Mount Pleasant Teacher in Finals for National Innovation Contest

A Montessori of Mount Pleasant teacher has been selected as a Top 10 Finalist for "America's Most Innovative Teacher," a title that opens the door for a possible $10,000 grant for the school if she educator emerges victorious.

Megan Nordoff, who leads a team of educators at Montessori of Mount Pleasant,
joins nine teachers from across the country in the www.Good.is "Great American Teach-Off" contest.

The site contains videos, photos and other biographic information about Nordoff and the other educators competing in the contest. See Nordoff's profile.

Voting begins Monday at 3 p.m. and runs through April 7, 2013. Participants are allowed to vote once per day until the contest concludes. Two teachers — a K-6 teacher and a 7-12 grade teacher — will win the $10,000 grant.

Nordoff earned entry into the contest because of her innovative practices.

She has invested in her training and understanding of child development by becoming certified in Montessori, Orton-Gillingham, Redirecting Childrens Behavior, RIE (www.rie.org) and Pikler, according to a school news release. She uses this knowledge and her 18 years of educational experience to mentor and guide the potential of her students.

"I believe good education is one built on a strong foundation valuing relationships and the preparation of the adult to follow the child," she said. "The child is wired to innovate and if we follow him, innovation will occur,” states Nordoff."

Known as Ms. Megan at the school, she's been a leader  at Mount Pleasant Montessori for 12 years. The school, located off Coleman Boulevard in the Old Village, was established in 1977.

Nordoff champions conservation, early literacy, relationship based schools, Slow-Food concepts, nature education, among other forward-thinking concepts.

She was key in the founding of a public charter school in 2003 and led construction of a Tipi along the marsh at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.

If she wins the $10,000 grant, Nordoff wants to establish a mobile farm extension to her classroom linking children with agriculture that she can share not only with her students, but also with those in neighboring schools.

The school is asking the community to vote online daily. The public can follow Nordoff's progress on Facebook.