Our Story
Our story began about 30 years ago in a Montessori training course. Susan Tracy McDaniel was the instructor, and Susan MacMillan, who had a young toddler at home, was her eager student! What started as a mentor-mentee relationship quickly grew into a deep friendship and shared vision for making Montessori guidance more accessible to families and educators everywhere.
Together, we blend decades of Montessori experience with creativity, humor, and heart. We believe parent/teacher education shouldn’t feel intimidating or one-size-fits-all. Rather, it should feel like a conversation with someone who gets it, someone who’s been there, who listens, and who can guide you through the noise with calm, clarity, and kindness.
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Our Shared Work
Susan MacMillan
Managing Partner
Susan MacMillan is a 0–3 AMS-certified Montessori educator and mother with a deep respect for how both children and adults learn. Her work with Montessori focused on parent-child and toddler programs where she supported both children and their families. She ran her Montessori infant/toddler materials business, Little Red Robin, for several years. Later, her focus shifted to adult learning, where she created learning experiences and programs in the corporate space. She believes deeply that the Montessori approach to parenting can be transformative for children and empowering for the parents raising them, and now spends all her time creating engaging, real-world learning experiences for Montessori parents and educators.
Susan Tracy McDaniel
Lead Educator
Susan Tracy McDaniel is 0-3 certified with AMS and AMI. She has spent over 35 years in the Montessori world, raising five children the Montessori way and teaching parents and educators around the globe. From classrooms to conferences, homeless shelters to Native American communities, her warmth and wisdom have touched countless lives. She’s also a certified EFT (“tapping”) practitioner and relaxation specialist. For 25 years, Susan ran Learning Together Education, supporting both parents and Montessori educators. Today, she brings all her insight, humor, and heart to The Montessori Group, where she continues to inspire others to slow down, observe, and truly see the child in front of them.
Our Mission
Supporting the adults who guide young children helps create the conditions for children to thrive.
Parents
We support parents in understanding their children and bringing Montessori principles into everyday family life in ways that feel practical and achievable. Through thoughtful guidance, learning opportunities, and useful resources, we help parents create environments and experiences that foster independence, confidence, curiosity, and a growing sense of capability.
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At the heart of our work is respect for the child and trust in their natural drive to learn, develop, and participate in the life of the family. By helping parents observe more closely, understand development, and recognize when to guide and when to step back, we aim to make Montessori not just something parents know about, but something they can genuinely live.
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Educators
We support Montessori educators with practical learning, thoughtful resources, and guidance designed to strengthen their work with both children and families. Our goal is to help educators deepen their understanding of Montessori principles, build confidence in their practice, and develop the knowledge and skills to create meaningful learning experiences and stronger partnerships with parents.
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We believe supporting the educator ultimately supports the child. By giving educators opportunities to continue learning, reflect on their practice, and feel supported in the challenges of their work, we help create environments where both children and the adults who guide them can thrive.