history of ams

By paul0711

  • Dr. Maria Montessori

    1870-1952, Dr. Montessori from whom the work of AMS is connected, sponsored, and expanded.

  • San Lorenzo

    Transformation of children and Dr. Montessori, the roots of her discoveries of the child, the prepared environment and materials, and the spiritual preparation of the adult.

  • Nancy Rambusch's inaugural Montessori education

    Nancy attends the 10th international Montessori congress in Paris; Nancy identifies her social change intentions to Mario Montessori

  • The Whitby School

    Following her NYC Montessori apartment school, Nancy and a small ("but pithy") group of parents found the Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut; the American Montessori renaissance begins.

  • American Montessori Society established

    Newly founded AMS will "support efforts to create schools, develop teacher education programs, and publicize the value of Montessori education." (Wikipedia)

  • Time Magazine AMS/Whitby School Story

    Time Magazine's article (Education: The Joy of Learning) about Montessori, AMS, and the Whitby School appeared on May 12, 1961. The magazine's cover featured Alan Shepard, America's first suborbital astronaut. The education story "launched" AMS and Montessori into mainstream awareness. Later, Nancy Rambusch described public interest as overwhelming and almost grounding AMS due to its inability to respond to the volume of desire for Montessori schools and teachers.

  • Cleo Monson, first AMS national director

    Cleo Monson was hired in January 1963 as the AMS executive secretary. In 1973 she became the first National Director, a position she held until her retirement in 1978. It was said that Cleo Monson's skills both "saved" AMS and made possible the growth of AMS and its influence.

  • New AMS leadership in a new home

    Two significant events took place in 1963: Nancy Rambusch resigned as president of AMS, and AMS relocated from Greenwich, Connecticut to New York City.

  • The great divide

    AMS and AMI formally separate.

  • Consultation Services

    AMS expands its mission to serve and support those seeking to open and/or grow Montessori schools.

  • Partners with Comité Hispano Montessori

    AMS partners with Marjorie Farmer and the Comité Hispano Montessori to provide support for Montessori (and other) educators in Spanish-speaking communities in the north, central, and south Americas.

  • MACTE

    After some 20 years of effort led by AMS, MACTE is established and brings together a number of Montessori teacher education organizations.