Aline D. Wolf
Author and Founder

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Jennifer Howard
When I Make Silence

Jennifer Howard is an artist, writer, Montessori Toddler teacher and mother of three sons. When I Make Silence was written to assist teachers and parents in nurturing their children's need for a silent time of reflection. Jennifer wrote this book while teaching in a Primary class at Cornerspring Montessori, a non-profit school located in mid-coast Maine. 

Joanne Alex
I Wonder What's Out There

Joanne is a cum laude graduate of Colby College and received a Master of Education degree in Environmental Science Education from the University of Maine.  After earning her diploma from the St. Nicholas Training Centre for the Montessori Method of Education, she was certified by the American Montessori Society.  With her husband, Joe, she founded the Stillwater Montessori School in Old Town, Maine in 1983, where she is currently the head teacher and education director.

Joanne, Joe, and their three children have long been active in the Children’s International Summer Village program where they interact every year with children from foreign countries.

Michael and D'Neil Duffy
Children of the Universe, Cosmic Education in The Montessori Elementary Classroom

Michael and D'Neil Duffy have been involved in Montessori Education for almost 30 years, since their daughter entered a New York Montessori School at age 2 1/2. D'Neil, who had been a teacher in the traditional public and private schools for 12 years, fell in love with the Montessori method and philosophy. She took her AMI primary level training in Atlanta. After teaching in other schools for several years, she founded the Blackstock Montessori in Villa Rica, GA., in 1979 and went on to take her 6-12 elementary training at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York. D'Neil has taught at every level except toddler and was the administrator of Blackstock Montessori for 21 years.

Michael, who had been a journalist by profession, took the 6-12 elementary training at CMTE/NY and joined the Blackstock Montessori School in 1989, teaching in the lower, then upper elementary classes. Both became trainers in the teacher training program at CMTE/NY, an American Montessori affiliated program, and D'Neil currently coordinates satellite programs in Phoenix and Toronto. The Duffys have also given workshops at national and international Montessori conferences and their work has been published in Montessori magazines.

In addition to their Montessori credentials, both have a masters degree in education, D'Neil with a specialty in Guidance and Counseling, and Michael with a specialty in Media Education. They retired from Blackstock in 2001 to devote more of their time to teacher training with CMTC/NY and they have moved to the mountains of Virginia to be closer to their first grandchild.

Alicia Jewell lives in Northern Michigan and works as an elementary Montessori teacher.  She began her work in a Montessori classroom with three years serving 3-6 year old children, who inspired the vignettes and illustration of this book.

All the children who have never had an opportunity to work with Joe Servello can now enjoy a variety of art projects under his delightful guidance.  Although Joe has taught both art and drama to children for many years, this is the first book he has written to share his many creative ideas with those outside of his classes.

Joe has illustrated over sixty books, many of them for children.  Besides illustrations, his accomplishments include acrylic and watercolor paintings, woodcuts, murals, sculpture, graphic design, stage design, play directing, and acting.  (He once had the lead in an off-Broadway play).

His art is in many private and public collections, and his murals can be seen in several cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Altoona and State College, PA. 

An Art Education graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Joe Sevello now teaches drawing at his alma mater.  From his home in Altoona, PA, he continues to work with children through the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts.