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Drake's Pioneering Program in Montessori Education
The School of Education (SOE) is partnering with Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) and the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector to launch a brand new program in Montessori education. The MS: Montessori Education program is the first of its kind in Iowa, exclusive to Drake, and provides a pathway for a new cohort of current DMPS teachers each year. As DMPS expands its Montessori footprint from one school to four, the new SOE program supports teachers with rich, research-based strategies rooted in individualized, student-centered learning that honors development and curiosity.
Our MS: Montessori Education program is designed as a Montessori Educator Preparation program that meets the requirements of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) at the level of Elementary I-II. This course of study prepares teachers for receiving children ages 6-12 years old in a multi-age Montessori classroom.
Questions?
For questions about the Montessori Education program, contact:
Jill Johnson, PhD
jill.johnson@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE, x2143
515-271-2143
Student Spotlight: Theresa Menke
"It's interesting because I constantly look back at my own education, and say 'gosh, if I'd only had these tools, it would have been so much better.'"
— Theresa Menke, DMPS Teacher and MS: Montessori Education Student
When Theresa Menke was in school, she doesn't remember ever having a one-on-one moment with her teacher.
Today, as an educator at Findley Elementary School, she is committed to ensuring her students experience something different. So, when Drake partnered with DMPS to provide a master's degree program in Montessori education, Theresa jumped at the chance to join.
Theresa appreciates that the Montessori model places additional trust in the educator and their ability to see each child as an individual, instead of seeing the class as one unit. She is especially excited to learn how to observe a student and their learning journey by watching for specific learning milestones. Her favorite part about the program at Drake is the cohort model, because of the collaborative spirit, shared experiences, and hopes of other district teachers for the Montessori model at DMPS.
