Class At-a-Glance:
Class Length: 5 Months
Time Commitment: 3 – 6 Hours / Week
Delivery Method: Live, Online Sessions
CPD Hours: 75
Audience: Teachers, Administrators
Cost: Members $675
AMS Teacher Education Director Academy
The AMS Teacher Education Director Academy has been developed in response to a desire to transform and uplift Montessori teacher education.
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Program Overview
It is a course of study that supports and strengthens the skills and knowledge base for aspiring Montessori teacher education program (TEP) directors as well as experienced Montessori program directors to create strong programs both academically and in terms of sustainability and long-term success.
This academy provides knowledge and guidance for excellence and innovation in Montessori teacher education. It supports AMS directors and future directors in designing and delivering an adult learner-centered program from its first steps of determining the program vision and planning and building the curriculum, to the moment of adult learner graduation and beyond.
The Teacher Education Director Academy also guides directors through the steps of optimal self-studies whose readiness will move them through the approval process seamlessly.
Benefits of the Academy
- Create a Montessori TEP and courses centered around the needs of adult learners and their ongoing transformation.
- Implement innovative, outcomes-based approaches to enhance your TEP’s sustainability.
- Incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) into all aspects of your TEP.
- Develop strategies to design or restructure your TEP to meet or exceed AMS Affiliation Standards.
- Construct high-quality self-studies founded on AMS Handbook guidelines (which are inclusive of DEIB principles).
No other program is solely dedicated to building skills for current and future TEP directors.
Timeline
Director Academy Cohort 3
Application deadline: January 5, 2026, 11:59 PM (ET) or until cohort is full
- Applications are approved on a rolling basis.
- Applicants are encouraged to register as soon as possible upon acceptance to secure a spot.
Class begins: Jan 19, 2026
Class ends: May 10, 2026
*The AMS Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Scholarship Program provides financial support for eligible applicants. Learn more.
Class Schedule
- Unit 1: January 19 – February 1, 2026
- Unit 2: February 2 – 15, 2026
- Live Session: February 3, 2026 7:00 PM (ET)
- Unit 3: February 16 – March 1, 2026
- Live Session: February 17, 2026 7:00 PM (ET)
- Unit 4: March 2 – 22, 2026
- Live Session: March 3, 2026 7:00 PM (ET)
- Unit 5: March 23- April 5, 2026
- Live Session: March 24, 2026 7:00 PM (ET)
- Unit 6: April 6 – 26, 2026
- Live Session: April 7, 2026, 7:00 PM (ET)
- Unit 7: April 27 – May 10, 2026
Eligibility & Fees
Eligibility
Anyone who meets all of the following requirements may apply for the AMS Instructor Academy:
- Is an AMS member
- Has a minimum of three years of teaching experience at their credential level after receipt of an AMS-recognized credential or its equivalent
- Has a Bachelor’s degree from a US-accredited college or university, or its equivalent from another country
Fees
Participants are responsible for the following expenses:
- Program Fee: $3000
- Travel, meals, and lodging for attendance at the in residence
- Any expenses incurred for the participant’s practicums and other program needs such as travel, books and/or supplies
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Teacher Academy Overview
The AMS Teacher Education Director Academy is designed for both current and future teacher education program directors. This comprehensive 5-month program is grounded in adult learner theory and the AMS affiliation handbook, allowing for both innovation in TEPs and adherence to high-quality standards. Participants will actively participate in live sessions, purposeful assignments, and meaningful discussions using resources within Canvas. Upon completion, graduates receive the official AMS Teacher Education Director Academy Certificate attesting to their mastery of the class.
Units of Study
- Innovation, Backward Design, & Your Learner
- AMS, Affiliation, & Leading Your Self-Study
- Technology & Montessori Teacher Education Integration
- Planning and Scheduling of Curriculum and Practicum
- Assessment & Data Collection
- TEP Leadership & Administration
- Reflecting & Looking Ahead
Meet Our Facilitator
Mary Schneider
With over four decades of dedication to Montessori education, Mary Schneider brings a legacy of leadership, innovation, and passion to her role as Director Academy Facilitator. Since beginning her Montessori journey in 1980, Mary has worn many hats—Early Childhood and Elementary I classroom guide, teacher educator, and organizational leader. Mary holds AMS credentials and has made a lasting impact through her work as an instructor, field consultant, practicum supervisor, administrative coordinator, executive director, and now director emeritus at the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest. She played a pivotal role in shaping future Montessori leaders, serving as a facilitator for two AMS Instructor Academy cohorts and contributing her insight to the AMS Curriculum Committee. Her commitment to excellence in teacher education extended through her leadership as Vice Chair of the AMS Teacher Education Committee (2002–2011), and later as a TEAC member and Teacher Educator Section representative on the AMS Board (2012–2017). Mary also co-founded Woodinville Montessori School near Seattle, where she served as Head of School until 2019, building a thriving, authentic Montessori community. Her decades of experience, deep institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to Montessori principles make her a trusted mentor and visionary in the field.
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