Relationships, Meaning, and Support: What Public Montessori Teachers Really Need with Caroline Robbins

Why do we focus so intensely on child flourishing in Montessori schools while burning out the adults who make it possible? If we believe in human dignity as our core value, how should we evaluate and support teachers? And what happens when we apply self-determination theory—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—not just to children, but to the educators who guide them?These are the questions Caroline Robbins is wrestling with as both a public Montessori administrator and doctoral student studying how we can transform teacher evaluation systems to actually support human growth. Her journey from art history student inspired by Anne Frank to scholar-practitioner bridging research and real-world practice offers a unique lens on what it really takes to sustain authentic Montessori communities in public settings.The Questions That Drive Real ChangeWhat if teacher evaluation became collaborative appraisal instead of top-down judgment? Caroline's pilot study revealed that public Montessori teachers crave three things: relationships, meaning, and support. Remarkably, these align perfectly with self-determination theory's core human needs, suggesting we're onto something fundamental about what all humans require to thrive.How do we maintain Montessori authenticity within systems designed for compliance and control? Caroline navigates this tension daily, working within required frameworks while asking: "How can we make this meaningful? What are your goals? How can we support you in getting there?"Why do we lecture at parents when we'd never lecture at children? The conversation reveals a striking disconnect: Montessori educators facilitate learning beautifully with students, then resort to "sage on the stage" mode with adults. What would change if we applied the same principles consistently?Perhaps the most provocative thread in this conversation is Caroline's focus on adult inner development. Why don't we give educators space for the same kind of spiritual preparation we expect them to facilitate for children?Listen to discover how Caroline is quietly revolutionizing teacher evaluation and what happens when we finally start treating educators with the same developmental approach we use with children. Thanks, Caroline, for a great conversation!Want to connect with Caroline about her research or public Montessori work? Find her on LinkedIn for updates on her upcoming publications and findings!This episode was brought to you by YOU: the Paradigm Breakers who demanded more.For months, you've been telling us: "I love the podcast, but where do I go to get deeper?" "How do I connect with other educators doing this work?" "Can you create something that helps me implement these ideas?"Your voices created Provocations.This isn't another publication. It's designed specifically for the revolutionary educators in our community who are ready to move from inspiration to implementation.What our community gets in Provocations: * Quarterly issues featuring the most innovative educational minds worldwide* Frameworks developed by our own Paradigm Breaker community* Access to a network of educators actively transforming their contextsThe real value? Becoming part of a movement that's actually changing education, not just talking about it.But here's what matters most: Every issue is shaped by this community. Your questions become our content. Your challenges become our case studies. Your successes become our celebration.This is what happens when revolutionary educators stop accepting the status quo and start building something better together.Ready to help us create what comes next?Become a paid subscriber for full access to Provocations!Because the educational revolution won't be funded by institutions that profit from the broken system. It's being built by people like us.Breaking the Paradigm is a division of Developing Education, which is on a mission to transform education globally to foster human development and flourishing for all people.First Intention: Curriculum and pedagogy support for Montessori adolescent practitioners, specifically with math and language across the prepared environment.The Enlightened Educator Project: Supporting educators with mindfulness and resiliency through professional development and downloadable resources. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingtheparadigm.org/subscribe

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