Montessori Professional Development: What Path is Right for You?

There are several options for Montessori professional development out there. They all serve very different purposes. Which ones will help you meet your goals?

Best for Newcomers Who Want to Learn More

Brand new to Montessori? Wondering, “What is Montessori“? The professional development with the lowest barrier to access is online workshops. There are several wonderful resources out there and I have had wonderful experiences with Trillium Montessori (not a sponsor of this article). What I appreciate most about Trillium is their variety of offerings, from introductory courses to courses meant for veteran teachers. They are well done and packaged nicely. I use a trillium course for onboarding new substitute teachers, for example.

Pros of Online Workshops:

• Affordable
• Lower barriers to access
• No travel
• Innumerable topics to meet your needs are available

Cons of Online Workshops:

• Quality varies by source, so do your research to find a high-fidelity resource
• No opportunities to begin building a Montessori social network, which is a very important resource and support for any new endeavor
• Some experience that online learning is not as meaningful as experiences where you are immersed in Montessori through the environment and the modeling of the instructors. Some (myself included) feel in-person experiences are more transformational. It depends on what kind of learner you are. Montessori tends to attract those who like to be “hands-on”.
• Usually does not count toward a Montessori credential (though may qualify for continuing education or professional development hour requirements).

Regional Conferences

A growing number of states have a Montessori advocacy group. I’m in Indiana, and we have the United Montessori Schools of Indiana (UMSI). These organizations often offer professional development opportunities. For example, UMSI offers a Summer Montessori Fundamentals Training and a fall professional conference each year.

Pros of regional conferences:

• Affordable. These conferences cost less than a national-level conference. They are usually 1-2 days long. Hopefully there’s one close enough to you that travel costs would be minimal.
• Networking. You’re able to begin to meet others interested in Montessori in your area. This is a great opportunity to find mentors and resources and begin building a support network of like-minded individuals.
• Variety of topics. Online workshops are usually on one topic. Regional conferences may have a theme, but you will usually have the opportunity to choose from a variety of offerings for each session, from several different qualified speakers. This offers a broader perspective and knowledge base than one topic taught by one person.

Cons of regional conferences:

• In-person events require travel costs and time.
• Compared to a national level conference, offerings are more limited.
• Opportunities vary depending on what region you live in.
• You will be able to connect mostly with local Montessorians.
• If you have a specific question or topic you are interested in, it may not be covered.
• Attendance does not count toward Montessori certification, though may count toward professional development or continued education hours.

National Conferences

There are several options for national conferences. Often organizations that accredit Montessori schools offer an annual conference. My school is accredited by the American Montessori Society, so I most often attend their conference called The Montessori Event. It is an amazing opportunity to come together with Montessorians from all over the US and beyond, and has a highly competitive speaker proposal process that helps ensure quality professional development sessions. The Association Montessori International/USA Chapter also has an annual conference called The Montessori Experience. I have heard wonderful things about it, though have not yet had the opportunity to attend.

There is also an International Montessori Congress. The Montessori Post offers a list of Montessori conferences for more information about regional and national opportunities.

Pros of National Conferences:

• High-fidelity session offerings
• Great networking opportunities
• Immersion in a Montessori experience

Cons of National Conferences:

• Expensive! Unless you happen to live in the location of the conference, most have to pay several hundred dollars to register and often over a thousand dollars of travel expenses (flight, a few nights of hotel, etc.) Tip: team up with someone else attending and share a room!
• Usually does not count toward professional certification, though typically does count toward PGPs, continuing education requirements, or professional development hour requirements.

Teacher Education Programs

Already know you love Montessori and want to begin a career? There are teacher education programs all over the country that result in a Montessori Teacher Credential to allow you to teach at the age level in which you are trained. Most programs require a bachelor degree (does not have to be teaching-related) to enroll. There are paraprofessional training programs for entry-level experiences, though most schools will hire you as an assistant without this training, and offer it as part of your on-staff training. Paraprofessional trainings are usually several days to two weeks long. Teacher training takes one to two years to complete, depending on the credential you are seeking.

One thing you will want to consider is the accrediting body of the training program. All training programs are not considered equal, and some schools or state regulations specify which training programs “count” for teachers. In Indiana, for example, currently credentials must be from a program accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS), Association Montessori International/USA (AMI) or Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) to be valid qualifications for FSSA waivers, school validation, and more. A school that is accredited by certain organizations would not be able to hire lead teachers from training programs that are not recognized by their accreditor. There are a lot of teacher education programs out there–do your research and make sure the one you choose will help you reach your goals, whatever those may be. I have not found one complete list of all Teacher Education Program (TEP) options, but there are resources online by accreditor, such as the AMS Find a TEP locator or the AMI/USA TEP locator.

Pros of a Teacher Education Program:

• Comprehensive Montessori experience designed to teach you what you need to know to be a well-rounded Montessori teacher
• Opportunity to build close relationships with others on a Montessori journey
• High-quality programs in a credential makes you a valuable hiring candidate

Cons of a Teacher Education Program:

• Very expensive! My school figures $15-20K to train a new teacher. This includes tuition, supplies, and travel.
• Usually you have to leave home for two summers. Depending on the program and level, you can expect to leave home for anywhere from 2-10 weeks for two consecutive summers. There are hybrid online programs that offer the shorter summers (though some on-site learning is still required). These programs have pros and cons of accessibility vs. depth of student experience (see comments in Online Workshop section).

University Experience

Several universities in the country offer four-year degrees in Montessori education or a Montessori endorsement program in their traditional school of education. These are huge commitments of time and money, but offer a great start on the path of a lifelong Montessori career.

Graduate programs in Montessori are also available.

Conclusion

No matter which path you choose, the decision to begin a journey in Montessori is monumental. It means that you have an interest in creating a better world through serving children. Learn all you can, and enjoy the inspiration it brings!