RECOGNITION

Awards

28 OCTOBER 2023

AUSTRALIA’S FIRST AND ONLY RECOGNITION AWARDS FOR MONTESSORI EDUCATORS

Details and Nominations

NOMINATIONS OPEN 1 JUNE 2023
NOMINATIONS CLOSE 31 AUGUST 2023

The Montessori Australia Recognition Awards are Australia’s first and only awards to promote, recognise and celebrate Montessori educators.

Montessori Australia will present annual recognition awards to acknowledge extraordinary accomplishments in areas relevant to the Montessori Movement. These inaugural awards will be presented at the The Recognition Awards dinner at the Transforming the Adult national conference in Sydney 28 & 29 October 2023.

Montessori Living Legend

Each year, the Montessori Australia Living Legend Award will honour an individual for their lifetime of dedication and service to the Montessori Movement.

The Gala includes a sumptuous 3 course dinner and beverages, the award ceremony and live entertainment from the incredible HOT POTATO BAND.

Dress: Cocktail attire

Live Entertainment

Hot Potato Band - It's more than just music, it's an experience.

Hot Potato Band

Hot Potato Band is a brass band like no other. This street performing off-shoot of the 10 piece festival band from Sydney Australia are passionate about re-igniting organic performance as well as breaking down the barriers between stage and audience, leaving lasting impressions and smiles on people’s faces.

HPB is un-bound by genres, stages and audiences. They reinvent the traditional New Orleans brass band as a modern day dance machine and visual spectacle for all demographics with a strong sense of pride for their fun-loving, energetic, and quirky musical nature.

Montessori Australia 2023 Recognition Awards

“An ordinary teacher cannot be transformed into a Montessori teacher, but must be created anew, having rid herself of pedagogical prejudices.” (Maria Montessori, Education for a New World)

Montessori Australia will present annual recognition awards to acknowledge extraordinary accomplishments in areas relevant to the Montessori Movement. Prospective honourees are nominated by the Montessori community and then considered and chosen by a designated committee, using articulated rubrics.

How does it work?

Do you know a Montessorian whose tireless dedication and leadership over many years have made an impact on the Australian Montessori community?
Have you been personally affected by a respected or beloved mentor who embodies Montessori values in Australia?

Here’s your opportunity to help recognise the contributions of respected role models of Montessori values in Australia.

The tributes are to honour the often invisible work of the many Australian Montessorians who work tirelessly for children, often without recognition and sometimes with only minimal compensation.

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED

Living Legend Nomination Form

Award Categories

Montessori Living Legend

Each year, the Montessori Australia Living Legend Award will honour an individual for their lifetime of dedication and service to the Montessori Movement. This person will have had several if not many impactful roles in Montessori: for example, as a school or program administrator, teacher, author, researcher, mentor, presenter, lobbyist, education activist, board director, committee member, and/or community leader.

We invite educators, leaders, staff, trainers and parents from all schools and centres to nominate a Living Legend who is a respected model of Montessori values such as grace and courtesy, respect, integrity, responsibility, enthusiasm, and promoting diversity and inclusiveness. Candidates will be appreciated based on the following criteria: personal attributes and their adherence to Montessori values; years of Montessori experience and their role as an educator, including their inspiration and noteworthy accomplishments and contributions; and their wider world work in advancing the cause of Montessori education, including their organisational involvement and volunteerism.

Innovator Award

This award celebrates an individual or organisation who:

has been visionary in advancing Montessori pedagogy.
has developed new and innovative ways of implementing Montessori philosophy in their work, whether it be in education, eldercare, research, or advocacy.

It seeks to honour the work of individuals in a variety of arenas to increase access and equity by advancing Montessori education in the public school sector, intergenerational communities, eldercare, and service delivery to remote and regional Australian communities or marginal areas that are under-resourced in Montessori education, or in areas of research or advocacy.

Equity & Social Justice Award

This award celebrates an individual or organisation who has:

dedicated their career to promoting social justice and made significant contributions to marginalised or low socio-economic communities.
served as a volunteer to contribute to the social progress of the Montessori Movement.
worked to eliminate systemic barriers to access education and have made a significant impact on improving the lives of children and families in low socio-economic communities.
made significant contributions to promoting Montessori education within Australian Indigenous communities, working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure that Indigenous children have access to culturally appropriate Montessori education and have made a significant impact on improving educational outcomes for Indigenous children.
increased access and equity by advancing Montessori education in the public school sector, intergenerational communities, eldercare, remote and regional Australian communities or marginalised areas that are under-resourced in Montessori education in the early years.
made advances in raising the profile of Montessori education with service, culturally approved resources and/or research.

Community Service Award

The Willemien Duyker-de Vries Community Service Award

This award recognises a Montessorian who has made significant contributions to their local or global communities through their work in Montessori education or advocacy. This award could also recognise Montessorians who have worked to bring Montessori philosophy to underserved or marginalised populations.

Montessori Australia recognises those who generously contribute resources to the sustainability and development of the services provided by Montessori Australia. The resources can involve sponsorships, volunteer time, and donations of goods and services.

This award celebrates an individual or organisation that has advanced and developed Montessori pedagogy. They hold a passion for authentic practice in promoting and growing Montessori in Australia (and/or the world) and have demonstrated exceptional excellence in their field, whether it be in Montessori education, research, or advocacy. This contribution should be sustained over time (minimum of 3 years).

Quiet Achiever Award

The Barbara Stephen “Quiet Achiever” Award

This reward recognises the unsung heroes of Montessori education: those who have dedicated their lives to shaping the future of our children. Imagine a simple yet heartfelt Montessori educator award that celebrates the tireless efforts of classroom teachers or support staff who have devoted themselves to the betterment of their students. These are the everyday educators who have not necessarily made ground-breaking innovations or achieved extraordinary feats, but have simply poured their hearts and souls into their work, helping children grow into the amazing adults they are meant to be. These are the educators who are loved by their community and cherished by their students and parents. Let us come together to honour them and show our gratitude for their selfless service. Let alumni students, parents, and administrative staff nominate these heroes and have their impact recognised and celebrated.

Nominating Person First Name

Nominating Person Surname

Nominating Person Email

Nominating Person Organisation (if applicable)

Nominating Person Mobile

Nominee First Name

Nominee Surname

Nominee Email

Nominee Organisation (if applicable)

Nominee Phone No.

Describe how the nominee reflects and models Montessori values

How do they evidence respectful interactions with adults and children in the Montessori community (and beyond)?
How do they exemplify integrity and responsibility?
How do they exude enthusiasm and promote diversity and inclusiveness?
How have they upheld high-fidelity Montessori practice? (high fidelity refers to criteria for AMS accredited schools)

Share their contributions and influence on others.

How have they advanced Montessori education, accomplished noteworthy endeavors?
How have they led, supported, coached or mentored Montessorians and/or Montessori efforts?
How have they impacted Montessori in and beyond their school, home community?

Share their involvement with peace and social justice work in the context of their Montessori work and/or their contributions to Montessori activities internationally.

How have they demonstrated engagement in peace/social justice activities?
In what ways have they contributed to Montessori efforts internationally?

Please use this space below to answer the questions above in narrative form (500 word max.)

Please use this space below to write supporting details on what makes the nominee qualified for the Innovator Award (500 word max.)

Please use this space below to write supporting details on what makes the nominee qualified for the Equity & Social Justice Award (500 word max.)

Please attach use this space below to write supporting details on what makes the nominee qualified for The Willemien Duyker-de Vries Community Service Award (500 word max.)

Please attach use this space below to write supporting details what makes the nominee qualified for The Barbara Stephen “Quiet Achiever” Award (500 word max.)

In completing this application form, I understand the information provided to be true to the best of my knowledge (upon speaking with the nominee) and the nominee has agreed to accept this award should they be chosen by the committee.