Barry’s Montessori MS and EdS programs have long been a staple of the Adrian Dominican School of Education’s (ADSOE) program offerings. Since naming a new director in July 2014, the program has continued its drive to excellence.
Alan S. Koesten, ADSOE’s director of Montessori programs, assumed his new role on July 1. Koesten brings more than 20 years of teaching experience to his position. Prior to joining the University, Koesten taught in both public and private Montessori schools and served as the head of atMarware Montessori Academy in Hollywood, Fla.
Koesten earned an MS in Montessori education from Barry and a BS in elementary education from Nova Southeastern. He holds a Montessori credential at the Elementary I-II (6-12 years old) level, as well as State of Florida certifications in Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education, Gifted and English for Speakers of Other Languages. He is currently in the dissertation phase of his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, with an anticipated completion of May 2015.
Since joining the ADSOE team, Koesten has been integral in preparing Barry to host the Andrew and Dora McGhee Montessori Foundation (ADMMF) in January 2015. A well-established local conference with a loyal following, the event is an opportunity to demonstrate the quality and success of Barry’s Montessori program. Last year’s conference was attended by more than 500 people.
In addition to his work on with the ADMMF conference, Koesten visited China in July, where he made a presentation to a group of prospective students due to arrive in June 2015. The students will be attending Barry to complete their master’s degrees in Montessori education with a specialization in early childhood education.
Koesten is also in the process of leading Barry’s Montessori program though its reaccreditation with the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). Required by all accredited Montessori programs, reaccreditation occurs every seven years and will culminate with a site visit in the spring of 2015.
The Montessori programs have a long history at Barry. The Elementary Program was established in 1991 and accredited by MACTE in 1993. The Early Childhood program was established in 1993 and accredited in 1995. Both programs (at the M.S. and Ed.S. levels) were re-accredited by MACTE in fall of 2007. Barry University is still the only institution of higher learning in the State of Florida with Montessori Graduate programs and was the first university based program established in the Southeastern United States.