We celebrate the work of Montessori assistants

On Friday, May 20, the Instituto nueva Escuela (INE) carried out a virtual activity for the Montessori assistants who serve in the Montessori public elementary schools of Puerto Rico in order to celebrate their titanic work during these years. 

The activity was attended by 273 attendees who received words of gratitude from the INE, SAEM and our friend Kanny García. 

This activity was a time of great enjoyment for the attendees. As part of it, the faithful friend of the project, Silverio Pérez, shared a talk under the theme “How we handle emotional intelligence ”.

For Lisandra Richiez, who is the assistant project officer at the INE, the attendees enjoyed the time with Silverio very much, so much so that they have begun to dream of a second meeting with the singer-songwriter, hoping that it will be face-to-face.  

Some of the elements that Silverio shared were focusing on goals, union of purpose, recharging energy, looking for spaces of silence and disconnection, exercising and managing emotions in your favor. 

"We will build the new school with pure love. I am privileged to be able to contribute a grain of sand to the greatness of this work. Always count on me," shared Silverio. 

The Montessori assistant is a fundamental piece in the Montessori method. The assistant is the guide 's “ companion on the way ”. One cannot exist without the other. The assistant collaborates in the design and assembly of the prepared environment, attends to the needs of the students, protects the presentation of the guide, manages the environment to strengthen it as a learning community, observes the work and the follow-up of the students, among many other things. . Assistants are key to student success. 

Between guide and assistant there is a silent dance, in which looks and non-verbal language allow them to communicate and anticipate situations without the need to use a word. The assistants serve children and are an essential part of the community to which they belong. 

This project, which began in 2014 with 80 assistants from the communities where the schools serve, today has 279. Every year that passes, the Montessori Public project grows and becomes stronger, and our assistants with it. 

This year, the INE has witnessed how 8 attendees of the Montessori public project have managed to get certified and become Montessori guides.

Lisandra, who has been working with the assistants since 2019, expressed that her commitment is

 “serving my country ” and giving her best for each attendee. “ I identify a lot with the mothers of the communities, because that's where I come from”. 

48% of the attendees are mothers or fathers of students from the Public Montessori project.