American Montessori Society
Encyclopedia
The American Montessori Society (AMS) is a non-profit, member supported, organization which promotes the use of the Montessori teaching approach in private and public schools.
AMS was founded at the Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1960, by a group of parents who realized a need for a clearing house for information about establishing Montessori schools, educating Montessori teachers, and recommending Montessori learning materials. Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambusch, who had studied Montessori philosophy and practice in London, and was head of the Whitby School, was appointed (by Mario Montessori, son of Dr. Maria Montessori) the American representative of the Association Montessori Internationale, which was headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr. Rambusch held this position for several years. She also became the first president of AMS. The current president of AMS is Marilyn Stewart, head of The Red Oaks School in Morristown, New Jersey.
AMS develops and expands Montessori’s application in public and private schools throughout the United States. AMS has 11,000 members in 50 countries. AMS also advances Montessori education by supporting related activities, such as research and public policy, and by creating a global community of education professionals, families, and policy makers.
In 2007, AMS celebrated 100 years of Montessori education (dating from the opening of the first Montessori school— “Casa dei Bambini” —in Rome, Italy, by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907) when 5,000 educators from across the world gathered at its annual conference, which was held in New York City, NY, and featured Dr. Maya Angelou
as a keynote speaker. United States Senator Christopher J. Dodd
(Connecticut) was honorary chair. Dr. Jane Goodall
was a keynote speaker at AMS’s 2008 Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
The American Montessori Society Archives are housed at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. The multi-media collection reflects the professional and administrative activities of AMS going back to its earliest days, and also provides historical information about the Montessori system of education. The collection is open to the public, and travel grants are provided for qualified researchers.
History
The American Montessori Society (AMS) is a nonprofit, member-supported, professional organization based in New York City, NY, with a mission to provide the leadership and inspiration to make Montessori a significant voice in education.AMS was founded at the Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1960, by a group of parents who realized a need for a clearing house for information about establishing Montessori schools, educating Montessori teachers, and recommending Montessori learning materials. Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambusch, who had studied Montessori philosophy and practice in London, and was head of the Whitby School, was appointed (by Mario Montessori, son of Dr. Maria Montessori) the American representative of the Association Montessori Internationale, which was headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr. Rambusch held this position for several years. She also became the first president of AMS. The current president of AMS is Marilyn Stewart, head of The Red Oaks School in Morristown, New Jersey.
AMS develops and expands Montessori’s application in public and private schools throughout the United States. AMS has 11,000 members in 50 countries. AMS also advances Montessori education by supporting related activities, such as research and public policy, and by creating a global community of education professionals, families, and policy makers.
In 2007, AMS celebrated 100 years of Montessori education (dating from the opening of the first Montessori school— “Casa dei Bambini” —in Rome, Italy, by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907) when 5,000 educators from across the world gathered at its annual conference, which was held in New York City, NY, and featured Dr. Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
as a keynote speaker. United States Senator Christopher J. Dodd
Christopher Dodd
Christopher John "Chris" Dodd is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and Democratic Party politician who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut for a thirty-year period ending with the 111th United States Congress....
(Connecticut) was honorary chair. Dr. Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National...
was a keynote speaker at AMS’s 2008 Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
The American Montessori Society Archives are housed at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. The multi-media collection reflects the professional and administrative activities of AMS going back to its earliest days, and also provides historical information about the Montessori system of education. The collection is open to the public, and travel grants are provided for qualified researchers.