When It Comes to Colorado Montessori, James Walton Is Calling the $hots
James Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, has taken a liking to Montessori schools in Colorado.
On September 28, 2016, the Walton Family Foundation via the Chronicle of Philanthropy began advertising for an education director for the Colorado-based “James Walton Fund.”
Below is how the ed director job ad presents James Walton’s involvement in Montessori in Colorado:
As an engineering undergraduate at Colorado School of Mines, James regularly volunteered with local schools, working directly with students. One day, he walked into a Montessori charter school that had been a previous WFF grant recipient. Observing a group of children independently engaged in learning within a structured environment, it occurred to him:
- This seems to be a unique and important way of helping children succeed
- Why is this school model wildly underrepresented within the public school system?
Since that moment, James has devoted his time and his investments to better understanding child-centered approaches. He has worked on the ground as a Montessori high school apprentice and dedicated observer. He started a Montessori teacher-training center. His grants have expanded beyond Montessori to organizations and research that serve students in aWhen It Comes to Colorado Montessori, James Walton Is Calling the $hots | deutsch29: