CHRISTOPHER JOHN ACKERMAN
Christopher Ackerman is a trained Montessori consultant with over forty years' experience as a teacher and administrator at every level from Children's House through Middle School.
After a long and rewarding career at numerous schools, he became a full-time consultant. Having lived and worked in a variety of cultures, he is excited about the continuing expansion of Montessori education throughout the world. Montessori’s principles are applicable to children everywhere. What is often challenging is finding a seamless adaptation to each unique culture without sacrificing the integrity of these principles.
From many years as a teacher, he knows how to manage Montessori classrooms at every level, to create vibrant, joyous, purposeful and productive environments that meet the needs and best interests of each individual student.
From many years as an administrator, he knows how to manage both large and small Montessori schools in order to provide consistent authentic Montessori education that serves children and families. Promoting good communication is essential.
Throughout his career at every level of Montessori education Christopher has known countless children whose lives were transformed by their experience. His reverence for the principles that enlighten this method is even stronger today than when he began in the early 1970's. He seeks to continue helping others in this work “to aid life”.
His expertise lies in how to inspire, to stimulate, and to convey to others the tools and techniques which lead to creation of successful classrooms and great schools. Christopher's life's work is based upon the deepest respect for the insights and practices that originated with Maria Montessori.
TRAINING
- AMI training from Washington Montessori Institute, Washington, D.C. for ages 2 ½ to 7 years
- AMI training from Centro Montessori Studi Internazionale, Bergamo, Italy for age 6 to 12 years
- AMI-NAMTA training from North American Montessori Teachers Association, Cleveland, Ohio for ages 12-15
- Bachelor of Arts and certification in early childhood education from Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont
- Massachusetts state teacher certifications for early childhood and middle school English
- AMS Consultant training, New York, New York
- Re-Evaluation Counseling training, Boston, Massachusetts
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Forty years as a teacher, education director, and principal (pre-K to grade 9)
- Consultant to schools in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Turkey, Morocco
- Founder of first Montessori school in central Vermont
- Co-founder of first Montessori Charter School in Massachusetts
- Aligned Montessori to Massachusetts curriculum standards for pre-K to grade 8
- Teacher trainer
- Designer of classrooms and programs at every level
- Writer of various articles on Montessori education (CLICK SAMPLE BELOW)
- Frequent lecturer on Montessori education, parenting, bullying issues