Nature School of Central Indiana head awarded Lilly grant

LAWRENCE, Ind. — Meagan Messuri, Head of Instruction at The Nature School of Central Indiana, has been honored with the prestigious Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant from the Lilly Endowment. This grant will fund her transformative journey to explore the life and teachings of Maria Montessori in Italy, London, and Amsterdam.

Each year in Indiana, educators have the opportunity to submit proposals for the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program, an initiative by Lilly Endowment designed to revitalize and invigorate teachers and school staff. Around 100 educators are selected annually from thousands of applications. Meagan Messuri stands out as one of this year's distinguished awardees, chosen for her proposal, "Following Her Footsteps to Find My Own."

“Following Her Footsteps to Find My Own” is a journey inspired by Maria Montessori's life. Meagan discovered a Montessori Routes Tour in Italy that goes back to Maria Montessori’s birthplace, home and first school. She decided to expand the trip to find her own footsteps alongside Maria’s in hopes to rekindle her spirit within Montessori education and further her knowledge of Montessori pedagogy.

Meagan will travel to Italy, London, and the Netherlands for 36 days this upcoming summer and fall. In the summer, she will travel to Italy to learn about the beginning of Maria’s life, the roots of Montessori teaching, and visit Maria’s first school.

In October, Meagan will continue her expedition in London and the Netherlands, tracing the integration of Montessori practices and the final years of Maria's life.

As an integral part of her rejuvenating experience, Meagan will tour exquisite nature destinations along her path, including the Villa Borghese Gardens and Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Embracing diverse modes of travel, from boats to trains, she aims to connect with nature in various settings. Throughout her 36-day journey, Meagan will diligently document her experiences in a reflective journal.

In her proposal, Meagan shared, “This spiritual preparation journey will not only allow me to find meaningful moments along the way and provide extreme rejuvenation; but it will also allow me to connect with my heart and in turn, create a more peaceful school and nurture the lives of the children I see each and every day for many years to come.”

Meagan graduated from Indiana University in 2012 and shortly after moved to California to receive Montessori training for two years. After training, she moved back to Indiana and has taught and connected with many families at multiple Montessori schools over the years.  Meagan is currently the Head of Instruction at The Nature School of Central Indiana, a nature-based Montessori School, that she played a pivotal role in developing, leading to its opening in 2021.

Caitlin Hicks, Assistant Director of Graduation Pathways and Compliance from Education One, The Nature School of Central Indiana’s charter authorizer, shared, “Congratulations to  Meagan Messuri on this remarkable achievement. Meagan will have a positive impact from her enriched experience on her school community and beyond.”