Wilmington Montessori School Prepares for 50th Anniversary with Announcement of New Head of School

WILMINGTON, Del. - July 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Last week, the Wilmington Montessori School Board of Directors announced the appointment of Lisa Lalama to be WMS’s next head of school, effective February 1, 2014. The appointment follows a nationwide search. Lisa currently serves as coordinator WMS’s 9-12 (fourth through sixth-grade) program and has been a teacher at WMS for the past 12 years.

“After undertaking a national search seeking an experienced and dynamic Montessori educator, we discovered our most compelling candidate right here at Wilmington Montessori School,” said WMS Board Chair and alumna Anna Quisel, who shared news of the decision with the WMS community in an email on Tuesday, June 24.

Lisa, who is also a former Montessori parent, is at the forefront of Montessori education through her work as an American Montessori teacher educator, as a field consultant for the Princeton Center for Teacher Education and through her ongoing pursuit of professional development in many areas including neuroscience and its implications on education and teaching.

“I believe that I am the person to continue to strengthen the confidence you have in WMS and all it represents,” Lisa wrote to the WMS community. “We have faced challenges and come through them with more resolve and a reinvigorated purpose. Our goal is much the same as mine was for my children.”

"I could not be more excited about what Lisa's leadership will mean for the future of WMS," said Head of School Marie Dugan. “She is a proven leader with the educational vision to lead us forward into the next 50 years of Montessori excellence.”

Marie is the founding head of Wilmington Montessori School, who returned to Wilmington Montessori School as interim head of school in August 2012. She led the school through the development of its 25-acre campus and state-of-the-art building. During the first half of the 2013-14 school year, Marie will continue to serve as head of school, with Lisa serving as assistant head.

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Wilmington Montessori School’s Mission: 
Wilmington Montessori School is a collaborative learning community rooted in Montessori principles, inspiring the joyful discovery of self and a passion for learning and independent thinking. We empower children to be knowledgeable and responsible contributors to the global community.

About Wilmington Montessori School: Wilmington Montessori School is a co-educational Montessori school serving the needs of children ages 12 months through 12 years. Founded in 1964, WMS is the state’s oldest and largest Montessori school.  Located on a 25-acre campus, the school currently serves more than 200 children and offers before- and after-care services, “School’s Out” child-care, diversified camp programs and an enrichment program for home-schooled students. For more information about Wilmington Montessori School, visit www.wmsde.org or call 302-475-0555.