Finding the Sun, Preparing the Soil: A Look Back at The Wildflower Foundation’s Year

As a new year approaches, we wanted to share the achievements and learnings over the last year of our growing network of teacher-led, micro Montessori schools. The report we’ve prepared for you reflects on the Wildflower Foundation’s first year as an independent organization.

With 13 schools across two states and Puerto Rico, plus schools developing in several more places, we’ve observed that Wildflowers grow and thrive very much like wildflowers. They spread organically, but only under the right conditions. You and our many supporters have helped create those conditions, along with Wildflower’s teacher-leaders, parents and students, and for that we are so grateful.

Montessori entered my life, thankfully, when I was seven years old, after two bumpy years in a traditional school where my struggles to sit at my desk led to a lot of missed recess. Today, both of my own children attend public Montessori schools, and I get to work with a brilliant group of Montessorians and other passionate visionaries every day.

Together, we are broadening Montessori’s reach to a wider array of families and communities. We’re exploring technology’s potential as an aid to education, not as a replacement for hands-on experiences and meaningful relationships. We’re creating beautiful, nature-rich, tiny schools that actively involve parents and are woven into the fabric of their neighborhoods.

Over the last year and change, we successfully transplanted the Wildflower network from a protective greenhouse at MIT, where Sep Kamvar and colleagues incubated our model, to the wild. As winter sets in, we hope you share our joy in all that has blossomed, and if you are so inspired, contact us to learn how you can help spread Wildflowers to the many places they can grow.