Dianna first discovered Montessori when she was looking for a school for her son, Joseph, one of WEM’s current School Directors. Dianna was so impressed with the Montessori philosophy, and the overall educational environment Montessori created, that she changed careers within his first year of Montessori education to complete a Master’s Degree in Education, and earn her Montessori teaching credentials through Seattle University.
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that the best hope for a better humanity, a better world, inspired her to found the Whole Earth Montessori School in 1986, and to expand it over the following years. Her devotion to Montessori continued as she witnessed every school year the difference Montessori’s work made in the children’s lives as they learned respect for self, others, and the environment; learned how to think independently, understand their choices, and to take responsibility for their actions.
Inspired in part by witnessing the calming, grounding, and increased focus that playing Dr. Montessori’s ‘Silence Game’ had on the children in the classrooms, Dianna began the study and practice of meditation from a Quantum Physics perspective in 2009 and has recently embarked upon teaching meditation coursework in this area. These studies have offered an even more in-depth understanding of how these principles operate in the classroom, which she continues to share with faculty and students at WEM.