New schools in the project enter the school transformation workshops

When looking at the history of the Montessori Public project since its inception, the growth it has experienced during these 30 years is highlighted. 

The entrance of a school community is a celebration for everyone, because it recognizes what it means for boys, girls, young people, school personnel, family and community. Currently, there are 50 public Montessori schools, some have been around for more years than others, but all want to best serve their students.

With this in mind, Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) together with the Auxiliary Secretariat for Montessori Education (SAEM) accompany the schools as they enter the project in their transformation process. When talking about transformation, it does not only mean the change of educational methodology in the classrooms to Montessori; this transformation goes further.  

The transformation process implies a change in the governance of the school; The "hierarchy" is replaced by a round table where different voices from the school community come together to reflect and make decisions about the life of the school, always starting from the same question: What is best for the students?

The management, faculty, non-teaching staff, families, students, and members of the community where the school is located are part of the round table that is governed by a code of honor and healthy coexistence, which makes decisions in a democratic, calm, and respectful manner. . In addition, a culture of open doors and family participation is established. 

In Montessori public schools, we “enroll families.”  

During the month of May and June, new schools to the project were received with the Transformation Workshops that consisted of three meetings. 

The purpose of these meetings was to share with new school communities the elements and experiences of school transformation. The staff and representatives of the families were prepared for the change of culture that the Montessori public school implies, for the establishment of an ideal environment for the full development of children and youth.

The participating schools were Ramón T. Rivera in Barranquitas, Santiago Iglesias in San Juan, and Inés María Mendoza in Caguas. The School Director, Family Members (2), School Council Teacher (1) and Adult Learners enrolled in INE's Academic Program participated in these meetings.

''The workshops establish the bases to develop the collective and healthy coexistence methodology, the integration of families into the school and the necessary principles to build and work for the school that the community initially dreamed of. They are a space for conversation and reflection between teachers, family representatives and the school administration to project themselves in front of a time line in harmony with their school reality”, shared Karla Orriols, director of the INE School Transformation office.