PDMC Lead Practitioner’s Course
Develop the skills to support, strengthen, and sustain PDMC practice throughout your school community.
The PDMC Lead Practitioner’s Course is an advanced program for experienced Montessori educators and school leaders who want to support the implementation of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom (PDMC) at a whole-school level.
Trusted by Leading Montessori Schools & Educational Organizations
From Classroom Practice to School-Wide Impact
Support and Empower Teachers
Lead Practitioners learn to support teachers through observation, child study, coaching, facilitation, and ongoing staff development—helping schools develop greater consistency and depth in their PDMC practice and sustain that practice over time.
Building PDMC Capacity From Within
The goal of the Lead Practitioner program is not simply to develop more knowledgeable individual practitioners. It is to help schools develop the internal capacity to sustain the work.
Lead Practitioners become a resource within their own communities—helping colleagues observe, reflect, problem-solve, and continue developing their practice so that PDMC becomes an increasingly consistent part of the school’s culture.
A Resource for Your School Community
Part I: Course & Designation Training
Sixteen weekly, 90-minute live sessions provide advanced study and practical preparation in four primary areas:
Advanced PDMC Practice & Child Study
Take a deeper dive into Adlerian theory and its application to individual children. Learn to facilitate collaborative PDMC child studies that help faculty develop a common language and approach to observation, responses, and monitoring progress.
Observation Through a PDMC Lens
Develop the skills to observe classrooms and provide useful support to teachers. We will focus on observing class meetings, child and group dynamics, and elements of the classroom environment that support effective PDMC implementation.
Coaching the PDMC Way
Learn to use established Positive Discipline principles and coaching strategies to support colleagues and build collaborative relationships. We’ll explore strengths-based coaching using Top Card, facilitation of staff and level meetings using democratic processes, and the sometimes-conflicting roles of supervisor and coach. We’ll also explore a collaborative process for supporting children with learning differences and disabilities.
Teaching & Sustaining PDMC
Learn how to help PDMC become part of the ongoing culture of your school. Participants will prepare to onboard new staff through PDMC Basics and book studies, provide ongoing staff development, share PDMC principles and practices with your school community, and develop the facilitation and presentation skills needed to sustain PDMC through staff transitions and change.
Part II: Cohort Mentoring & Implementation
Learning to support others takes practice. After completing the classroom portion of the program, participants reconvene as they begin applying their Lead Practitioner skills in their own schools.
Mentoring sessions provide opportunities for peer collaboration, problem-solving real school situations, feedback, reflection, and continued support.
What You’ll Be Prepared to Do
By the end of the program, Lead Practitioners will be prepared to:
Facilitate collaborative PDMC child studies
Observe classrooms through a PDMC lens and provide constructive support
Strengthen class meeting implementation
Help faculty develop consistent approaches to interactions, misbehavior, student support, and classroom procedures
Use strengths-based coaching strategies to support colleagues
Facilitate collaborative staff and level meetings
Onboard new staff in PDMC Basics and facilitate PDMC book studies
Share selected PDMC principles and practices with your school community
Help sustain consistent PDMC practice through staff transitions
Recognition & Scope
The PDMC Lead Practitioner Designation
Participants who successfully complete the program requirements will receive the designation:
PDMC Lead Practitioner
The designation recognizes advanced preparation to support and sustain PDMC within the participant’s own school or organization.
Lead Practitioners may support colleagues through coaching, observation, child study, staff onboarding, facilitation, and ongoing PDMC support within their organization.
Important scope limitation: The Lead Practitioner designation does not authorize participants to offer PDMC courses, workshops, or training to educators outside their own school or organization.
Prerequisites
The Lead Practitioner program is designed for experienced practitioners who are ready to move from implementing PDMC in their own practice to helping support its consistent implementation across a school community.
A Note About Advanced Practitioner Level 2
Because the Advanced Practitioner’s Class is a new addition to the PDMC pathway, Level 2 content is currently being incorporated into the Lead Practitioner’s Course itself. In future cohorts, the Advanced Practitioner’s Class will be required before beginning the Lead Practitioner program.
Applicant Requirements
Applicants should have the following experience and qualifications:
Next Cohort Beginning September 2027
The first regular cohort of the PDMC Lead Practitioner’s Course will begin in September 2027.
Admission is by application to help ensure that participants have the PDMC experience and school-based implementation experience needed to benefit from the program.
Applications are reviewed to assess readiness for the program.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Complete the form below to express your interest in the PDMC Lead Practitioner’s Course.
Tell us about your PDMC experience and professional background so we can learn more about your readiness for the program. We look forward to learning about your work and your commitment to strengthening PDMC in your school community.
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