OMS Montessori

Pat came to OMS Montessori as head of school in 2000. In 1973, Pat came across E.M. Standing’s book, “Maria Montessori Her Life and Work.” She was amazed that education could be this way. After visiting a Montessori classroom to be sure that what she had read about was possible, she left banking for Montessori training at the 3 to 6 year old level and never looked back. The ability to respond to children as individuals and to see the joy and achievement that came with focused engagement had her hooked.

Pat began working with 3 to 6 year olds in a small one room school in Port Credit in 1974, a relationship that lasted over ten years, Over the next seventeen years, Pat trained at the Elementary level and taught preschool and then a lower elementary class in Oakville, and then was hired to work in the adolescent program in London, Ontario.

The challenge of taking over the direction of a whole school was offered to Pat in 2000 and she moved to Ottawa to join OMS Montessori. After coming to understand the school, she spearheaded the new adolescent program in 2003 and took additional adolescent training at the NAMTA Adolescent Orientation program in the summer of 2004. With a wealth of experience at the Junior High level, Pat opted to work with the first High School group although a high school was not yet a part of the OMS plans. When the strategic planning process uncovered the possibility of a Montessori high school for OMS, Pat and the school were ready.

Pat has continued to teach throughout her tenure as Head of School. “Teaching puts me in my element,” says Pat, noting that this helps her keep the paperwork and administrative necessities in perspective. Pat is also an active member of the broader Montessori community having held most of the positions on the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers Board of Directors and thus becoming an honourary lifetime member, and currently serving on the board of the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators. Pat has continued to offer her expertise through a variety of Montessori workshops and seminars both in Canada and in the United States.