About

Montessori Makers, nestled in Chicago, was born out of a wish to share a particular set of skills that have helped Montessori individuals and programs shine in ways they never thought possible. With much experience working in and with Montessori programs, setting up systems, establishing structures, offering support, and creating solutions, it was time to offer assistance more widely. With over two decades of experience in independent and public Montessori schools and with experience in everything from material procurement, budgets, data tracking, system and structure creation, protocol establishment, and the building of practice, there is no better place to learn the knowledge and skills that can help Montessori programs feel less opaque and more organized, for faculty, staff and families. 

 

Principal and founder Hannah Richardson has been an educator and leader in Montessori for over twenty years. She has served as a guide, consultant, coordinator, coach, school leader, and change-maker. She has built schools from the ground up, shaped leaders, strengthened practitioners' skills, overseen 14+ million budgets and hundreds of employees, and supported the realization of schools' visions. She has a passion for the most challenging parts of the work.

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Hannah is also the force behind Montessori Makers Learning, which is dedicated to offering tools and resources to realize the modern implementation of Montessori. Through decodable books, family education podcasts, and professional development, it extends Montessori Makers’ mission to support schools and families alike. She is also the founder of our other family of brands; Montessori Makers at Home, dedicated to family support and Montessori Makers Merch, which offers Montessori statements you can wear. 

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Hannah has experience working in and running independent schools with 90–almost 700 students and serving and leading public neighborhood, magnet, and charter schools in various metropolitan settings. She advises leaders nationwide. She has presented at various conferences, including AMI, and more. She has served as a school board member, been invited to Montessori think tanks, such as Montessori Leaders Collaborative, and has worked with several others. Hannah is trained in ABAR practice and brings it into all facets of her work. She has also completed doctoral coursework in Early Childhood Education and holds PhD ABD status, grounding her work at the intersection of education, systems, and social transformation.