elementeducation

03/18/2026

Community Montessori is Officially a 2026 California School to Watch
We are excited to share that Community Montessori has been named a 2026 California School to Watch!
This recognition highlights middle-grade schools that demonstrate:

✨ Academic Excellence
✨ Developmental Responsiveness
✨ Social Equity
✨ Strong, collaborative leadership

The Schools to Watch program identifies model schools across California that support the whole child and serve as examples of best practices for others statewide and nationally.

Being part of this network means we are not only recognized for our impact but also connected to a community of schools committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and student success.

This recognition reflects the dedication of our students, educators, and families who make our school such a special place every day. 💙

02/24/2026

Building Solutions Together

In this month’s Element Monthly Minute, we’re reflecting on our recent conversation with Positive Discipline founder Jane Nelsen and the powerful impact of teaching through dignity, respect, and solution-focused thinking.
Element Education schools are Positive Discipline Lab Schools, where these principles are lived daily in our classrooms through class meetings, mutual respect, and the belief that mistakes are opportunities to learn.

Our staff is formally trained in Positive Discipline practices, ensuring consistency and intentionality in how we guide students. We also extend this learning to families by offering a webinar series for parents in our learning community, creating a shared language and partnership between school and home. When children experience both kindness and firmness — and when adults model the same — they develop belonging, responsibility, and the confidence to truly find their element.

To learn more about the philosophy behind this work, be sure to check out the recent Element Is Everything podcast episode featuring Jane Nelsen, where she shares insights on fostering dignity, respect, and solution-focused problem-solving at home and in school.

Terri Novacek
Executive Director
Element Education
Read More Here:

https://conta.cc/4rlOOO7

02/12/2026

12/19/2025

Highlights from the 2025 Element Education Winter Collaboration Luncheon!

12/12/2025

✨ A big thank you to the Barona Education Grant Program for supporting Community Montessori.

We were recently honored to welcome Barona Chairman Raymond Welch and Assemblyman Carl DeMaio for a special presentation celebrating a generous grant, which will help provide valuable resources for our students and staff.

We are grateful for partners who invest in education and help us continue empowering learners to grow.

12/07/2025

🚨 New Podcast Episode: AI and Keeping Your Element Real

AI is everywhere, but are we helping kids use it wisely?

Terri speaks with Jeff Riley of Day of AI about AI safety, AI literacy, and how teachers and parents can keep kids learning authentic in a digital world.

🎧 Listen now + start one conversation at home:

https://www.elementiseverything.org/

🌟 Be sure to Check Out the Episode Challenge:

Visit the DayOfAI.org website.

Under the Teacher tab, open the Family Resources dropdown. Spend a little time exploring, but do not get overwhelmed by everything you could do. Choose one thing you will do to start a conversation in your family.

Then keep asking the human questions:
• What do I care about?
• What feels meaningful?
• What impact do I want to have?
AI can help you brainstorm. Only you can discover your element.

Subscribe to Element Is Everything at:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify

12/06/2025

New Episode! "AI and Keeping Your Element Real"

Jeff Riley shares his perspective on the good, the bad, and the possibilities of AI in K-12 education.

Jeff Riley shares his perspective on the good, the bad, and the possibilities of AI in K-12 education.

12/03/2025

New Episode! "Adventures in Self-Directed Learning with Blake Boles"

Terri dives into the topic of self-directed learning as Blake Boles shares his notion of consensual schooling, intensive parenting, hard fun, and the importance of peer groups.

Terri dives into the topic of self-directed learning as Blake Boles shares his notion of consensual schooling, intensive parenting, hard fun, and the importance of …

11/13/2025

🎧 New Podcast Episode: Blake Boles: The World I'd Like to Live In Pt. 2
🌿Terri continues the conversation on self-directed learning with Blake Boles — exploring what it really means to grow up in a world where learning is chosen, not forced.
They dive into:
✨ Consensual schooling
✨ The pressure of intensive parenting
✨ The joy of “hard fun”
✨ The power of peer groups
This episode is an invitation to rethink how young people learn, explore, and thrive.
🎧 Listen in and imagine a more adventurous, human-centered approach to education.
https://bit.ly/43wgK8F
Subscribe to the Element Is Everything Podcast!
🔹 Apple Podcasts
🔹 Spotify

11/11/2025

New Episode! "Blake Boles: The World I'd Like to Live In Pt. 2"

Terri continues the conversation of self-directed learning with Blake Boles as he shares his thoughts on consensual schooling, intensive parenting, hard fun, and the importance of peer groups.