Leslie Stanley

Director of The Center for the Study for the Advancement of Individualized Learning (SAIL Center)

What’s one Montessori principle that really resonates with you?

I really love Maria Montessori's quote, “The first step is self-preparation of the imagination, for the Montessori teacher has to visualize a child who is not yet there, materially speaking, and must have faith in the child who will reveal himself through work.” As an educator and observer, nothing gives me greater joy that seeing a student transform into the best version of themselves because a teacher first saw who they would become

What’s one of your favorite memories from your time at RMS?

I have the privilege of witnessing and tracking a multitude of successes and achievements in each classroom and partnering with a extremely talented and devoted group of educators

What’s something about RMS that you think makes it special?

We would go to the ends of the earth for our students and also realize when putting the students needs first means that they may be better served outside of our community

What’s one thing about working with children that continues to surprise you?

I am constantly impressed by students' compassion and abilities to embrace differences-adapting to each students needs and personality. They are also really skilled at agency and letting a peer know when they have crossed a boundary or broken a norm in the class

If you were a cartoon character, what would your signature catchphrase be?

“Interesting. What is this behavior telling us?”