Season 2 Ep. 4: A Conversation with Two AMS Leaders
This episode is a conversation with American Montessori Society Executive Director, Munir Shivji and Director of Equity and Engagement, Maati Wafford. These leaders share their current work in the organization as well as the plans for new initiatives.
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ABAR at AMS
Munir Shivji currently serves as the Executive Director of The American Montessori Society. Prior to that he was the founding head of two Montessori schools in Texas and founding director of Cambridge Montessori Institute, an AMS-affiliated teacher education program in Massachusetts. He is a former program director at the AMS-accredited Cambridge Montessori School and former Montessori Early Childhood teacher.
When Munir joined the American Montessori Society as staff in 2020, he already knew the organization intimately, having served on the board of directors for seven years, guiding the organization through several major changes, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
As chair of the Development Committee of the board, Munir helped AMS raise $1.5 million, and organized some of the most memorable fundraisers. He also served as co-chair of the Recognition Committee and was a member of the Directorship and Finance Committees.
Among Munir’s many other accomplishments are the founding of The Institute of Montessori Education, an organization that advocates for and fosters advancement of Montessori.
Recently appointed the Director of Equity and Engagement for the American Montessori Society, Maati Wafford advocates for equity by creating avenues for the coexistence of science, spirit & social justice in Montessori education. Her leadership focuses on building trust for engaging in direct, honest, and productive conversations about rooting the complex art and science of teaching in equity and justice.
She is a masters level social worker, equity practitioner and credentialed Montessori educator at both Early Childhood, and Elementary as well as an Administrator. Maati fiercely infuses critical consciousness and a sincere love of learning into her interactions with children, families, and fellow educators. For nearly two decades Maati has created brave spaces for Montessorians to expand, build, and create more justice in the world. She is a firm believer in divine intelligence and understands that we all sit at the very center of that space!