Hi, I’m Dana Anderson, a Montessori guide, kids digital content advisor, and author. I work with schools, teacher training programs, tech companies, and nonprofits to make kids and teens digital lives better through high-quality content and Digital Citizenship curriculum.
My passion is supporting kids, teens and educators to experience the best in education, tech, nature, and healthy living. I hope this blog will serve as a place for me to connect with others who share these same passions (one or more!), and to share what I’ve learned throughout the last 40+ years of deep study and practice.
I also hope to eventually house a podcast here. (Stay tuned to the Champions of Childhood page!) As I travel around the country speaking at conferences to school administrators, parents, students, and fellow teachers, I have met so many people doing incredible work and with innovative ideas on how to improve education and the world for and with kids and teens. My hope is to add their voices and ideas through the podcast here, too.
As a former journalist and author, I authored The Complete Idiots’ Guide to Vegan Eating for Kids in honor of my three children, and my writing has appeared in dozens of publications. I’ve also worked as a developmental editor on many books. I speak and advise on issues related to youth digital well-being, Digital Citizenship, AI use, bullying, and the importance of bringing balance to students’ and educators’ lives through hands-on work, nature, and shared storytelling.
Currently, I am serving on the nonprofit boards of The Thinking Project, The McKnight Endowment for Neuroscience, and The McKnight Foundation, and also as a mentor to Montessori guides teaching children with special learning needs. I’m an avid nature and animal lover, an experienced vegan cook and baker, and a fledgling rock climber.
Education
- AMS-certified Primary and Elementary levels
- AMS Adolescent certification (in progress)
- Two-time fellow in the American Montessori Society’s Innovation Fellowship Think Tank
- Fellowship in Media Leadership, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies
- University of Minnesota, BA
- Northwestern University, MS