Kitty Bravo
Interim Head Of school
Like many educators, Kitty had aspirations of becoming a teacher from the time she was a young child. As a teenager she was introduced to Montessori and received my Primary Montessori teaching certificate at the age of 20. In 1984, she founded NewGate, a small school on an organic farm in Sarasota, Florida. She and her husband, grew children and vegetables, teaching environmental responsibility and healthy living long before anyone considered the idea of “green schools.” While no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the school, she remains a member of the Board of Trustees and notes that it has been heartwarming to watch the school grow from the original five pre-school children to now serving children 18 months through high school.
In 1998 Kitty got her first opportunity to work in teacher education with The Center for Montessori Teacher Education in North Carolina. She served as an instructor and field consultant for several years. During this time visited more classrooms than she can count, supporting and evaluating interns. While observing so many different Montessori schools, she kept looking for the secret that makes Montessori magical in some classrooms and not so much in others. What emerged was an understanding of the importance of a well-prepared environment, the establishment of a positive classroom culture, and a beautiful balance of freedom and responsibility. She realized that making these concepts real in one’s classroom is essential and became committed to supporting teachers move from the abstract of ideology to the concrete and practical application of Montessori principles in their everyday classrooms.
Her experience with teacher education took an unexpected turn in 2006 when asked to participate in the development of the Center For Guided Montessori Studies, CGMS, an innovative teacher education program, blending internet-based distance learning and traditional face-to face Montessori training. In 2009, CGMS became the first blended learning Montessori teacher education program to receive accreditation from The Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, MACTE. Over the past 20 years, Kitty has worked with her partners and faculty to expand from the initial Early Childhood credential to develop the Elementary, Infant –Toddler, and Secondary levels of teacher training and the School Leadership/Administrators Credential Program. Kitty recived the MACTE Wisdom of the Elders award in 2017 and was honored with the MACTE Innovation Award in 2021.
Kitty continues to serve as Director of Education for CGMS, working with a very talented team of faculty and administrators who manage the day to day operations, providing her time to expand her work beyond CGMS to support other Montessori initiatives. This has included in person consulting and teacher training in India and China as well as virtual conferences, workshops, and coaching worldwide.
Kitty has also experienced Montessori from a variety of perspectives having worked with newly established schools, large and small private schools, as well as working with Montessori public magnet and charter schools.
Serving as a board member for The International Montessori Council (IMC) and Sarasota University, Kitty works collaboratively with fellow educational leaders to encourage transformational learning opportunities for both children and adults.
Kitty lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with her husband and little dog Bea. She enjoys traveling, Tai Chi, reading, music, scrabble, and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.