Staff Spotlight: Cody Murnen
𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟? 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫
𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬.
I was born and raised in Toledo, OH, and graduated from the University of Toledo with a BS in Environmental Science. During college, I became very passionate about the outdoors as well as sustainable agriculture. Upon graduation, I moved to California to travel and learn more about farming. My interests in education grew while spending time on farms and learning more about the outdoor lifestyle. I ended up back in school for a MA in Curriculum and Planning from the University of the Pacific. The more I taught, the less I wanted to be indoors doing it, so I began researching Outdoor Education. I found out about a unique outdoor school called Sienna Ranch and began working there as a nature instructor and woodshop coordinator. After many amazing years in California, I decided to move back to Ohio to begin a 1-acre farming project. Instead of flying or driving home, I ended up riding my bicycle the whole way back. Since returning, Montessori education stood out as an ideal model of teaching. When I heard about the Lynn Fisher Outdoor Education Program I knew exactly where I wanted to be. When I'm not adventuring in the woods with West Side students I enjoy sand volleyball, biking, kayaking, gardening, and cooking. My dreams revolve around traveling and outdoor adventures.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞?
"There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and beauty in nature... so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates" from The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
The lessons I find most important to share with students are: to make wise and educated decisions, to stay physically and mentally strong, practice peace, and to treat the outdoors with respect and tenderness.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢?
Everything about the Montessori method is endearing. I believe all schools should emulate and model many of the Montessori practices and theories. Our students love coming to school because we make learning fun and engaging. I love seeing the Little House and Children's House students learning self-reliance and doing big work that builds fine motor skills. As students age up, they move into the Erkinder work, which is the perfect approach to show them real-world problems and give them the knowledge and skills they need to become mature teenagers. Plus, we have Outdoor Education, so we are automatically #1. :)
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞?
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𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬.
I was born and raised in Toledo, OH, and graduated from the University of Toledo with a BS in Environmental Science. During college, I became very passionate about the outdoors as well as sustainable agriculture. Upon graduation, I moved to California to travel and learn more about farming. My interests in education grew while spending time on farms and learning more about the outdoor lifestyle. I ended up back in school for a MA in Curriculum and Planning from the University of the Pacific. The more I taught, the less I wanted to be indoors doing it, so I began researching Outdoor Education. I found out about a unique outdoor school called Sienna Ranch and began working there as a nature instructor and woodshop coordinator. After many amazing years in California, I decided to move back to Ohio to begin a 1-acre farming project. Instead of flying or driving home, I ended up riding my bicycle the whole way back. Since returning, Montessori education stood out as an ideal model of teaching. When I heard about the Lynn Fisher Outdoor Education Program I knew exactly where I wanted to be. When I'm not adventuring in the woods with West Side students I enjoy sand volleyball, biking, kayaking, gardening, and cooking. My dreams revolve around traveling and outdoor adventures.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞?
"There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and beauty in nature... so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates" from The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
The lessons I find most important to share with students are: to make wise and educated decisions, to stay physically and mentally strong, practice peace, and to treat the outdoors with respect and tenderness.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢?
Everything about the Montessori method is endearing. I believe all schools should emulate and model many of the Montessori practices and theories. Our students love coming to school because we make learning fun and engaging. I love seeing the Little House and Children's House students learning self-reliance and doing big work that builds fine motor skills. As students age up, they move into the Erkinder work, which is the perfect approach to show them real-world problems and give them the knowledge and skills they need to become mature teenagers. Plus, we have Outdoor Education, so we are automatically #1. :)
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞?
I have observed and taught in a variety of schools throughout the US. West Side has one of the most unique and uplifting atmospheres I've ever experienced. The teachers and administration are all extraordinary people who pour their everything into each student that comes through the doors. I wish I had gone to school here, and I'm very grateful to have found this place. It is the coolest school.
Toledo Campus
Perrysburg Campus
West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.
WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.