The Montessori Institute

What The Montessori Institute does

The Montessori Institute (TMI) is a Denver, Colorado-based non-profit educational organization and the only Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) recognized training center in the United States solely dedicated to Assistants to Infancy (birth-to-three) Montessori teacher education. Founded in Houston in 1986 by Judi Orion and relocated to Denver in 1988 to support the launch of Family Star Montessori, TMI has operated continuously for over 35 years and is MACTE-accredited for its 0-3 teacher education program. The institution's core offering is a two-year AMI-recognized Assistants to Infancy Diploma Course delivered in a blended format combining live online Zoom sessions (Saturdays) with two five-week immersive in-person summer intensives at its Denver training center.

The curriculum emphasizes observation-based Montessori pedagogy covering pregnancy through early childhood, gentle birth practices, prepared environments, and hands-on material creation. Supporting offerings include 60-hour Montessori Orientation courses ($850), professional development workshops such as the AMI-approved Montessori for Dementia, Disability, & Ageing Workshop ($299-$500) and RAT Workshops ($150), alumni services, and a Jobs Board connecting graduates to Montessori schools. Total published tuition for the 2027-2028 diploma cohort is $11,250 plus $1,998 in ancillary fees, with multiple payment plans and application fee tiers.

TMI serves primarily aspiring adult Montessori educators, with secondary customer segments including Montessori schools seeking qualified teachers, administrators and parents taking orientation courses, and caregivers in senior-care settings. The institution holds SEVP certification enabling international student recruitment and maintains degree-pathway partnerships with Loyola University Maryland (Master's), University of Hartford (Bachelor's), and University of Colorado Denver (Colorado Teacher Licensure), giving students access to federal financial aid. Revenue is generated from tuition, workshop and orientation fees, application fees, deposit and transcript charges, and auxiliary services; no external funding or revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The organization operates with approximately 10 employees including faculty and administrative staff under Executive Director Katy Mattis.

Name

The Montessori Institute

Legal name

The Montessori Institute

Website

https://tmidenver.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Montessori Institute is a Denver-based non-profit and the only AMI-accredited US training center dedicated solely to birth-to-three Montessori teacher education, offering blended online and in-person diploma programs to aspiring educators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACADAA

Montessori Early Learning Academies

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

Keywords

• Montessori teacher training
• Early childhood education
• Infant toddler certification
• Professional development workshops
• Educator diploma programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition for the Assistants to Infancy Diploma Course, with tuition set at $11,250 for the 2027-2028 course plus $1,998 in fees. Additional revenue from various fees including application fees, deposits, workshop fees, transcript fees, and material kits.
2. Workshop Fees: Revenue from professional development workshops such as Montessori for Dementia, Disability, & Ageing Workshop ($299-$500) and RAT Workshops ($150).
3. Orientation Fees: Revenue from AMI Orientation courses ($850 per orientation) which provide a meaningful introduction to Montessori principles and serve as an entry point for full diploma training.
4. Scholarships and Financial Support: TMI offers the Judi Orion Living Legacy Scholarship ($750 living stipend) and connects students with external scholarships including MES Fund and BMEF. The institution also facilitates federal financial aid through partnerships with Loyola University and University of Hartford programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Montessori Institute provides AMI- and MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher training, centered on the Assistants to Infancy (birth-to-three) Diploma Course delivered in a blended format of online Zoom sessions and two five-week in-person summer intensives in Denver. Supporting offerings include 60-hour Orientation certificate courses, professional development workshops (Montessori for Dementia, Disability & Ageing; RAT workshops), and alumni services such as transcripts and a Jobs Board connecting graduates with Montessori schools.

Product overview

The Montessori Institute offers a portfolio of Montessori educator training programs centered on its AMI-recognized Assistants to Infancy (A to I) Diploma Course for birth-to-three education. The primary offering is a blended program combining online learning with in-person summer intensives in Denver. Supporting offerings include 60-hour Montessori Orientation certificate courses, professional development workshops (such as the Dementia and Ageing workshop), RAT workshops, and alumni services including transcripts and job board access. The institution also facilitates degree pathways through partnerships with Loyola University and University of Hartford.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Assistants to Infancy (A to I) Diploma Course AMI-recognized diploma training program preparing adults to work with infants and toddlers (birth to age three), families, expectant parents, and as lead teachers in Montessori infant and toddler communities. Blended format combining online learning with two five-week in-person summer intensives in Denver, Colorado. Includes 250 hours of observation and supervised student teaching.
• Montessori Orientation Courses 60-hour certificated courses providing an introduction to Montessori principles and practices at the Assistants to Infancy (0-3) level. Designed for administrators, school support staff, classroom assistants, and parents seeking foundational Montessori understanding. Earns 6 CEU Hours through Loyola University.
• Montessori for Dementia, Disability, & Ageing Workshop AMI-approved foundational workshop exploring Montessori philosophy as a rehabilitative approach for caring for older people and those living with dementia or other disabilities, with emphasis on dignity, respect, and independence. Priced at $299-$500 per participant.
• RAT Workshop Refresher and Advanced Training workshop for continuing Montessori education and professional development. Priced at $150 per participant.
• Transcripts and Alumni Services Official transcript ordering service with a 2-business-day response time, paired with a Jobs Board providing alumni access to employment opportunities at Montessori schools nationwide. Transcripts priced at $5.15 per request.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates receive an AMI-recognized diploma that qualifies them to work in Montessori schools worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and historic.

• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMI is an AMI-recognized training center authorized to award the AMI Montessori diploma. AMI, founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1929, maintains and propagates her educational principles worldwide. Only AMI-recognized centers can award the AMI diploma, which is valued globally in Montessori schools.
• Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMI is accredited by MACTE for its 0-3 teacher education program. MACTE ensures Montessori training meets high standards, preparing educators to uphold authentic Montessori principles.
• Loyola University MarylandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMI training can be combined with Loyola University's Master's Degree program in Montessori Education. Orientations earn 6 CEU Hours through Loyola University. Students may be eligible for Federal Financial Aid through this partnership.
• University of HartfordmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMI training can be combined with University of Hartford's Bachelor's Degree program with Montessori concentration. Students may be eligible for Federal Financial Aid through this partnership.
• University of Colorado Denver - Aspire ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMI provides pathway to Colorado Teacher Licensure through University of Colorado Denver's Aspire program, allowing graduates to obtain state certification alongside their AMI diploma.
• Family Star MontessorihistoricStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric community-led Montessori infant-toddler-parent education center in Denver. TMI moved to Denver in 1988 to support Family Star founders and has maintained close ties. Family Star began in an abandoned building across from Colorado's first public Montessori elementary school.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Montessori Society (AMS): The principal US alternative to AMI, offering its own Montessori teacher credentialing pathway through affiliated training centers. AMS-trained teachers compete for the same teaching positions as AMI graduates, making AMS-affiliated teacher training programs an indirect but significant peer category.
• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI): The global governing body that establishes Montessori training standards, accredits training centers like TMI, and trains trainers. While not a direct commercial competitor, AMI sets the competitive landscape, governs faculty credentialing, and itself runs training-of-trainers programs that intersect with TMI's pipeline.
• Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE): The programmatic accreditor for Montessori teacher education programs in the US. MACTE accreditation is a prerequisite for federal financial aid eligibility and thus directly shapes TMI's competitive positioning relative to non-accredited alternatives.

Direct peers

• Montessori Training Center of Minnesota (MTCM): An AMI-affiliated Montessori teacher training center serving the Upper Midwest. It offers AMI diploma programs and competes with TMI for the same pool of aspiring US Montessori educators seeking AMI credentials.
• Seton Montessori Institute: An AMI-recognized Montessori teacher training center in Texas that offers AMI diploma courses across multiple age levels. It is one of a small handful of US institutions authorized to award AMI Montessori diplomas, making it a direct competitor in the credentialed Montessori teacher training market.
• Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University: An AMI-affiliated Montessori teacher training program housed at Loyola University Maryland, offering elementary and other AMI diploma courses. It operates as a direct peer in AMI teacher training, with the added dimension of a university-affiliated delivery model.
• Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center: An AMI-affiliated Montessori teacher training organization offering diploma programs. It is a direct peer in the AMI teacher training market serving US and international students.
• Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN): A Pacific Northwest-based AMI training center offering AMI diploma courses. It is a direct competitor for aspiring Montessori teachers choosing between regional AMI-recognized training programs.

Regional players

• National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS): A US-focused non-profit that supports Montessori expansion in public schools, including teacher training resources and tools. It is comparable to TMI as a US-based Montessori educator-support organization, though NCMPS focuses on public-sector adoption rather than AMI diploma delivery.
• Montessori Schools of Massachusetts (or similar regional AMI training satellite): AMI/USA is the US national affiliate of AMI that coordinates US-based training center activity and represents TMI's broader peer ecosystem. Comparable as a coordinating body for AMI training in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-montessori-institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Montessori Institute