In 1969, Lee Havis began to study Montessori, first as a classroom teacher and then later by directing teacher education in the field. In 1979, this activity led to a sudden and unexpected personal experience of completion of Montessori, a knowing of its underlying true nature. Based on this experience, he founded the International Montessori Society (IMS) to support the effective ap-plication of Montessori principles throughout the world. It is organized as a non-profit corporation directed by Lee Havis, with main offices in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The International Montessori Society views Montessori teaching as a way of being committed to infinite and eternal laws of nature, identifying this as closely related to following three fundamental principles; i.e., (1) Observation (2) Individual Liberty and (3) Preparation of the Environment. The Society supports the complete and effective application of these principles throguh their experiential understanding. It provides this support through such means as teacher education, publications, workshops, seminars and consultation. In 1986, the Society began offering a series of two-day weekend workshops, entitled “Creating the New Education”, which have been elaborating and developing the technical knowledge of effective Montessori teaching with children.
The International
Montessori Society's Advisory Board helps
to broaden communication and provide consultation
with the larger community of interests
related to Montessori education in society.
Lee Havis, Director
International Montessori Society
Lee Havis began teaching in the Peace Corps in 1967, assigned as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Panama. Returning to the United States, began teaching young children in 1969, continuing in this classroom teaching in different situations for five years. In the 1970’s, he completed graduate study in early childhood education at the University of Maryland and a JD in law at Catholic University of America (Washington, DC).
In 1976, Havis completed a Montessori diploma course with internship (primary level, 2-6) and conducted Montessori teacher education in the new organization National Center for Montessori Education he helped to establish. About this time, he initiated a tutoring program to implement Montessori principles, which is now operating as Trust Tutoring (http://trusttutoring.com)
In 1979, he formed International Montessori Society (IMS), assuming the duties of its executive director and editor of its periodicals, Montessori Observer and Montessori News. Since 1986, he has conducted workshops and consultation to help improve Montessori teaching, emphasizing especially the technology for its practice to bring about Dr. Montessori’s original experience of normal being in 1907.
In 1994, he organized the
basic operating documents for the new accrediting
agency, International Montessori Accreditation
Council (IMAC), becoming its director and
now serving as well on its generic review
committee. IMAC provides accreditation for
Montessori teacher education, based on broad,
inclusive standards to encourage the participation
of all interested parties.
Havis as contributed to a number of Montessori texts, including introduction to Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work, by E.M. Standing (publ. 1998); Foreword to The Essential Montessori by Elizabeth Hainstock (publ. 1995); Foreowrd to Teahcing Montessori in the Home – preschool years; Foreword to Why Montessori? by Aisha Abdullah (publ. 2001). He is also author of the Evaluation of Basic Skills, standardized test materials for children aged 3-18 (1996).
