What We Do
Mission
To advance the Montessori educational movement in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Activities
Professional Development
The OMA offers a series of workshops throughout the year for guides, assistants and administrators. These workshops are a chance to deepen our member’s practice in the classroom while providing opportunities for connection. Our Assistant’s Workshop, offered each August, is an annual favorite.
We are also reviving our elementary group, SEEDS and have plans in the works for a series of practical, hands-on morning workshops.
Networking
Through our website and our newsletter, the Forza Vitale, we keep our members connected and updated on the latest happenings in the Montessori community. We will also begin offering informal “pub nights” throughout the year, providing another opportunity for both new and long-time Montessorians to get together and share their experiences.
Each year we host our Spring Tea, a celebratory gathering to honor exemplary Montessorians in our community and to welcome new graduates of Montessori training programs in the area.
The OMA is also in the process of strengthening our ties with other regional Montessori associations, in particular, our sister group in Washington, the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association.
Community Outreach
The OMA is renewing its efforts as an organization that promotes the welfare of children by helping to develop greater public understanding and support for the essence of the Montessori philosophy and method. This year we will be developing a presentation on Montessori practice and philosophy that can be shared with the general public in places such as public libraries and community centers.
History
The Oregon Montessori Association was founded in 1978 by Nancy Hildick and Susan Erceg to bring together all those interested in the Montessori process, parents, and educators. From the very beginning, it was envisioned to be an umbrella organization, maintaining a policy of inclusiveness and respect for the diversity of Montessori training available in the United States.
For thirty years now the OMA has been serving the needs of Montessori guides, administrators and assistants, directly contributing the strength and vitality of Oregon’s Montessori community. As we move into the 21st century, the OMA actively seeks ways to continue to serve its members and increase the vital presence of Montessori education in the Pacific Northwest.