Announcing Joen Bettmann Award

The Montessori Global Growth Fund (MGGF) is excited to announce a grant opportunity for candidates currently participating in the AMI Primary Training of Trainers Program.  The mission of MGGF is to free the child’s infinite potential; and our role is to fund grassroots Montessori initiatives that support optimal human development with a focus of serving under-resourced communities around the world. 

As a part of our mission to support Montessori programs, the Joen Bettmann Primary Training of Trainers Fund was established to honor the memory of Joen Bettmann, an exceptional Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Teacher Trainer.  Joen trained and prepared AMI Montessori primary teachers across the globe, and provided holistic support to candidates in the AMI Primary Training of Trainers program.  Joen passed away in May 2020, but her legacy continues.  This fund will offer Trainers in Training a stipend to cover some of the expenses they incur during the program.

Joen works with primary teachers in training.

MGGF is accepting applications for an initial grant from the Joen Bettmann Primary Training of Trainers Fund.  Applications must be received on or before February 1, 2023.  During this grant cycle, one award will be made in the amount of $5,000.  

Celebrating a job well done

Criteria for successful applications

• Candidates must be participating in AMI Primary Training of Trainers during the 2022-2023 school year.  Those in their final apprenticeship year of Training of Trainers will be prioritized.

• Candidates must be affiliated with a non profit agency recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service or comparable status if from outside the United States, or an organization that is requesting funding for an initiative that has a charitable and/or educational purpose. This non-profit agency may be an AMI recognized training center.  This organization will receive and disperse the grant from MGGF. 

We seek to partner with individuals that:

• Share our mission of freeing the child’s infinite potential and our vision of realizing Dr. Maria Montessori’s dream of world peace, one community at a time;

• Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their work;

• Collaborate with others to build community-supported Montessori;

• Demonstrate administrative capability, financial planning, and organizational skills; 

• Have an understanding of and can evaluate the impact and effectiveness of their work.

Personal Statement

Candidates should submit a personal statement and a letter of recommendation to Bettmann@montessori-mggf.org on or before February 1, 2023 to be considered.  Your personal statement should include:  

• A description of your personal alignment with the mission, vision and goals of MGGF and the Joen Bettmann Fund as outlined in this letter

• Your Current Position or Title

• Email Address 

• Phone Number

• Mailing Address

• Your anticipated timeline for completing Training of Trainers

• A description of your other sources of funding for the program

• The legal name of your non-profit organizational partner

• The mission statement and vision statement of your non-profit organizational partner

 Letter of Recommendation

Candidates should also submit a letter of recommendation from an AMI Montessori trainer who has personal knowledge of the applicant’s alignment with the aforementioned criteria for selection. 

Joen working with primary teachers in training

With this inaugural grant from the Joen Bettmann Primary Training of Trainers Fund, we celebrate her contributions to the Montessori community and hope to further our shared mission.

We welcome additional donations to the Joen Bettmann Primary Trainers in Training Fund. These funds will help grow the fund, enabling MGGF to give additional and larger stipends in the future. Donors will know that they have helped expand the universe of Montessori teachers.

Please make your donation a monthly one, it will so help the fund grow faster.