9-12
Other employment besides WMI: I also works as a Shamanic Practitioner
Other areas you have studied: Law School(MA), Shamanic practitioner (Professional diploma)
Marianne Apold
Name: Marianne Apold
Your role in WMI: Trainer12-15
When you began working with WMI:2023
Age groups you are qualified in as a Montessori teacher and where you studied:6-9, 9-12 and 12-15 (all with WMI).
Your Montessori experience:Started 6-9 training in 2013. Worked as a teacher and principle in Senja Montessoriskole in 2015-16. Started in Hamarøy Montessoriskole, a 1 to 7 school in autumn of 2016. Adolescent program opened in the autumn of 2023. One of the founders, and a member of Montessori Nord-Norge.
Country you already do or will provide training in: Norway
Other employment besides WMI: Principle and teacher at Hamarøy Montessoriskole
Before finding my way to the Montessori approach, I was a producer for the national centre for the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun, as well as a scenographer, production designer, and pyrotechnician in a number of Norwegian films and TV series.