2022 Section Chairs
Chair of the Teachers Section and Chair of the Heads Section
Chair of the Teachers Section
The purpose of the Teachers Section is to foster professional development of the teacher members. The term of office for the Section Chair is 3 years. In addition to meeting the general requirements for all AMS Board Directors, an applicant for chair of the Teacher Section must be a practicing credentialed Montessori teacher with 5+ years in the classroom of a current AMS member school in good standing. Responsibilities of the Chair of the Teachers Section include:
- Aid and support the professional development of the teacher members
- Host and lead the Teachers Networking Session at AMS conferences
- Communicate with AMS-member teachers through such vehicles as community emails and Montessori Life
- Moderate and lead discussions with the teachers in an online community
- Chair the AMS Scholarship Committee
- Represent the interest of teachers as a member on the AMS Board of Directors
There is 1 individual running for the position of Chair of the Teachers Section. Upon election, the chair may serve a 3-year term or a 2-year term (as determined by the AMS Board) and is eligible to run for a second term.
Candace Proctor
LE Curriculum Coordinator, The Montessori Academy of Arlington, Arlington, TX
AMS-credentialed (Elementary I)
“I would like to see AMS continue its outreach to make a quality Montessori education available to as many children as possible, while nourishing teachers’ needs, in both the public and private sectors. AMS is positioned to extend Montessori into Asia through our increasing connection with China. AMS could be a unifying voice for Montessorians across the globe, not solely as the “American” Montessori Society, but as an organization that builds leadership networks that connect Montessorians with honor and respect for their cultures’ values and unique contributions to the global story. My hope is that Montessorians on other continents, particularly Africa, feel our support, as well. I hope that we can find a way to bring teachers in schools that are not associated with AMS under our umbrella for the professional support that can only benefit their lives and those of the children they touch each day.”
Voting for the Chair of the Teachers Section
Every teacher member who is not also a head of school has one (1) vote. Heads of schools, adult learners, and general members do not vote. Organizational members do not vote. These eligible individuals will receive an email with a unique link to access the ballot. The last day to vote is April 8, 2022, 4:00 PM (ET).
Chair of the Heads Section
The purpose of the Heads of Schools Section is to represent AMS member heads of schools and administrators within our global professional organization by listening to their needs and concerns as Montessori school leaders, providing opportunities to meet with fellow heads of school, and communicating the views of member schools’ administrative leaders to AMS leadership. The term of office for the Section Chair is 3 years. Responsibilities include:
- Host a Heads Section meeting and leads the Heads Networking Session at AMS conferences
- Participate along with AMS staff in planning and arranging professional development events for heads throughout the year
- Assist the AMS office in arranging a track for heads of schools at AMS conferences
- Communicate with AMS-member heads of schools through such vehicles as community emails and Montessori Life
- Moderate and lead discussions with heads of schools in an online community
- Represents the interests of heads of schools as a member of the AMS Board of Directors
There is 1 individual running for the position of Chair of the Heads Section. Upon election, the chair may serve a 3-year term or a 2-year term (as determined by the AMS Board) and is eligible to run for a second term.
Jay Scheurle
Head of School, Oak Meadow School, Littleton, MA
AMS-credential (Administrator-to be completed Spring 2022)
“Being a board member would provide me with an opportunity to take a larger role in advocating for the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, which I believe is at the forefront of best educational practices. I bring thirty years of experience as an educator and innovator, helping students develop the skills, tools, character, and mindset to become self-navigating learners who make a positive impact in their communities and in the world. My top goals would be to stay focused on the AMS mission and strategic priorities so that AMS staff, individual members, and member organizations have the resources needed to thrive and achieve their highest aspirations. Other considerations that are relevant to my candidacy include my personal commitment to a growth mindset—to learning, improving, understanding other perspectives, leveraging differences, challenging my own implicit biases, and seeking out ways to develop more personalized and humanizing relationships with others.”
Voting for the Chair of the Heads Section
Individual members who are identified as a head of school will receive an email with a unique link to access the ballot. Voting for the Heads of Schools Section Chair is open to each AMS member who is currently head of any AMS member school. Each eligible head of school may cast one (1) vote. The last day to vote is April 8, 2022, 4:00 PM (ET).
Chair of the School Accreditation Commission
The purpose of the School Accreditation Commission Board Member & Liaison is to serve as a representative of the Commission. The term of office for the Board Member & Liaison is 3 years. In addition to meeting the general requirements for all AMS Board Directors, an applicant for chair of the School Accreditation Commission must be a current member of the School Accreditation Commission and nominated by the commission to serve in this role. Responsibilities of the School Accreditation Commission Board Liaison include:
- Approve agendas and preside at all meetings of the School Accreditation Commission
- Assist the AMS office in arranging live sessions with member school leaders about accreditation and the accreditation standards for schools
- Represent the interest of the School Accreditation Commission on the AMS Board of Directors
- Provide updates on the work of the commission to the Board of Directors and be prepared to answer questions regarding candidate schools seeking Board approval for accreditation
There is 1 individual running for the position of School Accreditation Commission Board Member & Liaison. Upon election, the chair may serve a 3-year term or a 2-year term (as determined by the AMS Board) and is eligible to run for a second term.
Michelle Seyller
Assistant Head of School, Thacher Montessori School, Milton, MA
AMS-credential (Early Childhood); AMI-credential (Primary)
“My work with the AMS School Accreditation Commission (SAC) has enabled me to contribute meaningfully to an organization and philosophy of education that I believe in and care deeply about. Through collaboration with a superb group of individuals committed to facilitating school improvement through the accreditation process, I look to broaden this experience by serving as the chairperson of SAC and the liaison to the AMS Board. I hope to gain new skills, embrace new perspectives, and offer my own, all while honing my leadership skills. As a second-generation Montessorian, a mother, an educator, and a long-time administrator in an AMS accredited school, I offer in return my passion, experience, pedagogical knowledge, and commitment to being part of a nurturing, culturally responsive organization. I share AMS’s vision to dismantle bias and racism and would like to play an instrumental role in developing systems and standards based on these guiding principles.”
Voting
Individual members will receive an email with a unique link to access the ballot. Member schools and AMS-affiliated teacher education programs will also receive an email with a link. It will go to their organization email address. The last day to vote is April 8, 2022, 4:00 PM (ET).
Individual members: Every current individual member has 1 vote (to either Approve or Not Approve) the School Accreditation Commission Chair.
Organizational members: Every member school and every AMS-affiliated teacher education program has 1 vote (to either Approve or Not Approve) the School Accreditation Commission Chair on behalf of the entire organization, including satellites and/or additional levels/locations.
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