INE has a woman's face

From Instituto Nueva Escuela (INE) we want to highlight the representation and more than representation, the leadership in all its dimensions of women in the organization and project of public Montessori schools, recognizing their work and contributions within the framework of International Women's Day.

Since 1975, March 8 invites us to reflect on women, their role and rights, a topic that I can relate to the essence of INE as an organization.

INE is a project dreamed of and created by the strength and courage of a group of women educators in the library of the Juan Ponce de León school in Juan Domingo; fact that connects with the role of women in the history of humanity.

Since the beginning of civilization, women have faced challenges with wisdom, intelligence and courage. If we see the transcendental changes in history from different dimensions, religious, social and political, they have been the result of the brave risks taken by women who have challenged existing decrees and laws. It is fascinating to be able to identify how many of the revolutions in the world have started with a woman.

That is why I want to highlight the following data about our organization:

Since its conception - it has been conceived by a group of women educators

Since its incorporation - it has been a women's table

Executive Board - the majority of office leaders are women

The staff - around 83% of the staff are women

The assistants - more than 90% of the assistants at the school are women

Montessori for all - represent the families in our communities that are mostly made up of women

Since its inception, INE has been a platform for pedagogical and social transformation led by various women who have worked to fight for the right to a better education for children and young people; and that the project can serve as a spearhead in defense of better education. We are all essential in the transformation project of Montessori public schools, but today I want to highlight all the female students, mothers, teachers, assistants and directors who are and will be the source of motivation to continue working so that school by school we can have a better Puerto Rico.

Many women around the world have contributed to education, such as Maria Montessori, the first Italian doctor and developer of a globally recognized educational method that focuses on the child in a holistic way. Anne Sullivan, American teacher who contracted a disease called Trachoma, which impaired her vision. Treated at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, she managed to improve and became an exemplary student. This inspired her and she is recognized worldwide for offering great advances in the integration of blind and deaf people. The list goes on, I am sure that your contributions and those of the Public Montessori project will continue to contribute and fight for an accessible education of excellence.