Ams

History of the American Montessori Society

By sbflanagan
  • Nancy McCormick Rambusch travels to Paris to attend the Tenth International Montessori Congress in Paris

    Nancy McCormick Rambusch travels to Paris to attend the Tenth International Montessori Congress in Paris

    She discusses Montessori education with Mario Montessori and he encourages her to receive training in her quest to bring Montessori education back to America.
  • Humble beginnings in the big city

    Humble beginnings in the big city

    Upon completing her training in London in 1955, Nancy Rambusch came back to New York City and set up a Montessori classroom in her apartment.
  • Nancy Rambusch and her family relocate to Greenwich, Connecticut

    Nancy Rambusch and her family relocate to Greenwich, Connecticut

  • The Whitby School is founded in Greenwich, Connecticut by several families, including the Rambusch family

    The Whitby School is founded in Greenwich, Connecticut by several families, including the Rambusch family

    Several families, including the Rambusch family seek to provide a Montessori education for their children.
  • Nancy Rambusch becomes AMI's representative for the US

    Nancy Rambusch becomes AMI's representative for the US

    Appointed by Mario Montessori.
  • The American Montessori Society is founded.

    The American Montessori Society is founded.

  • Increased Public Awareness

    Increased Public Awareness

    Nancy Rambusch, The Whitby School, and the resurgence of Montessori in America are featured in TIME magazine. This exposure and subsequent increased publicity fosters a dramatic rise in the public’s awareness of and interest in Montessori. The number of Montessori students and schools increases.
  • The Word Spreads

    The Word Spreads

    Nancy Rambusch publishes a book, Learning How To Learn, which generates even more demand for Montessori education.

  • Two Roads Diverged

    AMS and AMI part ways over continued philosophical disagreements.
  • Organization is Key

    Organization is Key

    Cleo Monson becomes the first executive secretary of AMS and provides much needed administrative skills.

  • Consultation services offered to AMS affiliated schools.

  • 1970s-1990s relationship with Comité Hispano Montessori

    AMS worked with the Comité Hispano Montessori, "a nonprofit Montessori organization that provided a communication network and services for educators in Spanish-speaking communities in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America."

  • First National Director

    Cleo Monson is appointed to this position and holds it until her retirement in 1978.
  • MACTE is founded

    MACTE is founded

    The Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education handles accreditation for teacher training programs, helping to ensure quality teacher preparation for quality dissemination of the Montessori Method. MACTE supports programs in the US and around the world.

  • NCME merges with AMS

    The National Center for Montessori Education joins the American Montessori Society.
  • NCMPI

    NCMPI

    AMS launches the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector to "help public schools deliver high-quality, personalized education through Montessori." NCMPS becomes an independent entity in 2015.
  • MPPI founded

    MPPI founded

    Montessori Public Policy Initiative is "the unified voice in advocacy and a platform for coordination of public policy efforts" for AMS and AMI/USA.
  • Munir Shivji becomes the current Executive Director of AMS

    Munir Shivji becomes the current Executive Director of AMS