Help Ms. Adele Attend the IMC's Annual Conference

Hello! My name is Ms. Adele and I am currently a middle & high school teacher at Desert Garden Montessori in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Montessori Method is an internationally recognized pedagogy that has had over 120 years of success. It centers each student's individuality and interests and is particularly focused on self-directed, hands-on, collaborative learning. Dr. Maria Montessori brought Montessori education to the United States in 1912. She leveraged her extensive background in psychology and pediatrics to develop a fantastic, successful method of educating children in a way that deviated from the more restrictive, traditional "follow this one path to be successful" style of education.

Although she wrote extensively about educating young children through the first two planes of development, she died before being able to do the same for the third: adolescence. Montessori high schools, therefore, are less common than the primary/elementary schools--but they are certainly on an upwards trajectory.

I have been teaching at DGM's middle/highschool for three years now and, while it has been a sharp deviation from my previous experience in the public school environment, I see the value of the Montessori Method every day.

Typically, in traditional school environments, teachers devlop their knowledge and hone their craft through research and study of a plethora of resources. However, since secondary Montessori resources aren't as commonly accessible, one of the best ways for Montessori high school teachers to improve their practice is to attend conferences & seminars that feature presentations from other secondary educators.

This conference, hosted by the International Montessori Council, is one such event that I know will offer invaluable knowledge and strategies to improve my students' and colleagues' experience at my school. Featuring sessions devoted to secondary Montessori programs and their dedication to fostering peace, justice, and collaboration, it also has presentations that are narrower and focus on how to leverage common secondary resources in a way aligned with Dr. Montessori's teachings.

Unfortunately, my school, which is a non-profit organization, is unable to finance my attendance at the conference, even though the benefits of attendance are enthusiastically recognized among school leadership.

I am therefore taking it upon myself to raise the funds necessary to attend and hope that you will be able to assist in whichever way you can!

Cost Breakdown:

IMC Conference Registration Fee: $795

Round-Trip Airfare (PHX to ATL) w/ Frontier Rewards: $205

2-Night Hotel Stay (discounted rate): $381