Development of the TEACH Study: A Culturally Responsive Nutrition Intervention Program for Montessori Teachers
Article
Vitale, N, Martinez, SS, Palacios, C et al. (2025). Development of the TEACH Study: A Culturally Responsive Nutrition Intervention Program for Montessori Teachers
. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR, 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.09.004
Vitale, N, Martinez, SS, Palacios, C et al. (2025). Development of the TEACH Study: A Culturally Responsive Nutrition Intervention Program for Montessori Teachers
. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR, 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.09.004
Objective: To describe the intervention and research methods of the Teacher Education and Classroom Habits (TEACH) study, a social cognitive theory-based virtual nutrition intervention program for Montessori teachers to enhance teachers’ personal and classroom nutrition beliefs and behaviors. Design: This 12-week study will employ a cluster-randomized control design with a delayed intervention for the control group. Setting: Montessori schools across the US with early childhood programs. Participants: Early childhood teachers will be recruited from approximately 29 Montessori schools across the US and randomized at the school level. Intervention: The TEACH study will provide culturally focused nutrition education for Montessori teachers over 6 weeks, consisting of 4 program components, including an interactive online platform, live virtual education sessions, a Montessori-based nutrition curriculum, and parent education handouts. Main Outcome Measures: Using validated survey measures, changes in teachers’ nutrition knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, nutrition teaching self-efficacy, cultural competence, classroom eating behaviors, classroom food practices, nutrition teaching practices, and teacher-parent communication will be assessed at 3 timepoints (i.e., baseline, week 6, and week 12). Analysis: Stepwise linear regressions will be used to assess relationships between baseline variables. Multilevel modeling will be used to determine the impact of the intervention. Statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05.
