Montessori Australia Presents: Sudbury Valley schools. How to open your own school.

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• More details about Derek Shepperd

  Derek Shepperd

  Montessori education first came to our attention around 1994 when my family and I were part of a working group of parents, teachers, and community members researching options for an independent school in the Maleny area on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. While we ultimately chose the democratic Sudbury Valley model as the best fit at the time, Montessori remained a point of fascination. Years later, extended conversations with the mother of a boarding student deepened my appreciation for Maria Montessori’s philosophy and its enduring relevance. With a background spanning a couple of decades in banking, I have served as a founding director, chair, treasurer, or secretary for various not-for-profits and cooperatives, including Queensland Crime Stoppers, an arts cooperative, a retail health foods shop, and the co-operative that established and operated our school. I have also built and grown my own small gardening business. These experiences, along with participation in conferences and visits to schools across Australia and overseas, have reinforced my strong belief in educational choice — empowering parents and children to select the approach that best aligns with their learning needs and values.