Anders Benson

Job Title

Community & Kitchen Guide

How many total years have you worked in Montessori?

9

How many years have you worked at Compass?

This is my first year

Level of education and professional credentials

Associates degree in Culinary Arts

Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Administration

Masters Degree in Curriculum Development and Design, 

Montessori Adolescent Diploma from AMI. 

What is the most inspiring thing about working at Compass, with students and/or in Montessori?

I so appreciate the younger adolescent age group for their energy and enthusiasm to try new things and to do great work together. I also hugely appreciate Montessori because it is a real life application of all of the facts and knowledge that traditional schools tend to silo and make very dry in contrast. We also get to cross into other disciplines from time to time, which I also enjoy very much because I do that all the time in my life as well!

What is your favorite lesson in Montessori?

My favorite Montessori material is having the kitchen as part of the classroom. Not only do students get to learn the fundamentals of working in an industrial kitchen space, which prepares them for any job in that industry, but it also puts a real life context for all of the scientific facts and concepts that are needed to both understand the universe and how to be a great cook!

How were you introduced to the world of Montessori? 

I was searching for a New path from working in the restaurant industry and realized that being an educator not only gave me a greater impact of my work but that Montessori education was such a great application of real life skills towards an educational program.

Fun fact - If we held a staff talent show, I'd wow everyone with my talent doing.....fill in the blank! 

Something musically related, usually with a twist.

List one passion you have outside of work

I absolutely love to garden, including keeping a small flock of ducks!