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Mario Montessori authorizes Nancy McCormick Rambusch to act as the Association Montessori International's (AMI) official representative in the United States
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Shortly after Nancy McCormick Rambusch became AMI's representative in the US, she founded the American Montessori Society.
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Montessori schools were not required to affiliate with the national organization so AMS worked to establish relationships and connect with Montessori schools across the country through a variety of methods. It published literature, conducted research and established a Consultant Program, which trained consultants to visit Montessori schools, observe and then offer feedback and suggestions for improvement. AMS also developed standards for teacher training and certification.
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Rambusch and AMS believed that aspects of the Montessori method should be modified to accommodate 20th century America. AMI believed Maria Montessori's teachings could not be changed without destroying their integrity. This difference of opinion led to AMI withdrawing its recognition of AMS as a Montessori Society. From that point forward, AMS has existed independently of AMI.
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The national office of AMS moves from Greenwich to New York where it remains to this day
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In the 70's and 80's the American Montessori Society continued working to widen their appeal. Through connections with Comite Hispano Montessori the Montessori method thrived in Spanish speaking communities in the Americas and the Carribean. AMS also established relationships with groups such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Child Development Associate Consortium. In this way AMS was able to keep up with contemporary developments in children's education.
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Cleo Monson was hired as the AMS Executive Secretary in 1963. At that time the society was dealing with both internal and external difficulties. AMI had just withdrawn its recognition of AMS as a Montessori society, The society was experiencing internal conflict and its administration was in chaos. Monson quickly proved herself indispensable as she brought order to the administration and as the coordinator of all the society's activities. In 1973 she became the first National Director of AMS.
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The American Montessori Society hosted its very first International Symposium in Athens in 1979. It featured several prominent educators and speakers known throughout the world.
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The Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education was created to serve as an accrediting organization for Montessori teacher education. It is dedicated to improving academic degree and certificate programs for Montessori professional educators who teach and lead schools at the Infant and Toddler to Secondary levels and to assure the public of their quality.
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The mission of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector is to assist public schools in delivering "high-quality, personalized education through Montessori." They focus greatly on equity and access in order to provide children "hit hardest by racism, poverty, and structurally inequality access to this transformative method."
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MPPI came together after shifts in policy and regulations were made to early childhood regulations without the input of Montessorians. Many of the new regulations were in conflict with Montessori philosophy and methods. Initially, AMS and AMI were working independently on public policy issues but soon recognized that in order for progress to be made, they would need to work together. MPPI has formed and supported Montessori coalitions in 40 states.
