The Key to Success and Longevity
Leadership Mentoring Community
Join our online mentoring community of Montessori heads of school and administrators for support and guidance during this exciting and challenging phase of your career. Join other leaders for weekly online meetings, discussing important topics relevant to the time of year, asking questions, sharing concerns, and mining the collective intelligence of the group.
This cohort is led by Tamara Sheesley Balis and Cassi Mackey, who share their expertise and insight, as well as bring in relevant guest speakers to better address the needs of the group. Welcome any Montessorians looking for a space to rejuvenate, reflect, and reconnect to our higher purpose. As Tamara always says, “We are better together!”
We are now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year!
Leadership Mentor Highlight
Cassi Mackey, M.Ed.
Cassi is passionate about helping communities create identity-safe spaces where people are encouraged to make changes to improve relationships. Cassi has been in the Montessori field for 30 years as a teacher and school leader. She is currently a trainer for the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) School Administrator course, an Instructional Guide for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies School Leadership certification course, and an American Montessori Society (AMS) School Accreditation Commissioner. Cassi is also Anti-bias Anti-racist certified. She consults with and provides advice to Montessori communities that are intent on generating positive and lasting change.
Mentoring Communities
Mentoring Topics for School Leaders
The topics covered each week will be tailored to meet the needs of the group. Examples include:
Creating a Culture of Belonging
- Building a culture of belonging
- Supporting staff members
- Collaborative problem solving for healthy working relationships
- Building strong relationships with families
- Tending to parents and caregivers
- Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging: how this shows up in our schools
- Developing core values
School Structures
- Onboarding and hiring practices
- Admissions structures
- Building and navigating a budget
- Board management
- Creating a student support process
- Importance of strong systems and practices
- Strategic planning
- Observation protocol
- Assessment process and protocol
Communication
- Types of listening for effective communication
- Setting clear expectations
- Purpose, goals, structure of effective meetings
- Creating a culture that encourages honest conversations
- Partnering with parents/caregivers who have different perspectives
Goal Setting & Reflective Practices
- Preparation of the spirit
- Your first 100 days
- Goal setting
- Time management strategies
- Alignment with mission and vision
- Reflective practices
- Sharing gratitudes
Contributing to Montessori Research
Our model is research-based. Participants in our 2023-24 mentoring cohorts were part of a research study looking at the impact of this mentoring model on teacher burnout and teacher self-efficacy. Participants in the mentoring cohorts experienced a statistically significant reduction in degree of burn out by the end of the school year, with 0 mentees reporting “very high” or “high” degrees of burn out.
Virtual Mentoring Communities
Benefits
Interactive Learning with Expert Montessorians
Empowering you in targeted areas critical to teaching and leadership
Practical Help in Real Time
Get timely and specific answers to pressing questions, expediting your progress and growth
A Collaborative Community of Peers
Mine the expertise of colleagues while building a network of invaluable partnerships
Continuing Professional Development Hours
Participants in our mentoring communities are eligible to receive CPDs from either AMI-USA or AMS.
Virtual Mentoring Communities
2026-27 Pricing
Lead Guide Cohorts
Full Price $2,250- Weekly online sessions begin in August 2026 and continue through May 2027
- Each 90-minute session includes a presentation, discussion and brainstorming related to the presented content, and Q&A
- Participants receive access to their cohort's discussion board, where they can add questions to the "parking lot" and continue the discussion between mentoring sessions
- Participants can choose to pay in two equal installments - one in August 2026 and one in January 2027
School Leaders Cohort
Full price is $3,450- Weekly online sessions begin in August 2026 and continue through May 2027
- Each 90-minute session includes a presentation, discussion and brainstorming related to the presented content, and Q&A
- Participants receive access to their cohort's discussion board, where they can add questions to the "parking lot" and continue the discussion between mentoring sessions
- Participants can choose to pay in two equal installments - one in August 2026 and one in January 2027
Is Montessori Mentoring Right For You?
Watch the Webinar to Learn More
Fill out the form below to watch our webinar on Montessori Mentoring Communities.
Leadership Mentoring Community
Apply Now
Click on the link below to complete your application to join the Leadership Mentoring Community. When submitting your application, you will be charged a non-refundable deposit of $50. If accepted into the program, the deposit will be put toward your remaining tuition. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first-serve rolling basis.
Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2026.
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