Tim Seldin & Paul Epstein Ph.D. An Education for Life

T
im Seldin is the President of The Montessori Foundation and
Chair of The International Montessori Council. His more than
thirty years of experience in Montessori education includes twentytwo
years as Headmaster of the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland,
his own alma mater (age two through high school graduation). He has
also served as the Director of the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies
and as Head of the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. Tim Seldin is the
author of several books on Montessori education, including: Finding the
Perfect Match – Recruit and Retain Your Ideal Enrollment; Master Teachers/
Model Programs; Starting a New Montessori School; Building a World-Class
Montessori School (co-authored by Jonathan Wolff); Celebrations of Life
(co-authored by Musya Meyer); and The World in the Palm of Her Hand
(co-authored by Donna Seldin Danner).
Tim is the parent of three children (Marc, Michelle, and Caitlin), stepfather
to Chelsea and Robin, and the grandfather of Hollis. He lives on a small
ranch in Sarasota, Florida with his wife, Joyce St. Giermaine, their seven
horses, dogs (too many to count), and two Norwegian Forest cats.
The Authors
P
aul Epstein, Ph.D. has been active in the field of Montessori
education since 1974 as an administrator, teacher, teacher educator,
researcher and author. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Paul
earned his doctorate in cultural anthropology from SUNY Buffalo. He is
currently the Head of School at Chiaravalle Montessori School in Evanston,
Illinois
Paul is a Montessori teacher educator and was a director of Montessori
teacher education for early childhood and secondary level one programs.
As a classroom teacher, he taught in Montessori early childhood, middle
and high school programs. In addition, Paul was an associate professor at
Transylvania University and is currently an adjunct professor at Northwestern
University. He holds Montessori teacher certification in early childhood
and secondary levels one and two from the American Montessori Society.
Paul presents a research based observation program to titled, “Observing
Children Well, Practicing the Arts of Reflective Teaching.” This program
draws upon his background and doctorate in Cultural Anthropology. He
is also a frequent presenter at Montessori conferences and author of
articles appearing in Montessori journals.
Paul’s immediate family includes his wife Ann, author of this book’s chapter
addressing children with exceptionalities. Ann, currently a visiting assistant
professor at Roosevelt University, earned her doctorate in early childhood
special education. She is also a Montessori teacher educator. They have two
children.
Tim Seldin
Paul Epstein, Ph.D