logo
Short on teachers, MPS sponsors Montessori training for 13 staff who promise to stay

Short on teachers, MPS sponsors Montessori training for 13 staff who promise to stay

Yahoo2 days ago

Milwaukee Public Schools celebrated 13 soon-to-be Montessori teachers with a graduation ceremony at Hoyt Park June 6, after the cohort finished a unique MPS-sponsored training program intended to fill vacancies.
For 18 months, the 2025 Montessori elementary credentialing cohort spent their evenings and weekends taking classes to receive certification for teaching grades 1-6 with hands-on materials. Shortly before the June 6 ceremony, they went through a final examination process.
"A lot of us are mothers of young children and working full-time in schools, and it's so rewarding to have done something this hard and be here today despite all that," said Katie Mullen, a paraprofessional at MacDowell Montessori School who will be teaching at Maryland Avenue Montessori School next year.
Lauren Schweiger, a teacher at Benjamin Franklin School, said Montessori training was one of the most difficult things she's ever done.
"It's been a challenge, but also refreshing," Schweiger said. "It was fun getting to know all our classmates."
In order to be licensed to teach in a Montessori school, teachers need special credentialing from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education or Association Montessori Internationale, known as AMI. There are specific accredited learning centers where teachers can go to obtain the training.
The 2025 cohort of MPS candidates received training from the AMI-approved Montessori Training Center Northeast in Connecticut.
"We don't have one here in Milwaukee. It closed a couple years ago, which is a huge problem when you have the largest public Montessori system in the world," MPS Montessori Coordinator Abigail Rausch said. "We have a teacher shortage in general, but then finding people who have this particular certification is an extra burden."
So, MPS Montessori developed a partnership with MTCNE. In November 2023, credentialing classrooms for MPS Montessori teachers opened in Grant Gordon Learning Center in Milwaukee, with professors from the Connecticut center helping the 2025 cohort earn their Montessori license.
The district pays program tuition with a three-year commitment to MPS Montessori. The Milwaukee School Board approved a contract in 2023 to pay up to $300,000 for the 18-month course for up to 20 MPS employees.
MPS Montessori is currently looking for MPS staff members with bachelor's degrees who are interested in becoming Montessori educators. More information can be found at mpsmke.com/montessori.
Over a century ago, Italian pediatrician Maria Montessori developed an education system that allowed children to grow their skills through hands-on learning. In a Montessori classroom, children work with specially designed materials that teach one concept at a time. This introduces children to skills like independent work and interpersonal dynamics.
Mullen was drawn to Montessori education because of how it's rooted in peace activism and self-direction, she said.
"It's about the interconnection of all things on Earth — not just people — but plants and animals, and it's such a creative method of teaching that really stimulates independence in kids," Mullen said.
MPS offers the largest cluster of public Montessori schools in the U.S. with eight locations enrolling more than 4,000 students annually, according to MPS. Also according to the district, MacDowell Montessori is the nation's only public K–12 Montessori school and Riley Dual Language Montessori School is the region's only public English/Spanish Montessori program.
Rausch said while most Montessori school are private and expensive, MPS has been offering free district-wide Montessori education for for 51 years.
"Montessori is something that MPS does very well," Rausch said. "We're able to continue to invest in our children by investing in future Montessori teachers."
Despite MPS having the largest public Montessori system in the nation, Rausch said there is a staffing crisis partially because of how difficult the Montessori credentialing process is. Still, MPS is providing access to a different type of education that a number of families wouldn't normally be able to afford, Rausch said.
MPS has been home to public Montessori programs for over five decades.
1973: The MPS Early Childhood Program launched four Montessori pre-kindergarten programs, which were the first public Montessori schools in Wisconsin and some of the first in the nation.
1978: MacDowell Montessori school was established after MPS was ordered to desegregate in 1976. The school began as a magnet program to help the district achieve racial integration.
2006: MPS' Montessori high school opened. MacDowell Montessori is the only public K-12 school of its kind in the nation, and the high school program was featured in the documentary "Inside Montessori."
2018: The Milwaukee Board of School Directors passed a resolution to create a long-term Montessori Strategic Plan, which was later revised in 2022.
2023: MPS celebrated its 50th anniversary of offering public Montessori education.
Contact Mia Thurow at mthurow@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS sponsors Montessori training for 13 staff who promise to stay

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Semifreddo: A Chef's Foolproof Hack No-Churn Ice Cream
Semifreddo: A Chef's Foolproof Hack No-Churn Ice Cream

Buzz Feed

time4 hours ago

  • Buzz Feed

Semifreddo: A Chef's Foolproof Hack No-Churn Ice Cream

When I was in culinary school, we learned all kinds of high-brow techniques — quenelles, mille feulle, pate briseé up the wazoo — not all of them practical for everyday cooking. But there's one dessert I actually make over and over again at home, and that's semifreddo. ^ Me, whipping something up at culinary school. The classic Italian dessert has become my secret to making ice cream at home without an ice cream machine. Semifreddo literally translates to "half cold" or 'half frozen' and lands somewhere between a mousse and frozen custard, and totally satisfies any and all ice cream cravings. I've never understood why semifreddo hasn't gotten the attention in American kitchens that I feel it deserves. It's easy to make ahead and a total crowd pleaser at the end of a meal. I'm praying that its days of hiding in the shadows of gelato are OVER. The version I learned included whipping egg yolks and granulated sugar over a double boiler until it got thick and fluffy, then folding in whipped cream and freezing. But there's an even simpler way to make the custardy base for this dessert, with a few key substitutions. In Tasty's orange semifreddo, you start by whisking together egg yolks, powdered sugar, mascarpone, cream, sugar, orange liqueur, and vanilla until smooth. By replacing granulated sugar with powdered sugar and subbing some of the whipping cream for mascarpone, we have a no-cook custard base that's ready to go in the freezer. Both substitutions improve the stability and texture of the custard in a similar way to cooking the yolks, but with a lot less effort and precision. PLUS, you eliminate the possibility of curdled yolks. And I'm all about eliminating the possibility of scrambled eggs in my desserts. My culinary spidey senses are saying to whip the egg yolks and confectioners until they've reached the ribbon stage* before adding the rest of the ingredients. Our recipe skips that step and has a 97% approval rating, so... spidey senses aren't always right, I guess. *Ribbon stage — a term for the consistency that mixtures (usually egg yolks and sugar) get when beaten properly. It's called the ribbon stage because the batter should stream off the spatula in a smooth, ribbon-like line once whipped. You can also whip the cream and mascarpone to soft peaks before folding them into the egg yolk base for an extra light semifreddo. Just be mindful of overwhipping! Then, pour the custard into your desired mold (in our case, hollowed orange halves) and set it in the freezer for at least an hour. The time it takes to freeze will depend on the size of your semifreddo mold. You can use any mold really (a cake tin, bowl, teacup, be creative!). Just make sure you line it with plastic wrap before adding the custard if you want to pop it out after freezing. You can serve them as individual little desserts, or as a sharable (and cutable!) "cake." We went FULL citrus with these little orange semifreddos, even serving them in an orange peel, but you can substitute the orange zest and liqueur for your favorite extracts, liqueurs, jams, candies, nuts, and fruits. This dessert is a classic example of how a few pastry skills, some eggs, and a few other things give you A TON of creative freedom. And I'm sure you're wondering: How does semifreddo stay mousse-like in the freezer, instead of becoming frozen solid? Sugar! It's not just for taste; sugar actually lowers the custard's freezing temperature and interferes with ice crystallization, which makes for a softer frozen dessert. One other ingredient in our version helps prevent an icy semifreddo: booze! Not all semifreddo recipes include it, but our semifreddo recipe includes liqueur, and its alcohol content lowers the freezing temperature of the dessert, making it softer when frozen. In addition to these anti-freeze ingredients, it's a good idea to give your semifreddo some time out of the freezer before serving — I like to move mine to the fridge once dinner is over. Once the dinner plates are cleared and soaking in the sink, your semifreddo will be chilled, but soft and ready to serve. And just like that, buon appetito! For a step-by-step recipe for a perfectly seared steak and a video tutorial to get you through the tricky parts, download the free Tasty app, search "semifreddo," and click on the top recipe. You'll quickly become the Giada of the friend group. Want more semifreddo recipes or tips from my culinary school days? Let us know in the comments!

50 Baby Names That Sound Like ‘Olivia'
50 Baby Names That Sound Like ‘Olivia'

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

50 Baby Names That Sound Like ‘Olivia'

Fact checked by Sarah Scott If your own name isn't Olivia, you probably know at least one (if not more). Currently the most popular baby girl name in the United States, the moniker also ranks among the top 10 in several countries around the world. And in addition, more and more parents are considering names that sound like Olivia. Why? There are a lot of reasons. While Olivia—which is of Latin origin and means 'olive tree'—is a lovely choice for a little one, it is everywhere. Some parents may like the feel or sound of Olivia but want a name that's less commonly used. Another factor: Because Olivia is traditionally given to baby girls, parents who prefer a gender-neutral name may look elsewhere. Other parents might want a name that sounds like Olivia to honor a family member or match an older sibling. Whatever the case, there are a ton of options for names that feel and sound like Olivia. Read on for 50 of our many baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in selecting names. It's important to choose a name you feel fits your child Elf army, olive tree Origin: German, Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Olivero, Oliviero, Olivier, Oli, Olly, Olls Meaning: Hebrew Origin: Yahweh is God Alternative Spelling/Variations: Eliyahu, Elias, Eli Meaning: Hebrew Origin: The Lord is my salvation Alternative Spelling/Variations: Josh, Joshy, Joss Meaning: Bringer of light Origin: Italian Alternative Spelling/Variations: Luka, Luke, Lucas, Lucca, Lou, Luc Meaning: Healer Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Ace Meaning: Hebrew Origin: Rest Alternative Spelling/Variations: Noa Meaning: Watchful, wind Origin: Hebrew, Sanskrit Alternative Spelling/Variations: Irah Meaning: Nobel born Origin: Welsh Alternative Spelling/Variations: Wen, Owie Meaning: Help Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Ezrah, Ezzie Meaning: Wealthy Origin: German Alternative Spelling/Variations: Ottoline, Oto, Ottie Octavio Isaiah Orlando Olindo Josiah Oscar Akiva Meaning: Life Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Eve, Ava, Evie, Evy Meaning: Blind Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Celia, Celie, Cece, Cecilia, Cicilia Meaning: Legendary mother of the Roman people Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Liv, Lavina, Vinia, Vinnie, Livinia, Lavani Meaning: Little girl Origin: Spanish Alternative Spelling/Variations: Nini, Ninny, Nena, Neena Meaning: The golden one Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Aurelius, Aurelija, Rae, Lia Meaning: Blue Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Liv, Livvy Meaning: From the forest Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Sylvie, Via, Sy Meaning: Rising, exalted Origin: Hebrew, Arabic Alternative Spelling/Variations: Ali, Aaliyah, Aleah Meaning: From Mount Olympus Origin: Greek Alternative Spelling/Variations: Olimpia, Olympe, Olympie, Olympienne Meaning: Enclosure Origin: Latin Alternative Spelling/Variations: Claudie, Cladue Lilia Olive Ophelia Pia Isabella Alivia Mia Meaning: Oak wood or clearing Origin: English Alternative Spelling/Variations: Oaklee, Oakes Meaning: Manly, virile Origin: Greek Alternative Spelling/Variations: Andie, Andy, Drea, Dre Meaning: My light Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Oree, Óri Meaning: Restful Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Noah, Noe, Noni Meaning: Who is like the Lord Origin: Hebrew Alternative Spelling/Variations: Mikah, Mica, Micky, Mikey, Miko Meaning: Black, poet, divine Origin: British, Irish, French Alternative Spelling/Variations: Devin Meaning: Goodness Origin: Russian Alternative Spelling/Variations: Dash Meaning: Land of the Indians Origin: American Alternative Spelling/Variations: Indy, Indie Meaning: Defender Origin: Russian Alternative Spelling/Variations: Sascha, Sasja, Sacasha, Sascia Meaning: Ocean Origin: English Alternative Spelling/Variations: Oceane Ollie Omari Dakota Koa Dara Oakland Read the original article on Parents

Florence finally to be rid of notorious 60-metre crane after two decades
Florence finally to be rid of notorious 60-metre crane after two decades

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Florence finally to be rid of notorious 60-metre crane after two decades

A giant crane that has blighted the skyline of Florence for almost 20 years is to finally be removed. The controversial structure, described as 'a metal monster', has stood in the centre of the Tuscan capital since 2006, when it was installed in a square opposite the Uffizi Galleries – famous for sublime artworks of the Italian renaissance – and tasked with doing the heavy lifting of materials during the initial phase of the museum's ongoing expansion. At more than 60 metres tall and visible from miles away, the crane was used less and less as the construction works dragged on, but there it remained despite numerous attempts to have it removed over its incongruity with the Florence landscape. Over time, the crane not only became a target of mockery, with an Instagram account set up for the purpose, but also the ultimate symbol of Italy's notoriously sluggish bureaucracy. The main things holding back the crane's removal have been the huge cost and the permissions required from the various levels of authority. But after some of the city's entrepreneurs responded to an appeal by the Uffizi's exasperated director, Simone Verde, and clubbed together to cover the bill, the dismantling of the crane will finally begin on 16 June, culminating in a celebration on the terrace of the galleries' Loggia dei Lanzi on 21 June. Such is the importance of the occasion, the event will also be attended by Italy's culture minister, Alessandro Giuli. 'Florence has been waiting for this moment for a long time,' said Verde. 'The metal monster is being removed and Florence's dazzling beauty can finally return intact and unviolated.' Verde added that the 'havoc' caused by the crane had been weighing on the city for far too long, and that he hoped the momentous occasion would mark the beginning of the end of 'this cursed construction site'. Part of the total €180,000 (£152,000) cost will also be used to replace the crane with a less invasive and more sustainable hoist, allowing the works to finally be completed without sullying the city's aesthetics. 'This operation confirms that good administration can triumph despite everything,' said Verde.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store