Victoria J. Johnson, Ph.D steps into the MGGF Executive Director Role

The MGGF board is thrilled to announce that Victoria Johnson has accepted the position as its first Executive Director. This is a major step for MGGF as we accelerate our transition into a professionally managed non-profit. We are all confident that Victoria will expand MGGF’s efforts to support Montessori initiatives in under-resourced communities across the globe. ?

We look forward to working with her to fulfill our mission of “freeing the child’s infinite potential” and our vision “to realize Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision of world peace, one community at a time.”

Victoria was introduced to MGGF in 2022 at the AMI Annual Global Meeting and joined MGGF as a volunteer liaison for its Grant Committee. She became a member of the MGGF Board of Directors in February 2023.

Victoria holds a Ph. D in global family health and wellbeing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she researched the worldwide application of Montessori education. Before earning her doctorate, Victoria completed AMS-accredited training as a Montessori guide for primary (3-6), lower (6-9,) and upper (9-12) elementary.

She has served as a contributing member of the worldwide Montessori network through AMI’s Educateurs sans Frontières working group since 2021.

In addition to Victoria’s Montessori-related work, she has lectured in human sciences for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and served as project manager for a statewide project focused on designing equitable, accessible, and culturally sustaining preparation pathways for early childhood teachers.

She has also cofounded a family business with her husband, acquiring extensive experience in the challenges and thrills associated with growing a small business into a scaled and professionally run organization.

Victoria will begin her work as Executive Director of MGGF on a part-time basis, assuming leadership over the Grant Committee in its efforts to identify and fund the most compelling Montessori initiatives serving children from under-resourced communities worldwide.

By the start of 2025, the MGGF Board anticipates Victoria will have transitioned into full responsibility of MGGF’s activities.

We welcome Victoria with great enthusiasm. ?

And we welcome you to join with us in enabling under-resourced communities launch Montessori initiatives. ?Together, we can work toward achieving Maria Montessori’s vision of world peace.

Our Grants at Work?

Ukraine

In Ukraine we’ve supplied five Montessori schools along the front lines with funds to purchase Montessori materials and pay some teacher salaries.

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

In Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina our grant was used to purchase Montessori materials, introducing orphans to Montessori education.

Plymouth, New Hampshire

Training elementary Montessori teachers in an “isolated area of distress”?in?Plymouth,?New?Hampshire will help these children become confident students.