DUAL ENROLLMENT – Training Programs
ALL partner training programs have met the Sarasota University standards including financial soundness and are MACTE accredited. Program affiliations are denoted at the end of each description: American Montessori Society (AMS); Association Montessori Internationale (AMI); International Montessori Council (IMC); Independent (IND)
Arizona Montessori Teacher Education Program (AMTEP) provides comprehensive MACTE-accredited training for educators, focusing on AMS-affiliated certification in Early Childhood (2.5-6) and Elementary I-II (6-12) levels. Located in Chandler and Mesa, the program offers in-person, hands-on training to prepare teachers for guiding children through Montessori principles. Certification Levels: Programs include Associate Early Childhood, Early Childhood (2.5–6), Elementary I (6–9), and Elementary I-II (6–12). (AMS)
Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) offers comprehensive, MACTE-accredited teacher training programs through a flexible hybrid model that combines interactive online coursework with in-person residential intensives. Covering all developmental levels from infancy through adolescence, as well as school leadership, their curriculum focuses on deep pedagogical theory and practical classroom application. Students complete their training with a supervised nine-month teaching internship, ensuring they gain the hands-on experience and professional credentials necessary to lead or manage a Montessori environment effectively. (IMC)
European Montessori College, formerly WaterPark (EMC) provides MACTE-accredited educator training through a flexible blended learning model that combines interactive online theory with in-person practical workshops. Their programs cover the full developmental spectrum from birth to 18 years, providing internationally recognized diplomas, customizable “pathways,” and short professional development courses for both teachers and parents. With a focus on accessibility, the college operates training centers across Europe and Africa. (IND)
Modern Montessori Teacher Education College (MMTEC) is a one-year, low-residency program designed for adult learners seeking to master elementary Montessori education through a 21st-century lens. Co-founded by Katey Dodd and Melanie Brown, the college emphasizes a holistic and didactic curriculum that bridges authentic Montessori philosophy with modern public school standards. By focusing on teacher leadership and classroom innovation, MMTEC prepares educators to serve as change agents in diverse educational environments, ensuring they are equipped with both traditional principles and contemporary pedagogical skills. (AMS)
Montessori Residency of Chicago (MRC) is a MACTE-accredited teacher education program specifically designed to prepare culturally responsive educators for underserved urban communities. Based at the Montessori School of Englewood, the residency follows a job-embedded model that pairs intensive summer academic coursework with a multi-year teaching residency and personalized coaching. Offering certifications in Early Childhood and Elementary levels, the program focuses on bridging the gap between Montessori philosophy and the unique needs of public school environments, empowering teachers to serve as social justice leaders and changemakers in Chicago’s classrooms. (AMS – in progress)
Dual Enrollment Certification Programs
Brush Development provides education in person-directed dementia care and Montessori for Dementia that enables health care professionals to create supportive memory care environments and implement effective dementia programming. They are the approved AMI training center for Montessori for Aging and Dementia in the United States, offering classes in person anywhere in the world. (AMI)
Whole School Leadership (WSL) Institute offers a transformational, two-year leadership development program designed for Montessori and mission-driven educators to bridge traditional philosophy with modern organizational management. While the institute is an independent non-profit, it maintains a close working relationship with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), frequently collaborating to host and deliver the AMI Montessori School Leadership Course in the United States. Through a cohort-based model, the program focuses on the “inner work” of leadership—cultivating self-awareness and clarity—alongside practical skills like strategic planning and systemic equity. In partnership with Sarasota University and Loyola University Maryland, the curriculum provides a pathway for professional certification and graduate credit, equipping leaders from both AMI and AMS backgrounds to serve as effective change agents. (AMI)