Dear SPMA Community~

Clark Montessori High School in Cincinnati, Ohio USA is one of six finalists in President Barack Obama’s Commencement Challenge to have President Obama speak at their graduation ceremonies.

Voting is now open, and we all have the opportunity to lend our support of the school, which will be an honor both for Clark and for the larger Montessori community.

We have received hundreds of emails in support and two critical. One was opposed because of the sender’s disagreement with the President over key issues, another expressed reluctance to vote for a school sight unseen just because it was “Montessori.”

Both are legitimate issues. Personally, I know the school, and wish to honor the Presidential office, regardless of whether I agree with the current President.

In my mind, both knowing the school and recognizing the honor and public recognition brought by Clark Montessori High School’s selection are more than enough for me to lend my support.

To vote:

1. Log onto the White House’s Web site: www.whitehouse.gov/commencement
2. View films (and read short statements) from each of the finalists
3. Follow the directions for rating the schools according to how well they meet the specified challenge criteria
4. The ability to rate videos will end at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Congratulations to the students and faculty of Clark for having gotten this far in the nation-wide competition.In order for a school to win, the school’s video must generate the highest number of votes from members of the public. Therefore, the school needs as much help as possible to ensure that Clark is the winner.

The Montessori Foundation and the International Montessori Council join with the American Montessori Society in urging all of our members, and everyone we can reach, to vote next week. We are confident that each of the other US based national and regional Montessori organizations, as well as our fellow international Montessori organizations either have or will join in lending their enthusiastic support as well.

Tim Seldin
President, The Montessori Foundation
Chair, The International Montessori Council
19600 State Road 64 East
Bradenton, FL 34212-8921
941-729-9565 · 941-745-3111 (fax)