Kanban for School Administration: How The Montessori School of the Berkshires Enhanced its Efficiency

Dedicated to realizing their vision of helping children develop into well-rounded, self-disciplined, and self-assured individuals, the administration of The Montessori School of the Berkshires, as led by their school head, Todd Covert, jumpstarted their Kanban journey towards a more efficient and more productive school operation.

In this blog, we will explore the journey of The Montessori School of the Berkshires, which Todd and his wife, Meagan Ledendecker, founded in 2006. We will also dive into how Kanban Zone played a role in improving its current school administration. Find out how Berkshire Montessori operates as it serves children from toddler age through eighth grade, providing a unique educational experience based on Montessori principles.

About The Montessori School of the Berkshires

The Montessori School of the Berkshires currently has approximately 130+ students enrolled, ranging from 15 months to eighth grade. This diverse age range allows us to foster a community where children can learn from one another and grow together.

Berkshire Montessori’s dedicated team consists of about 26 full-time employees, including:

• Lead Teachers: Trained in Montessori philosophy, they guide the students through their educational journey.
• Classroom Assistants: Each classroom is supported by assistants who help facilitate learning.
• Administrators: Manages the school’s operations and supports the school’s educational mission.

The Montessori School of the Berkshires takes pride in being the only Montessori school in the Berkshires, located in the extreme western part of Massachusetts. This unique position allows this educational institution to serve a community eager for Montessori education, which has been established for over 100 years.

The inspiration for The Montessori School of the Berkshires came from Todd’s wife’s background, who grew up attending a Montessori school run by her parents in Tennessee. After the birth of their first daughter in 2003, Todd and his wife began to explore the possibility of bringing Montessori education to their area. They connected with like-minded individuals who shared their vision, which led to the establishment of their school.

The Journey Towards Integrating Kanban in the School Operations

Todd Covert implemented the Kanban method at The Montessori School of the Berkshires to enhance the school’s administrative operations and improve communication among staff. 

When asked why he decided to use Kanban, he elaborated, “I’m a big systems thinker. Always have been. As far as a social style, I’m an analytic, so I’m the kind of person who could think all day about something and not really do anything about it. I could fall into the problem area of paralysis by analysis. So for me personally, the idea around Kanban, and therefore Kanban Zone, is being able to map out and make things visual for myself, as opposed to keeping things in my head, swirling around.”

By utilizing Kanban, Todd could visualize tasks and projects, allowing him to map out workflows and make the process more transparent for his team. This visual approach helped him organize his thoughts and enabled his colleagues to understand his perspective and contribute more effectively to the decision-making process.

Another significant benefit of Kanban was promoting shared leadership within the school. Todd noted that the Kanban system encouraged staff members to take ownership of their responsibilities, breaking down traditional hierarchical structures. This shift allowed for greater collaboration and communication among the administrative team, as they could easily see what others were working on and where they might need support. Todd found that this approach reduced the need for micromanagement, as team members felt empowered to manage their tasks and seek assistance when necessary.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kanban method proved invaluable for navigating uncertainty. Todd and his administrative team used Kanban to map out their strategies and communicate the school’s plans effectively with parents and staff. Through this transparent method of communication, they established trust within the community. Families appreciated being informed about the school’s operations during such a challenging time. 

Using Kanban Zone and integrating Kanban into Berkshire Montessori’s management practices has helped foster a more collaborative, transparent, and responsive educational environment.

Kanban Zone can help school administrators manage their diverse responsibilities more efficiently. Organize workflows and stay on track with all the moving parts in your educational system with Kanban Zone’s flexible visual platform so you can ensure that everything from student support to employee onboarding is managed efficiently. Learn more about Kanban Zone’s solutions:

• For school districts
• For schools
• For teachers

Integrating Kanban Zone into the School’s Workflow

To improve the school administration’s workflow, Todd shares that they utilized Kanban Zone to create a strategy-to-tactics board that helps them break down their organizational goals and objectives into more manageable pieces. This board allows the administrators to visualize the flow of tasks, delineating specific tactics for the board and administrative actions. 

“For instance, if we’re talking about fundraising and we get down to our annual fund, which is something that’s happening now and it’s in progress, then that would be mirrored on my advancement director’s board,” Todd explains. This helps ensure that everyone is aligned and aware of their responsibilities.

Top Features of Kanban Zone According to Todd

Todd found these three features of Kanban Zone to be of great value:

1. Flexibility: Kanban Zone provides a highly adaptable platform allowing users to utilize some basic Kanban templates or create custom boards tailored to specific needs. This flexibility is crucial for managing various workflows effectively.
2. Customizable Workflow Tracking: The ability to create personalized boards is a standout feature. Todd shares how their admissions director designed a Kanban board to help track prospective families from inquiry to receiving their enrollment contract. This customization enables users to monitor specific processes and gain insights into different categories, helping them identify the number of families they cater to in the school.
3. Enhanced Reporting and Communication: The Montessori School of the Berkshires started using Kanban Zone with their board of trustees, designing a board that creates a strategy for tactics flow. This helped improve their approach to reporting ongoing initiatives, moving away from traditional text-based updates and ensuring that everyone involved understands the current status of projects.

The School’s Impact on the Community

Over the years, The Montessori School of the Berkshires has received positive feedback from the community. Many of the school’s graduates have succeeded in high school and college, while the other former students now thrive in the workforce. The school has become a vital part of the local educational landscape.

Conclusion

As The Montessori School of the Berkshires continues to grow and adapt, its administration remains committed to providing a high-quality Montessori education that nurtures the whole child. Its journey is a testament to the power of community and the enduring value of Montessori principles.

With the integration of Kanban Zone into its daily operations, Todd and his team of school administrators and educators are continuously working hard to provide quality education to its students.

Find out more about how Kanban Zone empowers the administration of The Montessori School of the Berkshires to manage its daily operations efficiently.