A Brand New Cap

Montessori Life, Spring 2004 by Dugan, Marie M

There is a favorite children's book of mine, Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina, that I think about as I sit at my desk at 281 Park Avenue South. It is the story of a peddler in a small country town who travels through the countryside, selling caps of many colors to the villagers. The peddler carries his wares piled atop his head: ". . .firs this own checkered cap, then a bunch of grey caps, then brown caps, then blue caps, and on the very top, a bunch of red caps."

I feel like that peddler in a way, because I have been "selling" Montessori education for most of my life, "piling up my caps" as I've gone along: first as a teacher, followed by my work as a school administrator, and with AMS as board member, board president, commission member, annual-giving chair, Centennial Fund chair, Founders Fund chair, and Archives Committee chair.

Suddenly, I am wearing a brand new cap, that of interim executive director of the American Montessori Society. How does it feel? How is it the same? How is it different? Well, first, it is much the same as before: I am still selling Montessori education and the American Montessori Society with total enthusiasm-and I am awed by the way we have grown. (When I brought my daughter, Annette to her first Montessori preschool experience, there was only one choice: a half-day, three-hour session. Today, we offer all-day/all-year programs for children from infant age through high school, in schools both independent and public. Montessori has grown up!)

Is it different to be in my new role as interim? Absolutely. I am in a position to use my experience and vision in new ways, to help move the organization and Montessori education along to the place of leadership in education that they deserve. In the coming months I will be devoting much of my attention to the solid, realistic, five-year strategic plan that was put in place by the board of directors, as well as to the Centennial Campaign, which will raise the funds that will enable us to implement the initiatives in the plan. The goal is to have the initiatives firmly in place by 2007, when we will celebrate 100 years of Montessori education.

Every cap "in my pile" helps me to carry out the vision of the Society. I feel wonderful about where we are now, and how I might use my experience and knowledge to help our dreams come true.

MARIE M. DUGAN is interim executive director of AMS.