The Promise (and Persistent Myths) of Montessori Education w/ Andrew Faulstich, Dr. Ayize Sabater, and Kelly Jonelis

The Promise (and Persistent Myths) of Montessori Education w/ Andrew Faulstich, Dr. Ayize Sabater, and Kelly Jonelis

From Human Restoration Project by Human Restoration Project

April 18, 2026 · 1h 8m · Episode 191

About this episode

The episode explores the Montessori education method through the insights of three experts in the field.

Montessori schools are some of the few that wear their pedagogy on their signage: Cottontail Creek Montessori School. Montessori Children's House. Acappella Montessori. (just to name a few of the dozen or so in Iowa). While the majority are private schools, there's a growing number of public Montessori schools and programs as well. I think because of these two factors, being largely private and one of the only public-facing pedagogies around, you don't necessarily have to be acquainted with the Montessori method to develop an opinion about it. We recorded this in two sessions, one with Andrew Faulstich – Director of Education at Oneness Family School and co-founder of Developing Education – and Dr Ayize Sabater, school founder, co-founder of the Black Montessori Education Fund, and former Executive Director of Association Montessori International-USA. And a second session with Kelly Jonelis, Montessori Adolescent Program Director, Math Specialist, and Co-Founder of Developing Education. In this episode you'll hear the journeys that brought them to Montessori education, what Montessori is and is not, and what otherwise "mainstream" education can learn from the ideas and practices…

People in this episode

Guests: Andrew Faulstich, Dr. Ayize Sabater, Kelly Jonelis

Topics covered

  • Montessori education
  • pedagogy
  • public and private schooling
  • educational philosophy
  • mainstream education
  • child development

Keywords

  • Montessori
  • education
  • pedagogy
  • public schools
  • private schools
  • child development
  • educational philosophy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oneness Family School, Developing Education, Black Montessori Education Fund, Association Montessori International-USA

Books & works: The Montessori Child: A Parent's Guide to Raising Capable Children with Creative Minds and Compassionate Hearts, The Best Weapon for Peace Montessori

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