Laureen Barnard

An agent for change and a change for agency; I'm a Montessori Education Consultant and an AMI 12-18 ToT. My professional career actually began as an Engineer, but it was the humanistic side of corporate and industrial work that truly captured my heart, guiding me towards project and change management, training and then... ...I became a teacher; something I promised my family I'd never do (they are all teachers!). I had finally found MY "jam". I loved working with children and adolescents, I loved the reciprocity of learning, I loved educational leadership, I loved being part of progress and innovation in the sector. I earned an International Teaching Fellowship that took me to work in Canada, completed an AMI 12-18 Diploma at Hershey Montessori, Ohio, became a school leader and pioneered the revolutionary MAP@BSC. Simultaneously traversing the mainstream and Montessori educational frameworks for two decades has certainly taught me a great deal about adolescents, education, leadership - and myself. I take special interest in nurturing potential - coaching fledgling educators, designing new programs and schools, bringing together teams around a shared vision for progress and leading improvement with a robust inquiry cycle approach. All to ultimate benefit of the young people we diligently and holistically serve. Dedicated to growth and adaptation, I recently earned the AMI School Leadership, AMI 0-3 and AMI 6-12 Certifications to bring breadth to my understanding of Montessori education - from birth, through adolescence to adults... and into leadership. At the helm of LiberateEd, my focus is on empowering educators and institutions to adopt authentic Montessori practices. With over two decades dedicated to education I stand resolute as an advocate for adolescents, educators and educational reform. I thrive on liberating potential; empowering others to transform themselves and their practice.