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Community Corner

Newton Montessori Welcomes New Head of School Elizabeth T. Black

Newton Montessori School is delighted to welcome Beth Black as Head of School, effective July 1, 2013. Beth brings over 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator to her new role, as well as a deep commitment to and passion for the Montessori philosophy. “In addition to her vast professional qualifications, her energy, warmth, and sense of humor made her the clear choice as the next leader of NMS,” said, Linda Woodard, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Beth is a strong advocate for Montessori education through her own experiences as a child, as well as the values she has come to hold after many years working and teaching in a variety of educational settings. She believes that “real learning happens when connections are made not only in the brain, but in the heart. A child who feels safe, valued, and free to explore is able to learn and grow at a deep, spiritual level. He or she can find joy in striving, recognize mistakes as learning opportunities, and integrate abstract thinking with practical life lessons.”

“The opportunity to lead Newton Montessori School is a great privilege,” said Ms. Black. “The school has an outstanding faculty. NMS teachers truly understand child development and are able to provide the right balance of challenge and support for each student. The staff are deeply committed to best practices and continuous improvement of daily operations. It’s a gem of a school and I am looking forward to getting to know all of the students and their families.”

Prior to joining Newton Montessori School, Beth was the Director of Enrollment and Marketing at Lake Forest Country Day School, a Pre-K through Grade 8 independent school outside of Chicago. Prior to that, she was the Director of Development for Chiaravalle Montessori School, as well as a founding administrator of the Conserve School in Wisconsin. Beth has completed Montessori coursework, led a faculty committee in completing the self-study for reaccreditation, presented curriculum workshops at national conferences, and even inspired an HBO producer to feature a clip of Upper Elementary students in a made-for-television poetry special.

Located in Newton Centre, MA, Newton Montessori School is a diverse, collaborative community of over 200 students from 15 months through grade 6. In this joyful, academically-rich learning environment, members are supported and challenged to discover strengths and explore opportunities. We empower children, families, and staff to reach their fullest potential as passionate life-long learners who are confident, independent thinkers, and caring, responsible contributors toward peace in our world. Newton Montessori School is fully accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and the American Montessori Society (AMS). For more information, visit www.newtonmontessori.org.

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