Putting the Child at the Center: Montessori, IB, and the Future of Education

Join our Head of School, Natalie Baginski for a thought-provoking Parent Coffee exploring how Montessori and IB educational approaches are uniquely suited to meet the needs of children in today’s rapidly changing world.

For more than 150 years, most schools have relied on a traditional, teacher- and textbook-centered model designed for the industrial age. While this “factory-style” approach once served its purpose, growing evidence shows it is increasingly misaligned with how children naturally learn, grow, and thrive.

We are now at a pivotal moment in education. Advances in technology, the rise of artificial intelligence, and lessons from the pandemic have made it clear that information-based, report-driven learning is no longer enough. Instead, children need environments that nurture curiosity, independence, intrinsic motivation, and social-emotional well-being.

In this session, we’ll explore what it means to place the child at the center of learning, much like the sun at the center of the solar system. Montessori and IB frameworks offer freedom within a highly structured environment, supporting children as active participants in their own learning and helping them develop the skills they need to flourish in the 21st century.

This conversation is ideal for families curious about educational philosophy, long-term learning outcomes, and how schools can best prepare children for a future that is still being shaped.

We can’t wait to see you there! ☕🎉