Montessorian of the Year 2008

The MSA are delighted to announce that the title of Montessorian of the Year 2008 has been awarded to Wendy Compson of Cherry Trees Montessori School in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Wendy founded Cherry Trees in 1982 her home with just two children. Since then the school has gone from strength to strength and there are now 100 pupils based in a purpose built environment. Wendy is committed to maintaining the Montessori ethos and is a highly active member of the wider Montessori community. She has forged links in Austria and France and has a long standing exchange programme with a school in Normandy, France.

Having recently taken a post graduate degree in Environmental Studies, Wendy has developed this commitment to the outdoor environment at the school and often gives up weekends to travel to other schools and nurseries to present workshops on this issue.

Wendy was presented with her award by the MSAs National Chairman, Dr Martin Bradley, at the MSAs National Conference in Oxford on 11th October 2008. Martin read out a nomination received from a parent at Wendys school which showed the high regard in which she is held. An attendee at a MSA Region 9 training day held at Wendys school, the enthusiastic mother had returned to her husband and announced that they were moving the entire family to Suffolk as it would be unforgivable to know that a school like that existed and not give our children the chance to experience it. Several months later, after moving house and jobs, her children were pupils at Cherry Trees.

Someone asked me recently what I considered as my most memorable day. I answered Getting my degree seven years ago and my wedding day but today this runs them both very close said Wendy as she accepted her award.

She went on to say that she felt the MSA was more professional than it had ever been and was sure that there was a twinkle in Maria Montessoris eyes as she looked down on the children at Cherry Trees especially as the school had recently been awarded MEAB Accreditation.