A Tribute to Anna Schwind
Our beloved Lower Elementary Guide Anna Schwind is moving on to fill a new position at the Montessori Lab School, where she will serve as a Guide in the new Elementary classroom. While we will miss her deeply, we are also very proud of her and know she will continue to bring the magic of Montessori to so many children. On our last day of school before summer break, here is our tribute to Anna. Head of School Laura Ceretti-Michelman shares,"Anna Schwind absolutely comes alive in the presence of elementary children. It is truly a sight to see. Her endlessly curious, passion for Montessori, and commitment to child development come together in a wonderful way. There is no doubt that Anna is a true Montessorian to her core. Anna is a champion for all who is service minded and as generous as the day is long. It has been a privilege and a pleasure learning from Anna and watching her work with VdM children as well as watching her collaborate and help whenever and wherever needed. And if you didn't have a chance to see one of Anna's parent education talks, you missed out. She really is an exceptional public speaker with clarity of thought and expression that few people possess.Anna can be animated and she has a fantastic sense of humor which make her entertaining to boot. Anna is a deep thinker and she is almost always up for a good conversation and I will most definitely miss those conversations. Anna has done so much for Villa di Maria and she will be missed. The good news is that she is moving on to do great things for the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis' new Elementary Lab School and she is the PERFECT person for the job."From Primary Guide Heather Steinman:"I first met Anna as a fellow parent about 14 years ago right here at Villa! I have since come to know her as a teacher, a co worker and a friend. I could say many things about her, but I will say this above all - Anna is incredibly kind and extremely generous!As a friend Anna has been there for me on many an occasion without being asked or expecting fanfare. Once when I had surgery, she came and walked my dog...more than once! When I had a sad event in my family, Anna brought us dinner, put it on my doorstep and rang the bell as to not bother us. She and her husband even helped me move once! Honestly, there are so many other instances I could go on and on.As a colleague, Anna and I have spent countless amounts of time working together and talking Montessori shop, if you will. It is a really neat relationship to build on when you are a Primary directress sending children you have worked with for three (or four!) years on to an Elementary guide. We have done this pretty smoothly now over some time, learning the ins and outs together. She is always so excited to tell me about how she is getting to know the children and finding out who they are. Her attention to the details and personalities of each child are admirable.
Primary Aide Cristina Kerr adds, "Anna has great taste in music! When she first started at our school, while preparing her environment, she was always listening to music, and the tunes I was hearing certainly created a great atmosphere for cleaning and sorting materials!"From Parent-Child Guide Cab Yau:
Upper Elementary Guide Rebecca Callander-Liddy shares:
"Anna will most definitely be missed. She's so thoughtful and cares deeply about both children and her peers. Villa di Maria's legacy will be even stronger having had her as part of the team." - Jade Venditte, Director of Development, Diversity and InclusionFrom Classroom Aide (and the one who worked most closely with Anna over the past two years) Melinda Smith:“A” teamOur fling is doneBefore I had the chanceFor the second rule of cinquainWeak sauce"Anna knows how I feel about her. We are fabulous and unbelievably magical. If you will, the unicorn of partners! We have been since the beginning. She supports me and stands by me, she includes and collaborates with me, she trusts and teaches me. She is modeling for the children what a working relationship looks like, both for friendships and teammates in the classroom.No longer work buddies but just buddies with a future of dog walking and handwork classes. I know she will always be there to guide me when I need it because she is totally awesome sauce."From fellow Lower Elementary Guide Megan Eilers:
Jessie Braud, Primary Guide, had this message for Anna:
My own personal experience, both from a parent and a staff perspective, has been a wonderful and inspiring one. When I began blogging for Villa di Maria two years ago, I was apprehensive; there was (and still is) so much I didn't know about the Montessori world. But I quickly learned that Anna was an incredibly patient and responsive sounding board for ideas and Montessori knowledge. On more than one occasion, she provided "lightbulb moments" for me, allowing for information and ways of being to click into place. I never hesitated to contact her with clarifications or questions about the Montessori world, and she always, always made time for me (though I have no idea how!).As a parent, I watched as she guided my oldest son, then my middle son, in the most gentle and patient ways. She has aided in my middle child's blossoming and confidence over the past three years. Upon our first parent-teacher conference, I was struck by just how well she knew my individual children; she just gets children in a deep and profound way - from who they are to what they need. She is, not using the word lightly, exceptional, and I will miss her both as a Guide and as a person.In addition to being a mindful and magical presence in the classroom, Anna has been one of our blog's major contributors over the past two years. She is full of great ideas, and is willing to take the time to discuss and even write eloquently about many Montessori topics. We consider ourselves beyond lucky to have just a fraction of her knowledge accessible here on the blog. Below, some of Anna's major blog contributions over the past two years.The Benefits of Handwork for Children (Anna discusses the many wonderful reasons we love the sensorial and creative act of working with one's hands)On Peer Conflict (Anna explains the importance of guiding children through the social learning required when navigating conflict with peers)Development of the Will: The Emergence of Self-Discipline (Anna writes about the self-regulatory work of an emerging will)Yoga in the Classroom (Anna lets us join a classroom yoga session)Modeling and Facilitating Conflict Resolution (Anna discusses, along with Rebecca and Megan, “Conscious Social Growth of the Elementary Child” and tips on how to handle conflict between siblings at home)The Role of the Contrarian in the Lower Elementary Classroom (Anna writes about why it is actually beneficial to have a contrarian in the classroom, and how it helps with personal and group growth)The Weekly Conference (Anna discusses the structure of this self-assessment tool)Spanish with Mrs. Schwind (A peek into Anna's Spanish class)Torta Frita: A Traditional Argentine Recipe (Anna shares a recipe from her childhood home)The Great Lessons (Anna brings magic and wonder to children as she presents one of the Great Lessons during the first week of school in the new Elementary building)Anna, thank you for your outstanding commitment to Montessori! We wish you the best of luck in your next endeavor!