Montessori Living Legend nomination shines spotlight on Central Coast

Central Coast Montessori has announced that Principal Dimitri Nicolaou has been nominated for Montessori Australia’s prestigious Living Legend award, to be conferred at the Montessori Australia International Convention and Recognition Gala in Sydney on Saturday, November 1.

Nicolaou has spent decades immersed in Montessori education – not as a side interest or career stepping stone, but as a life’s path.

Trained in Dublin, Ireland and later Bergamo, Italy, he brought authentic Montessori education to the Central Coast in 2007, beginning with a preschool and the belief of a handful of committed families.

With just $40,000 and the support of eight parents, he later established a Montessori primary school, filling a gap in genuine provision between Sydney and Newcastle.

Today that vision has grown into a thriving learning community with campuses at Wamberal and Bateau Bay and further plans for a Montessori secondary school.

Central Coast Montessori has also pioneered an innovative eight-term calendar, Rhythm Re-imagined.

This approach replaces long, draining terms with shorter cycles and regular ‘rest and reflection’ breaks.

The result is calmer classrooms, higher engagement, fewer absences, and healthier family rhythms – a model increasingly recognised as a powerful alternative to the traditional four-term year.

While Nicolaou remains characteristically modest about the nomination, the recognition highlights nearly two decades of transformative leadership.

“For me, success is not measured in accolades but in a community where children grow in independence, adaptability and self-worth – supported by strong family connections and a dedicated team of educators,” he said.

The Montessori Australia International Convention brings together educators, thought leaders, and Montessori communities from across Australia and the world.

To have Central Coast Montessori represented at this level is a testament to the community’s place in the broader Montessori movement and to the strength of its vision for children and families.

This nomination is, above all, a tribute to Maria Montessori’s enduring philosophy – a method developed more than a century ago that is proving more relevant than ever in today’s rapidly changing world.