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Montessori Was Born
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. Her father, Alessandro Montessori, worked in a tobacco factory while her mother, Renilde Stoppani, was a well-educated woman who remained very close with her daughter Maria throughout the years. -
Casa Del Bambini Opened
The very first Montessori classroom, Casa Del Bambini, was opened on January 6, 1907 in San Lorenzo, Rome, Italy. -
First Montessori Teacher Training Course
With multiple Casa Del Bambini classes opening around Italy and across Europe, Montessori held her first teacher training course in her new educational method in Città di Castello, Italy. -
1st International Montessori Training Course
The first International Montessori Training Course was held in 1913 in Rome, Italy. Students from all over the world were invited to travel to this course, and 67 of the 83 attendees were from the United States of America. The course was sponsored by the American Montessori Committee. -
Montessori Presents at the Panama-Pacific International Expo
In 1915, Montessori returned to the U.S to take part in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California. It was here that she gave her 3rd international training course. As well, she installed a glass-walled classroom where 21 students could demonstrate the daily routines of a Montessori environment. People came from all over the world to observe the 'glass classroom'. -
Montessori Leaves the U.S
In November 1915, Montessori's father passed away. For this reason, Montessori left the U.S and returned to Italy to be with family. U.S critics of Montessori, such as William Heard Kilpatrick and the National Kindergarten Association, used her departure as a chance to criticize the Montessori philosophy. Following Montessori's departure and the upcoming start of the war, Montessori would not return to the U.S until 1952. -
Founding of AMI
In 1929, the first International Montessori Congress was held in Elsinore, Denmark. At this meeting, Maria Montessori and her son Mario founded the Association Montessori Internationale, also known as AMI. This organization was formed with the intention of supervising Montessori training and schools across the world. -
Montessori's Death
On May 6th, 1952, Maria Montessori passed away. -
10th International Montessori Congress
In 1953, American educator Nancy Rambusch attended the 10th International Montessori Congress in Paris, France. It was there that Nancy met Mario Montessori, who then urged Rambusch to take her foundational coursework in Montessori education, and use her knowledge and motivation to bring the Montessori Method to prominence in the U.S. -
Rambusch Attends Montessori Training
In September 1954. Nancy Rambusch left the U.S. and went to London, England to attend the Maria Montessori Teacher Training Centre. There, she completed the Montessori Primary Course with distinction, and then in 1955 went on to do her Montessori elementary course. -
Rambusch's Move to Conneticut
In 1956, Nancy Rambusch made the move to Greenwich, Connecticut, continuing on with her work in the field of Montessori education. In Greenwich, she met and became involved with a group of parents who were integrated in the community. These parents were all highly involved in their child's education and would go on to support Rambusch as she worked towards building the foundations for Montessori communities in the U.S. -
Founding of Whitby School
In 1958, the Whitby Montessori School was founded by Nancy Rambusch and her supporters in Greenwich, Connecticut. This would be the 1st Montessori school to open in the U.S. -
Rambush Named Head of Whitby Montessori
In concurrence with the opening of Whitby Montessori School, Nancy Rambusch was also named the head of Whitby Montessori School. -
Rambusch Named as U.S. Representative of AMI
In 1959, Nancy Rambusch continued her work in building the Montessori communities of the U.S. As a result, Mario Montessori went on to appoint Rambusch as the U.S. representative of the AMI organization. -
Founding of AMS
In 1960, Nancy Rambusch founded the American Montessori Society. At that time, it was considered to be an organization affiliated with AMI, that would help to establish teacher training institutions and Montessori schools for cities in the U.S. -
Whitby Montessori Featured in TIME magazine
In 1961, Nancy Rambusch and the Whitby Montessori School were featured in the May 12th edition of TIME magazine, as well as the Saturday Evening Post. These articles help to create greater national interest in AMS and the Montessori movement. -
Publication of "Learning How to Learn"
In 1962, Nancy Rambusch's first book on Montessori, "Learning How to Learn" was published in the U.S. -
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Growth of AMS
Since 1962, the American Montessori Society has grown enormously. AMS now is proud to have Teacher Education Programs all across the U.S and in many other countries around the world, as well as AMS and MACTE accredited schools all across the country. -
The Break Between AMS and AMI
In 1963, after years of attempting reconciliation between AMI and AMS, AMI decided to withdraw its recognition of AMS. From that point forward, the two organizations began to exist independently. Much of this came from Rambusch's belief that Montessori in the U.S would need to be adapted in order to meet cultural needs of American students in the 20th century, which did not always fit with the structures set out by AMI. -
Founding of MACTE
In 1995, the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, or MACTE, was founded. MACTE's purpose was and continues to be to create an accreditation process and program that would ensure training programs and schools around the world maintained caring, competent and qualified structures to support the growth of Montessori education across the world. -
Founding of NCPS
In 2012, the National Centre for Montessori in the Public Sector was founded in the U.S. The NCPS works with Montessori programs in public schools and programs across the U.S. to ensure that Montessori remains an educational pedagogy based in equity, sustainability, and accessibility to all children from all walks of life. NCPS also works to ensure Montessori acts as an agent for change and social justice in educational programs in the U.S -
Founding of MPPI
In 2013, the Montessori Public Policy Initiative was founded together by AMI US and AMS as a response to the growing need for advocacy and input in regards to public policy on childhood education in the U.S. Thanks to the work of MPPI, more children than ever now have the opportunity to benefit from the education of a Montessori learning environment.