Montessori in Action Podcast
Engaging conversations with Montessori practitioners
Season 6, Ep. 13
2026 Summer Reads
We are closing out the sixth season with our annual Summer Reads episode where we introduce books for you to check out over your summer. This summer, we have three suggestions.
The first book is Implementing the Montessori Method: Learner-Centered Education From Birth Through Adolescence co-written by Trisha Thompson-Wilingham and Susan Zoll. It offers readers a look into Montessori classrooms across the ages.
The other two books are the result of transcription done by Jana Morgan Herman. Jana took the handwritten notes of Lakshmi Kripalani taken in the 1946 India course with Dr. Montessori in Karachi and transcribed them into two books: Book One: Practical Life and Book Two: Sensorial. Discover what Dr. Montessori shared in those lectures eighty years ago and enjoy your summer!
Trisha Thompson-Willingham
Dr. Susan Zoll, Ph.D.
Jana Morgan-Herman, MEd
Trisha Thompson-Willingham began her Montessori Journey in Canada in 1992. Thirty-four years later, she has the perspective of a parent, guide, coach, administrator, consultant, and independent school board member. She is a literacy specialist and a special educator. Trisha holds a Master of Education, is trained in Montessori at three levels (0-3, 3-6, and 6-12), and has been oriented to adolescence. She co-founded and led the Virginia Montessori Association for eight years and served on the Montessori Public Policy Initiative’s Board of Directors, whose mission is to increase access to Montessori Education in the United States. Her latest collaboration made her an author! Implementing the Montessori Method – Learner-Centered Education from Birth through Adolescence brings much of Trisha’s knowledge into print. You can contact her at TLTWConsulting@gmail.
Susan Zoll, PhD
Dr. Susan Zoll brings a rare combination: deep Montessori roots, rigorous research credentials, and practical classroom wisdom. Her journey began as a Montessori educator as a 3-6 teacher that evolved into roles as a teacher trainer for the Language curriculum, Director of Admissions, and Head of School. She is the mother of two daughters who carry precious memories as Montessori students into their adult lives.
More recently, Dr. Zoll has demonstrated academic leadership as a tenured Associate Professor; and as a researcher engaged in federally funded literacy projects. She has also served as Co-Chair of the AMS Research Committee and received the 2025 AMS Impact Award.
She is a published author, having co-authored three essential books:
Implementing the Montessori Method: Learner-Centered Education from Birth through Adolescence (2026, Amazon Best Seller, Education Curriculum & Instruction)
Effective Literacy Assessment in the Montessori Classroom: Using Data to Inform Instruction (2025)
Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom: Aligning Reading Research and Practice (2023, Teachers College Press Best Seller; Amazon Best Seller, Education Curriculum & Instruction)
Susan's mission is to raise awareness of Montessori pedagogy within the wider education community, while reinforcing Montessori classroom practices and their alignment to current research.
Contact to schedule a Book Talk with your school staff or as a Family Engagement opportunity in 2026-27: Email: drsusanzoll@gmail.com
Follow here to learn more:
Website: dr-susan-zoll.com
Substack: https://montessorilogospraxis.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsusanzoll/
Jana Morgan Herman, MEd
Jana Morgan Herman brings over thirty years of Montessori classroom and teacher education experience to everything she does. Her journey began as an Early Childhood guide and grew into a career that spans teacher preparation, curriculum development, national leadership, and scholarship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Education in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University, and carries AMS/MACTE credentials at the Early Childhood level, RIE Level 1, and additional training and certificates in supporting children with dyslexia, trauma informed instruction, and Montessori and Dementia Care. Jana is a NEDA-Proficient End of Life Doula, which she feels aligns perfectly with our work in Montessori.
Jana currently serves as National Director of Montessori Education at Endeavor Schools — a network of more than fifty Montessori schools across fourteen states — and as Director of the Montessori Institute of Teacher Education at Endeavor (MITEE), a MACTE-accredited program she has led since 2022. She is a co-founder of the Kentucky Montessori Alliance and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Montessori Life, where she is a regular contributor.
A sought-after presenter and deep reader of Montessori's primary texts, Jana brings historical scholarship and contemporary research into conversation in her work. She is the host of the Montessori Bookclub Podcast, a published author of Montessori lecture transcriptions, and co-author of the Amazon bestseller The Montessori Parent Coronavirus Survival Guide, among numerous articles and book chapters. She received the 2025 AMS Impact Medal in recognition of her contributions to the field.
Instagram: @montessoriwithjana
Website: www.montessori-with-jana.com
Email: montessoriwithjana@gmail.com
Listen: Montessori Bookclub Podcast on Apple & Spotify
Book available on Learning Sunshine and Amazon (globally)