School Choice hears from Janis Coffey, a highly experienced Montessori educator who was recently appointed principal of Melbourne Montessori College.
Janis Coffey is passionate about developing a genuine growth mindset in the young people she meets, supporting student independence, and building strong relationships — which makes her a perfect fit to lead Melbourne Montessori College (MMC) in 2026. Here, Janis shares some experiences and insights that have led her to where she is today.
What prompted you to want to become a teacher?I’ll be honest and admit that, initially, I didn’t want to become a teacher! My first position in education was as an assistant early learning educator at an early learning centre. One day the lead teacher sat me down and said, “You’re a teacher.” I said, “Oh, no, I’m happy with my role because if I can make a difference in a child’s day, that makes me happy.” I think my initial reluctance to teach was because I went to a traditional academic school and I didn’t feel it was a place where I could thrive or where my personal strengths were seen. That’s how I thought teachers were. But I eventually gave in, did my teaching degree, worked in different schools and when I discovered Montessori education, I knew it was exactly what I’d been looking for.
What do you most like about working in a school environment?I love building a strong curriculum and getting into the nitty gritty of working with students. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping young people to find their way in the world.
In your time as a principal, what are some key changes you’ve witnessed in education?Maria Montessori talked about some pretty wild ideas in education 100 years ago, and many of those ideas have since become mainstream. She talked about the importance of the student-teacher relationship and the way to teach literacy, which is recognised more now but is already embedded in Montessori. We’re learning more about the principles of wellbeing science to motivate students and to ensure they feel psychologically safe too, and that is already core to Montessori. I think the gap between Montessori and mainstream education is narrowing, but there is still a way to go.
What does a Montessori education do well?A Montessori education is core to who we are as a school. We’ve had two meta-analyses of Montessori education published in the past few years that clearly show Montessori students outperform their peers in literacy and numeracy — critically important areas — and have higher levels of engagement and enjoyment at school. When students leave MMC, they go into the world with a deep understanding of who they are and they know they have the skills to navigate whatever they face during their lifetime.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?Montessori teachers refer to themselves as guides and Maria Montessori said the ultimate goal of a teacher is that if they were to step out of the classroom, the children continue to work and collaborate and learn as if the teacher was still there. I see my role in a similar way. I’m here to support the whole of MMC and when the school flourishes and when staff and students are engaged and happy, that’s what I find rewarding.
What’s your motto for running a successful and thriving school?A school is a village working together to support each child’s development and learning.
What are your hopes for the future of MMC?I’d love to have environments that are purpose-built and purpose-fit for a progressive Montessori education. One project is about to commence — we’ll have a food technology centre for students where they can grow their own food, cook and sell their products to the community. I’m also looking forward to creating more possibilities for students to make their own decisions and to increase their independence too, because that’s critical for a flourishing school.