Why families, educators & schools choose PEACE

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  • So grateful for the PEACE program educators they are so knowledgeable I appreciate the group setting of caregivers both new to and experienced with Montessori. It was a gift to able to listen and exchange ideas about ways to support a young toddler especially in these times! I look forward to sharing these offering with other caregivers I am grateful this program places emphasis on reaching BIPOC families- thank you!

    Hana, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • I especially loved advice on the incremental steps toward freedom and consequence, AND the information about the development of privacy, and how it's important to reveal and clarify misunderstandings around ages 3-4 (particularly around bias). Also love the reminder that children need many sensorial experiences to help them as they work toward generalization. Mariana is FANTASTIC!

    Whitney, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • The Montessori Masterclass is SO great! I appreciate that it's at a time that is feasible for those of us outside of PST. I was especially grateful that you invited in our scenarios and stories and gave on-the-spot coaching; all the other parents' examples were really helpful for me to hear about as well.

    Virginia, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • So grateful for these workshops to be available for free and held virtually so that both parents can participate. Wish there would be more so families like ours who do not have childcare can attend.

    Tone, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • There were so many great takeaways, as always. Mariana is such an amazing wealth of knowledge and is so well organized! I guess a big take away for me was that whatever I do for my child that she can do herself is taking away her chance to develop her skills. Seems obvious but it’s a reminder to schedule more time in the day to allow that to happen. I am so grateful for these workshops, thank you!

    Priscilla, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • I love to reminders to pay attention to the developmental cues. Look within to figure out what I can do to support during a meltdown.

    Rynae, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you for offering this workshop I appreciated that the group was open to having toddler/ infant presence and on/off camera. Made it feel more real and acknowledging our experience as caregivers- thank you!

    Hana, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • I am just continually grateful for Mariana and the support she provides for parents and our children. I couldn't feel more lucky to have found this community and to be able to be involved with the PEACE program. It has made our commitment to the Montessori approach feel possible for our family.

    Tanya, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I loved the examples Mariana gave they helped me connect to the big ideas so easily. Even though I am montessori trained I think the way this program was delivered has summarized the core principles in a way that’s easy to understand and remember

    Shraddha, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I loved attending to these workshops! It was a great opportunity to learn and clarify doubts along with my husband. I appreciated understanding the human development from birth onward.

    Geo, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • I learned so much today! The one that hit home the most: Independence is not taught, but rather gained through repetition of practicing activities and providing opportunities for experiences. Also that maximum efficiency only support adult and instead takes away from child’s need for maximum effort- and that requires time!

    Hana, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • It was so great! I appreciate that it's at a time that is feasible for those of us outside of PST. I was especially grateful that you invited in our scenarios and stories and gave on-the-spot coaching; all the other parents' examples were really helpful for me to hear about as well.

    Virginia, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I learned a lot from and appreciated the discussion on bilingualism in babies.

    Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you for navigating my questions/wishes so seamlessly! (Also, this is from the live groups, but our son napped BOTH days this weekend due to your guidance.....SO helpful!)

    Whitney, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I really appreciated that we got a specific approach for managing toddler's picky eating that we already tried out last night!

    Liz, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Incredible talk, Thank you for sharing and being so honest it helped me connect and realise I am not alone.

    Syleste, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • The live groups are fantastic! So many things to help with clothing independence and toilet learning. Preparing the environment and setting routines was a big takeaway.

    Mimi, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • With the eCourse, I have a better understanding of my daughter’s developmental path and the best way to foster independence and success for her later in life.

    Amy, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I felt so empowered to trust my instincts! Plus, it was so helpful for me to be able to listen to other mothers in an age range during the live groups.

    Britt, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • With this Masterclass program, I feel like we walked away with really tangible, do-able next steps for handling stressful moments with our toddler. I feel empowered with some additional skills that will truly make us better parents. I tried some of it out last night at bedtime, and I’m y toddler responded to it really well!

    Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you for providing both the live groups and the short videos in the eCourse. I would love to have my husband attend one of the live groups as I think he could benefit from it, but I'm so grateful that he can still watch the video lessons so we can be on the same page.

    Nina, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • The workshop was a great reminder of why as adult I crave outside praise and ways that I can help my kids to be more self driven and need less praise from others as they become adults.

    Laura, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • This Masterclass program continues to help our family thrive/cope/enjoy/navigate the early years with our son. Mariana gives structure and expertise to all of our parenting hopes and wishes. Our little family is set up for success, and we couldn't be more appreciative!

    Whitney, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • In the live groups, I was reminded that my child can do more than I think! And I just need to create the conditions for his skills to emerge. Mariana and this program are amazing and this program is a huge gift to our family! Thank you!

    Sarah, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • We really appreciate the balance of offerings in this program! Both the time during the live groups and the incredible information in the eCourse. We’ve already started implementing some of the tips and strategies and seeing an improvement. Thank you Mariana!!

    Lindsay, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I had a great time learning from Mariana both in reading her book and asking questions in the live groups. It's wonderful to feel like there's someone who is there to answer questions from a child development perspective without trying to rush or judge you. Mariana offers such unbiased listening and helpful advice as you want it and in a format you can use right away or when you're ready. Such a gift!

    Beth, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • The Summit presentations were fantastic! So clear, insightful, and practical. Really excellent presentations!

    Shawna, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • The open-mindedness and compassion that Mariana brings to this program is invaluable. She has an incredible amount of expertise that I am sure has helped so many parents get through what is a lonely and difficult period. Whether a seemingly small or larger issues, she seems to provide flexible and tailored suggestions to guide parents based on their specific situation. I hope an increasing number of families can benefit from this amazing program!

    Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • The Masterclass program is an extremely helpful and supportive service for new parents. wish more people had access to this kind of tailored listening and feedback.

    Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you for this workshop! I appreciated being able to look at ourselves as parents and check in with like minded parents & educators really helps knowing you are on alone on this road, I suffer with a lot self doubt knowing can do this for others but not for own children

    Syleste, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • This program was so helpful to learn about where our three year old is in his developmental stage, and how it differs from when he was two. We were struggling with tantrums, and Mariana gave us some incredible tools to use during the live groups and a better understanding of why the tantrums might be happing. We’re so grateful for what we learned!

    Megan, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • From the eCourse and the live groups, I learned that there are so many simple ways I can encourage independence and development in ways that suit my specific child.Thank you so much for your continued support of new parents and infant caregivers. This is a wonderful program you are doing and I'm so grateful.

    Beth, Parent in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you for making this presentation so personal and personable. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable.

    Mary, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • Mariana is always excellent. She is so helpful in how she talks about limits and freedoms. She is amazing at giving a solid framework to approach different situations, so you aren’t left only parroting helpful phrases, but really learning how to take on the situation yourself.

    Shawna, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • This was such an awesome talk about what happens as kids who get constant outside praise grow up still looking for it vs teaching kids to find praise within themselves. How we as parents and educators can help foster that. I know as an adult working in my first job outside of school it was hard because i was looking for a manager to fill that praise when that is not how real life is. So now i have skills to help my kids look for that praise from themselves. So they dont fe …more

    Laura, Parent at the PEACE Summit

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  • Thank you, Mariana, for an extremely practical and insightful presentation. One of my big complaints of Montessori conferences I have attended in the past was the lack of useful tricks, tips, and recipes that can be used in the classroom or home setting. Far too many talks focus too heavily on theory, philosophy, tangents, supposedly inspirational pep talks, and memoirs without providing enough relevant information. You hit this presentation out of the park, providing me and so many others exactly what we have been looking for in a Montessori conference. A million times, thank you!

    Mary, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • This lesson from the eCourse explained the difference in that children at this stage do not necessarily have memories, but instead have memory and are able to embody the pieces of information stored in their memory. This helps me to better understand that an important approach to teaching toddlers is through modeling correct behaviors I would like them to repeat. Specifically, the way in which I engage with our classroom environment serves as a model for the children to follow. For instance, if I want my toddlers to use a quiet inside voice, walking feet, and respecting our materials, I need to demonstrate that behavior myself in my daily actions.

    Taressa, Educators in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Starting the eCourse helped be better understand Montessori herself and the background of the pedagogy, both important sectors of information that I previously did not know much about. I mainly enjoyed hearing her intentions behind the pedagogy and loved that she created it with the idea of child development and actual those with special needs at the forefront. I haven’t found there to be much room for children with extra needs in the Montessori classroom, so I had somewhat assumed the curriculum was built for strictly neurological typical/ typically developing children. I would love to know more about Montessori’s suggestions/ comments/etc about supporting children that require additional help in the classroom.

    Taressa, Educators in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I think I would like to emphasize the process more than the product for my students. I was always motivated by “finishing the work” or grades, when the real learning moments actually happen when you’re in the thick of it, not just at the end.

    Jordan, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • For me, peace education involves actively teaching anti-racist, anti-bias, problem solving methods. It means learning about others and ourselves and figuring out how to be kind to ourselves and others.

    Jordan, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you Mariana, I found this talk really useful. I work alone an don't have my own Montessori community to discuss how to tackle certain situation that come up. I wish I could have this weekly like a staff meeting

    Syleste, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Thank you Joelene, your talk really help give me ideas on what to discuss with parents in my Nido group. Its also helped confirm talks I have given that I am still on track because when you work alone and your training was so many years ago you sometimes wonder, am I giving the right information here!

    Syleste, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Thank you again for the reminders- and the new connection of waiting for the child to initiate wanting the connection/ acknowledgment of their completed task.

    Helena, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • As someone who does not come from a Montessori background, the triad approach was somewhat new to me. While I feel we were utilizing the environment in my previous childcare jobs, the approach was not the same. Something I have had to learn during my time at my Montessori school is to step in less so that I can let the children learn from their environment.

    Kylie, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you Maria for the presentation! It resonates a lot with how I used to feel, but thankfully I noticed that I was not trying as hard to be the mom my own children needed instead of giving my best only in a classroom.

    Jenny, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • For me, Peace education means giving the children, parents and teachers support, it is the natural way to foster children's skills and build up their independence with peace.

    Minyi, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • Thank you Debora for you for refreshing the importance of these early stages in life and the most important part of use as human beings, this incredible brain that we want our babies to achieve their full potential

    Syleste, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Very insightful and a great refresher on freedoms and limits/self-discipline.

    Helena, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Learning about the child's path in development has helped me recognize what developmental milestones I should look for and help support within the children I am working with. It also helps me have a broader understanding of development in age groups that I do not work with.

    Kylie, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • What a Tremendous talk... Maria thank you for your honesty, vulnerability and willingness to share your knowledge.

    Wendy, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Thank you Rynae, being able to look at ourselves as parents and check in with like minded parents & educators really helps knowing you are on alone on this road, I suffer with a lot self doubt knowing can do this for others but not for own children

    Syleste, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Thanks a lot Dominique for your presentation and for teaching me personally about the language of your nursery school. It’s fantastic that you keep preserving a language that not many people speak. It’s so important and you’re doing a wonderful job! Good luck on expanding the school and we’re looking forward to seeing the result!

    Margaryta, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • What a great webinar indeed. I loved those parenting tools about setting aims a lot and recommendations for books. The speaker was very pleased to listen to. And I loved her examples from her own parenting experience. Thanks a lot!

    Margaryta, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Amazing session, really great takeaways that we will surely implement. Thank you

    Ramon, Educator at the PEACE Summit

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  • Before starting the eCourse, I did not know much about Maria Montessori's life. After completing just the first section on Montessori History, I now have a greater understanding of her life and how the Montessori method came to be.

    Kylie, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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  • I thoroughly enjoyed learning the woman behind Montessori education and the challenges she faced. I feel very connected to the person vs. the name, finding similarities between her and myself. My biggest takeaway is thinking about obstacles. In my own self reflection of my childhood (which influences what I do today) is a reflection of what we do as teachers, so what we do supporting these children, will influence what they do in the future! Although I have my hard days, I feel more inspired to support these future adults to make a difference.

    Queenie, Educator in the Montessori Masterclass

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PEACE Facilitator Testimonials

THE PEACE FACILITATION PROGRAM

  • Andrea Serrano

    Being part of THE PEACE Program is very encouraging because it helps to break down barriers and to share Montessori with all kind of families. It would be a great experience to learn from and to connect with other Montessorians!

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  • Becca McSweeney

    I have been hoping to move more towards parent education as I have enjoyed it so much in the past. Everything about The PEACE Program intrigues me to grow my own consulting business and branch out from only working within my own classroom community.

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  • Charley K'nuckles-Harper

    I have a strong passion for working with infants and toddlers. I feel like helping others as best as I can is part of my life's work. I feel like I have so much to share and learn and working with The PEACE Program will give me the opportunity to do both.

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  • Debora Araujo

    The PEACE program values align with my personal and professional values. I am excited to have the experience to interact with families, try to explain the Montessori philosophy to them, and have the opportunity to learn from them and from our meetings with other fellow Montessorians.

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  • Iliana Panagiotidi

    Mariana's hard work and enthusiasm to bring us all together in order to share our knowledge around the child's development is what inspired me the most!

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  • Joelene Draper

    The full on approach to creating a community based on love, acceptance and peaceful education is that inspired me. I believe the program will support me by connecting me to like minded people globally and building on our common passion, the child.

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  • Katalin Lovassy

    I find The PEACE Program fascinating because I feel we share the same values such as antiracism and supporting families using Montessori pedagogy. It will add to my professional development and support me setting up my business as a Montessori mentor.

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  • LuzAngelica Schuitt

    Belonging to The PEACE Program is really a blessing not only because I can reach more families and share my knowledge and experience, but because it is a great opportunity for many more families who can belong to a friendly place where they can really find support to understand the development of their children.

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  • Madhuri Prasad

    I resonate with Dr Montessori’s vision of World peace, and that it starts with children. I also believe that when we provide a holistic environment to a child, they reach their true potential. Joining The PEACE Program will help me reach many more families and support them. At the same time, it gives me a great opportunity to connect people globally who share the same value system and think alike. This will further support my personal and professional development as an individual.

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  • Maranda Deason

    I was drawn to The PEACE Program because supporting families is the cusp of what their goal is. The PEACE program is doing amazing work to match families with facilitators whose backgrounds and philosophies speak to individual families.

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  • Maria Bautista

    When I was taking the training, I wished there was support like the PEACE program. Having gone through that experience, I’d love to share my experiences and guide someone in need.

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  • Mariana Bissonnette

    I started The PEACE Program because I was inspired by the incredible work of the child in the first years of life and how crucial it is to show up for families with a liberatory, Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist mindset, in community.+

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  • Marine Gombault

    I am very passionate about working with families. I have been inspired by the values and by my conversations with Mariana and I think I would benefit from her knowledge in experience in creating and fostering a community, as well as using my skills to support my family

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  • Tierney Dewan-Saperstein

    I'm inspired to work with The PEACE Program because I love working with families. More importantly, offering DEIB, Anti-Racist, and other education is EXTREMELY important to me as an individual, facilitator, and educator.

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  • Virginia Stone-Rogers

    I’ve needed the network to encourage me to launch my parent support work and I've found it with PEACE!

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  • Rynae Lindsey, 2020 Scholar

    One thing that seems to be lacking from Montessori teacher training is in depth coaching on parent communication and parent education. Working with the PEACE program has provided me with practical experience doing just that, and as a result, has given me a more holistic training experience. Having Mariana as a resource, paired with access to parent-work through the PEACE program has helped me make connections between the theory that I was reading about and real life application. I know I will be a better Guide as a result of this experience.

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  • Emely Flores, 2021 Scholar

    Being a PEACE Scholar has been such a fruitful and unforgettable experience for me. The information and knowledge that I have gained from it has helped me both professionally and personally. I would like to highlight that my experience during my 0-3 training would not have been the same without The Peace Program. Mariana has a broad knowledge about Montessori pedagogy and I am very grateful to her for making these experiences possible. I hope that the next Scholar can enjoy this scholarship as much as I have, and will become a Montessori educator that our children and parents need.

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  • Dominique Quintana, 2022 Scholar

    Being able to work with The PEACE Program opened up a new area of possibility for my work. It has inspired me to look beyond the classroom and address what is a lack of training in parent education. Having a mentor during this process will give me the confidence I need both in the classroom as well as being able to educate parents in the Montessori method.

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School Testimonials

HOLISTIC SCHOOL-WIDE CONSULTING

  • Sid Leck, Head of School

    Our school has partnered with PEACE for the past 6 years and we love working with them! As part of our partnership, our school connects into our community by sponsoring seats in The PEACE Program's parenting support groups and 1:1s. In our commitment to increase access to Montessori for all from birth, we made these sponsorship available to anyone in the community (in and out of our school).

    In addition to connecting families to accessible programming, PEACE has also provided our school with Montessori parent education workshops, as well as leadership coaching for me. As a Head of School, I have benefited so much from this coaching and would highly recommend Mariana Bissonnette, PEACE founder as a coach. Mariana has a gift for breaking complex ideas down and making situations highly accessible. She has supported me in creating an intentional and efficient systems-based approach to my leadership and our school, which has made a positive impact on the day-to-day of running the school.

    Overall some of the great outcomes of having The PEACE program at our school are:

    ✅ Support for families before they attend our school, to expand access to high quality parenting education from birth

    ✅ More engagement and connection with our greater community and neighborhood (also built in marketing)

    ✅ Increased diversity in terms of families now enrolling in our school

    ✅ Support for parents and more Montessori alignment between home and school

    ✅ Support for teachers in helping them build more positive relationships with their families and students

    ✅ Support for administrators in creating a systems based approach to leadership through both a Montessori and an anti-bias anti-racist lens

    The PEACE program has been such a win-win for us! Thank you, Mariana & PEACE!

    Partner with PEACE Today!