About Montessori Makers

Montessori Makers, based in Chicago, was founded with a clear purpose: to bring structure, clarity, and courage to modern Montessori schools.

What began as a consulting practice has grown into an ecosystem of supports — built to help schools align philosophy with practice, mission with systems, and values with day-to-day reality.

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We partner with Montessori programs across the country to strengthen implementation, refine environments, and build sustainable structures that let educators focus on what matters most: children. Our work includes diagnostics, strategic planning, leadership coaching, adult culture support, and implementation-aligned systems — all grounded in Montessori principles and a deep commitment to equity and belonging.

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At its heart, Montessori Makers exists to make the work work — so schools can move beyond survival and into coherence, stability, and joy.

 

About the Founder

Hannah Richardson is a Montessori leader, strategist, and systems-builder with more than 20 years of experience across independent, public, and charter Montessori schools. She has served as a guide, coach, coordinator, consultant, and Head of School, leading programs ranging from 90 to nearly 800 students and guiding large-scale organizational change.

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Hannah’s work centers one core belief: Montessori only works when everything works together—people, practice, and purpose. She helps schools turn vision into systems by strengthening leadership, stabilizing adult culture, improving hiring and retention, and building structures that support children without relying on burnout.

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She is the founder of Montessori Makers Group and its connected ecosystem: Montessori Makers Learning(professional learning + decodable literacy tools), MatchHub (values-aligned hiring and placement), Montessori Makers Alignment Map (an operational platform designed for Montessori schools), and Montessori Makers Merch(apparel and design rooted in Montessori identity and movement-building).

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Hannah is trained in anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) practice and integrates equity, belonging, and social responsibility into every level of her work. She has completed doctoral coursework in Early Childhood Education (PhD studies completed, ABD) and serves on the boards of Indigo Montessori and Montessori for Social Justice, bringing a justice-centered lens to the future of Montessori leadership.

 

What We Believe

Montessori works when the whole school is aligned — not just the classroom.
Peace requires justice: safety, dignity, and belonging for every child and adult.

Strong systems protect people and make excellence sustainable.
When adults are supported and clear, children can fully thrive.