In its truest form, Montessori education is a pedagogy of acceptance, love, and understanding. Maria Montessori developed a philosophy that preceded her time supporting the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She affirmed that “The needs of mankind are universal,” attesting that, “Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child should come to relish the texture of that diversity.”
Montessori School of Durham (MSD), an AMS-accredited member school in Durham, NC, made a commitment to their community to develop a space that promotes and honors this type of richness and diversity. Their mission statement reads, “Montessori School of Durham welcomes a diverse, inclusive community and celebrates the uniqueness of all of its members as part of our hope for a peaceful world. All are welcomed. All are valued.”
To continue their ongoing work of creating safe and inclusive spaces for staff, students, and families, MSD partnered with Rainbow Collective for Change (RCC), a collective of diverse community members working together to build LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive spaces. Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet, a queer parent of two children at MSD and a leader and co-founder of RCC works with her team to provide tools and training for schools, families, and organizations to be LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive.
The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.