Barbara and Edward Fidellow
Founders
The beginning
Barbara and Edward Fidellow started a Christian Montessori School in 1972 in Dallas, TX. It grew over the years to include toddlers through twelfth grade with formal dining rooms, gardens, greenhouses, animals and student enterprises but most importantly, it included a commitment to sharing Jesus with the children. Being among the pioneers of Christian Montessori in America, they set about finding other Christians involved in Montessori.
ICMI AROUND THE WORLD
The History of the International Christian Montessori Institute
The Past
When the ICMI was started in 1983 its mission was to network Christians who were in Montessori schools. There were few Christian Montessori schools in those days. For years, “I thought we were the only one.” was a constant refrain.
We were all fledgling schools trying to navigate what made us both Christian and Montessori. Our Montessori friends said, “You can’t be Montessori and Christian.” And our Christian friends said, “You can’t be Christian and Montessori.” We didn’t have friends in either camp – so we created our own.
The first annual conference was held in 1983. The 42th annual conference is coming up in January.
The Present
The need of the Christian Montessori community for almost twenty years has been teacher training. We began our first efforts in 2009. We spent almost three years in the studio creating didactic videos of all the materials. We have videoed the philosophy lectures.
We have gone from DVDs to on-line access. We have inaugurated Zoom classes. We are establishing local training centers around the country and the world. We are in the midst of establishing a recognized MACTE certification for our program. (Important for our international training centers.)
The Future
The mission of ICMI is training Christian teachers to transform lives, Christian Montessori education is not just about knowledge but about wisdom preparing students not just for time but for eternity. Transformed educations and schools are only possible with transformed teachers and ICMI training is a key.
The Focus
The training and transformation of Christian Montessori teachers is the defining legacy of the work of the Institute. Helping schools to have, not only trained teachers, but spiritually transformed teachers is the needed step to fulfilling the mission of ICMI
The Vision of the
International Christian Montessori Institute
The Need
We live in an age in which the battle for hearts and minds has now reached a fevered pitch. Atheism versus theism. Socialism versus democracy. Scientism versus faith. Virtue versus depravity. The list goes on.
Our secular “post-truth” age is one that increasingly seeks to reduce objective reality to illusion. Ancient wisdom to primitive superstition. Faith to folly. Timeless truth and virtue to little more than subjective preference.
It is clear the battle for the mind has staggering consequences as history attests clearly and often tragically. And it is in the midst of these heated spiritual, moral, and ideological conflicts that International Christian Montessori Institute (ICMI) exists to provide a solution. One that is a proven path for educators who soberly understand what is at stake. Educators who also know that there are more effective ways to shape hearts and minds of future generations.
The Christian Montessori method is no speculative hypothesis. Its fruits have been demonstrated in countless lives over 100 years on six continents and in over 100 countries.
Our vision now is to see Christian Montessori teachers and teaching methods increased 1,000-fold. To become a powerful force for changing hearts and minds and helping to heal a hurting world.
Tagline:
“Training teachers to transform lives.”
Our Mission
Our mission is to train and support Christian Montessori teachers nationally and internationally. Through conferences, curriculum, and ongoing professional development, we equip and empower teachers to be agents of change in their communities and their countries, transforming lives by shaping hearts and minds.
Our Vision
Our vision is one of transformation. In short, we will be agents of change in a needy world by equipping and empowering Christian teachers who will be the vessels through which God will shape the hearts and minds of future generations.
When he was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”, Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-38)
Reflecting this commandment, teachers trained by the International Christian Montessori Institute will embrace and model a biblical worldview. As skilled educators, it will be clear they love God with all their minds in addition to their hearts and souls.
Because they understand that “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” (W.B. Yeats), as Christian Montessorians they will create learning environments where the God-given, innate wonder, curiosity, and creativity of children will be nurtured and channeled to bear “fruit that lasts” (John 15) and thus lead lives that transparently honor God.
As agents of salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), ever-growing numbers of these teachers and their students will be islands of light in a rising tide of secular darkness, and urgently needed guardians of truth in a world where biblical wisdom and traditional values are receding.
Statement of Faith
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
What People Are Saying:
Norma Morris
Rockwall TX
"Before 2005, I mostly knew the Fidellows by reputation and their school, Lakemont Montessori School of Dallas, TX. However, in 2005, I had the privilege of being seated next to Edward at lunch during a Montessori conference in Florida...and my Christian Montessori world view has never been the same (in a good way)!!! Over the years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the ICMI VISION expand to the International Conference in San Antonio each January, the hands-on Bible materials and parent resources made available and the crowning accomplishment: a complete on-line teacher training/certification program for guides spanning environments for toddlers, primary (3-6 years); lower elementary (6-9 years) and upper elementary (9-12 years) in the U.S., Kenya & Uganda.
ICMI has truly become an integral part of my life and I consider the many life-long friendships that have been forged there, as a most precious gift. Who knew that a chance ? seating arrangement in 2005 would reap such value in my life?...only GOD!."
