My name is Nicolas Lepine, and I have been involved with Montessori my whole life, from student to teacher. My educational background, Montessori experience, and athletic history have given me a unique insight into creating fun and engaging Montessori PE lessons.
Background
Attended Rogers Park Montessori (Chicago) for kindergarten
In grade school and high school played: basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, track and field, soccer, swimming, tae kwon do, fencing, and gymnastics
Competitive powerlifter for close to two decades
B.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign
Personal Trainer for four years with the Campus Recreation Department
Helped publish research on arterial stiffness and exercise
Led group strength and conditioning classes for elderly subjects for research on the effects of exercise on mental cognition and memory
M.A.Ed. and AMS certificate 6-12 from St. Catherine's University
Action research was on the effects of integrating PE with the classroom curriculum
Co-head teacher in a Montessori upper elementary classroom for seven years (thirteen years of classroom experience) at Rogers Park Montessori
Currently Athletic Director and PE instructor (six years experience)
Currently coaching basketball (twelve years), volleyball (four years), cross country (four years), and track and field (four years)
Published in Tomorrow’s Child Magazine
Presentation history:
2023 Montessori Family Alliance Webinar
“Physical Wellness Part 3 - The Activities We Do
2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 AIMS (Association of Illinois Montessori Schools) conference
2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023 WMA conference (Wisconsin Montessori Association)
2021 18th World Education Summit, Early Childhood Education panelist
2020 Guidepost Montessori Webinar
Elementary Learning with Physical Activity at Home is Possible; Here’s How
2019 Training Seminars Montessori Inštitut Ljubljana, Slovenia
