What if we organized Montessori organizations the way we organize Montessori classrooms?
When The Institute of Montessori Training’s previous organization became financially unviable, Carolyn Sweet and Suzanne Tipton faced a choice: walk away or build something radically different. They chose to create the first worker cooperative Montessori training organization, where decisions are made collectively, autonomy is the default, and trust replaces micromanagement.
Carolyn and Suzanne share how they rebuilt from the ashes with a simple principle: a good leader puts everybody on the right seat on the bus and then leaves them alone. No time clocks, no permission-seeking, no control. Just transparency, shared financial statements, monthly community meetings, and the spiritual preparation to trust each other.
In this episode, we pondered:
Why do we give autonomy to children but micromanage the most highly educated professionals?
How do we shift from teaching the minutiae of lessons to passing down the spirit of Montessori?
Their work proves that organizations can embody Montessori principles: assuming positive intent, celebrating individual strengths, and trusting people to do meaningful work without surveillance.
This conversation isn’t about fixing what’s broken, it’s about what emerges when we have the courage to let go and build something better.
All these paradigm-shifting insights on autonomy, accessibility, and living Montessori as adults, in this episode of Breaking the Paradigm.
Thanks Suzanne and Carolyn for a great episode, and welcome to the “Two Timers Club” Suzanne!
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