Gail Pruitt Hall

The Teacher Intern Program is a two-year CA certification program during which candidates serve as Teacher of Record in a school. There is coursework and support with an On-site Mentor and with a Coach.

I will be devoting more time to the coaching role at SCOE.

Working with children, and the adults who care for and nurture them, I essentially serve as a Director of Education. I am involved in much of the life of the school and participate in professional and community education.

I worked with teachers and with parents, observing children in action, interpreting our purpose and mission, encouraging growth and development of Montessori schools.

I served as an "agent of change" on Math, Science and Technology Committee, received a Holt/Dupont grant to study rainforest ecology in Brazil and shared with classes upon my return, was a liaison between the six Montessori preschool classrooms and the Elementary Program, produced the Lower School Newsletter, served on an ISAS visit team and participated in area teacher and school development.

I directed an AMI Elementary class for 6-9 year-olds during the regular school year, initiated and developed our Elementary Outdoor Education Program with colleagues, received a scholarship grant to travel to Zimbabwe and raft the Zambezi, trained as an AMI Assistants to Infancy Guide and directed the Nido (program for ages 3-14 mos-olds) in the summer.

At Northside Montessori, which was then called, "Stepping Stones" Montessori, I established a second Primary class, beside Fiona Campbell's and Eliza Hazelton's new Elementary Montessori class. There, I learned a great deal about Australian plants and animals and enjoyed getting to know several families with which I still correspond, the children grown and on their own by now. Aboriginal Education, the local Sydney Montessori Society, which worked to establish teacher training in the area, the Independent Teachers' Association, and bushwalks and travel in general were my greatest enthusiasms there. I also enjoyed walking or bicycling to shops in the neighborhood and jogging to nearby Ku-Ring-Gai National Park.

Montesssori West was a small private school run by a parent board. They occupied some modular buildings at space rented from St. Cletus' Catholic Church. Subsequent weather events have moved any remaining clients to other area schools. One parent did start another school, Stepping Stones Montessori, in the area, which remains at 552 Terry Parkway, Gretna, LA 70056-0700.

My very first Montessori job! This was a small parent-run school where a classmate from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta, Sally Lewis, and I established a Primary class which we shared the first year. The president of the board flipped a coin and I taught a class in the afternoon. In the second year, I was able to set up my own class and we had two classes. After two years here I learned of a position as Director of School at another classmate's school in New Orleans (Gretna is on the West Bank of) and left to take up that position. In Corvallis, there were many opportunities for organic gardening and putting up food, bicycling, dance, art and music and mostly-walkable community. I enjoyed all. I especially enjoyed bicycling and star-watching at nearby Mary's Peak. It was a place to learn about the Montessori Elementary, as well, with Susie Houston in charge of it's first 6-9 year-old class, a wonderful place to start.

The California Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate prepares teachers to better assist English Learners throughout their school day and across the curriculum.