International Montessori Society

What International Montessori Society does

The International Montessori Society (IMS) is a private, founder-led educational organization founded in 1979 by Lee Havis and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. IMS trains Montessori educators and accredits Montessori schools through a proprietary framework called the 'Technology of Scientific Education' — a codified methodology based on Dr. Maria Montessori's 1907 observations of child development and consolidated by Havis into a 400-page reference book published in 2023. The framework comprises specific techniques (eye contact, proximity, patient waiting, cooperative touching) and protocols (well-being of total environment, least amount of adult involvement) that instructors apply in classroom settings.

IMS generates revenue from multiple streams: weekend in-person workshops priced at $210-$360 depending on membership status and registration timing, distance learning courses for Primary (2-6) and Elementary (6-12) teacher certification, individual memberships at $30/year, associate school memberships at $35/year, IMAC accreditation fees for teacher education programs, and consultation services. Workshops are delivered globally in locations including Danbury CT, Wichita KS, Cambridge UK, and Baku Azerbaijan, with content led directly by Lee Havis. Beyond training, IMS operates the International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC), established in 1994 as an alternative umbrella accreditation body, and the Character Teaching project, an international initiative active in Ghana, South Sudan, Kenya, India, Uganda, Nepal, and Latin America that applies scientific Montessori methods to address cultural poverty. The organization markets through its website, Facebook, Constant Contact newsletters, WhatsApp community groups, and the Montessori Observer and Montessori News publications.

Name

International Montessori Society

Legal name

International Montessori Society

Website

https://imsmontessori.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Montessori Society is a founder-led educational organization founded in 1979 that trains Montessori teachers, accredits schools, and publishes the 'Technology of Scientific Education' methodology developed by Lee Havis, serving educators and schools across the US, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Montessori Teacher Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA)

Keywords

• Montessori teacher training
• Scientific education methodology
• Teacher certification programs
• Montessori school accreditation
• Distance learning education

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop Fees: IMS conducts in-person workshops (2-day weekend format) in various locations worldwide. Fees range from $210-$360 depending on membership status and registration timing. Workshops include a copy of 'The Technology of Scientific Education' book (retail value $45.99). Group discounts available: every 3 paid registrations gets a 4th person free.
2. Teacher Education Distance Learning: Comprehensive distance learning courses for Montessori teacher certification at Primary (2-6) and Elementary (6-12) levels. Includes enrollment contracts and ongoing support.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: $30 for individuals, $35 for associate schools. Members receive discounted workshop rates and access to resources.
4. School Recognition Program: IMS offers recognition for Montessori schools meeting their standards, with associated application and renewal fees.
5. IMAC Accreditation Services: International Montessori Accreditation Council provides voluntary accreditation for teacher education programs. Contact and processing through IMS office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

International Montessori Society (IMS) trains Montessori educators and accredits Montessori teacher-education programs using Lee Havis's proprietary "Technology of Scientific Education." It delivers certification through distance learning (Primary 2-6 and Elementary 6-12 levels) and in-person weekend workshops, awards recognition to member schools, runs the international Character Teaching project in developing regions, and publishes supporting materials including a 400-page reference book and periodical newsletters.

Product overview

The International Montessori Society (IMS) offers a suite of educational products and services centered on its proprietary 'Technology of Scientific Education' framework, developed by founder Lee Havis. The core offering is the IMS Distance Learning Course for Montessori Teaching, which trains educators in the scientific approach to child development. IMS conducts in-person workshops (such as the 'Creating the True Natural Reality' workshop) globally, including recent sessions in Baku, Azerbaijan, Danbury CT, Wichita KS, and Cambridge UK. The organization provides Teacher Education Programs at Primary (2-6) and Elementary (6-12) levels, and operates IMAC (International Montessori Accreditation Council) for program accreditation. A major initiative is the Character Teaching (CT) Project, an international effort spanning Africa, Latin America, India, and Nepal to address cultural poverty through scientific Montessori methods. IMS also publishes 'The Technology of Scientific Education' (400-page book, 2023), offers consultation services, and maintains a network of recognized Montessori schools. The technology framework includes specific techniques (eye contact, proximity, cooperative touching) and protocols (well-being of total environment, least amount of adult involvement) for practicing scientific education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IMS Teacher Education Programs (Primary 2-6 and Elementary 6-12) Comprehensive Montessori teacher certification delivered via distance learning plus workshops for Primary (ages 2-6) and Elementary (ages 6-12) levels, covering the IMS proprietary techniques, protocols, and scientific observation methods. Aimed at individual educators worldwide seeking a complete Montessori credential.
• Creating the 'True Natural' Reality Workshop A hands-on in-person workshop led by Lee Havis teaching educators how to create the "true natural" reality for children using IMS technology, covering techniques such as eye contact, protocols, and lesson presentations. Available to members and non-members with tiered pricing and group discounts.
• IMAC Accreditation Services Voluntary accreditation service for Montessori teacher education programs, processed through the IMS office and reviewed by the IMS Review Committee. Provides an alternative to MACTE government-recognized accreditation.
• Character Teaching (CT) Project International initiative applying IMS scientific education methodology to address cultural and generational poverty through teacher training and direct work with poor working children in Africa, Latin America, India, and Nepal.
• The Technology of Scientific Education (Book) 400-page reference book by Lee Havis serving as the comprehensive guide and instruction manual for IMS's "Technology of Scientific Education." Retail price $45.99; included with workshop attendance.
• Montessori Observer and Montessori News Publications Periodic newsletters and news publications providing articles, research, and updates on Montessori education and IMS activities, available to members and the broader community.
• Consultation Services Expert consultation services for schools and educational settings seeking to implement IMS technology and Montessori methods in their classrooms.
• IMS Recognized Schools Network & Membership Membership program for individual educators ($30/year) and associate Montessori schools ($35/year) providing recognition within the IMS network, discounts on workshop registrations, and access to member resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children develop spontaneous self-discipline, love of order, and harmony with others when IMS technology is properly applied
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IMAC (International Montessori Accreditation Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMAC is the accreditation agency established by IMS in 1994 to provide inclusive 'umbrella' accreditation for diverse Montessori teacher education programs. Unlike MACTE, IMAC accepts programs from all Montessori affiliations. IMS continues efforts to reform federal recognition of private accrediting agencies to allow greater competition in the field.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest: A regional Montessori teacher training program offering Primary and Elementary certification. Comparable to IMS in operating model (small, specialized teacher education) but with a narrower geographic footprint.
• Seton Montessori Institute: A smaller Montessori teacher training institution focused on AMI-aligned Primary and Elementary programs. It is comparable to IMS as a niche, mission-driven teacher education provider but is materially smaller in geographic scope.

Direct peers

• Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE): The federally recognized accreditor for Montessori teacher education programs, of which IMAC is the direct alternative. MACTE's federal recognition is the structural advantage IMS/IMAC has been working for decades to disrupt through HEA reform.
• American Montessori Society (AMS): The largest US-based Montessori membership organization, offering teacher education programs, school accreditation, and credentials. AMS is the primary direct competitor to IMS for US Montessori teacher training and school recognition revenue.
• International Montessori Council (IMC): A smaller Montessori membership organization offering teacher resources, school support, and publications. IMC competes with IMS for the same pool of independent Montessori schools seeking an alternative to AMI/AMS.
• North American Montessori Teachers' Association (NAMTA / The Montessori Foundation): Montessori advocacy and teacher education organization serving schools and educators across North America. It operates in the same Montessori teacher training and school support category as IMS, with similar publications and event-driven programming.
• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI): The most established global Montessori organization, founded by Maria Montessori herself. AMI delivers teacher training, school recognition, and publishes the official Montessori pedagogy — directly competing with IMS in the same Montessori training and school recognition category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/imsmontessori
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-montessori-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Montessori Society