About Us

Montessori Institute – New England (MI-NE) was founded in 1996 by Susan E. Egan on the principles and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, who believed that establishing lasting peace in the world was possible through education.

Responding to a need for highly educated and experienced child educators, MI-NE was founded on the principle belief of investing in education as an agent of social change extended to the guides (or teachers) of the next generations of children as much as to the education of young children themselves. Therefore, this institutions core values guide the progressive development of its future and firmly establish its culture and climate that actively promotes:

  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Individuality
  • Responsibility
  • Compassion
  • Optimism
  • Confidence
  • Courage
  • Service
  • Kindness

MI-NE holds high standards of excellence and a seasoned faculty guarantee the Montessori teacher a comprehensive understanding of the Montessori educational philosophy and pedagogy. Our hands-on approach to Montessori teacher education will give you all of the tools that you will need, including: academic preparation, practical classroom management and teaching knowledge to become a competent, capable and talented educator in your field.

Mission

MI-NE is committed to the development of the adult learner in his/her pursuit of excellence in Montessori Education. The unique educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori guides the MI-NE Teacher Education Programs. As a community we support each adult learner in his/her development by providing an environment that:

  • promotes academic excellence
  • inspires creativity
  • celebrates diversity
  • honors life-long learning
  • advocates mutual respect, and
  • imparts the philosophy, curriculum, and teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori.

Philosophy

Founded in 1996, the Montessori Institute – New England is dedicated to educating Montessori teachers and maintains as its guiding principles the fundamental values upon which Maria Montessori based her philosophy—mutual respect, development of the human potential, compassion and humanitarianism, cooperative learning, and academic excellence. The same principles that pertain to children’s education are applied whenever possible to adults. MI-NE believes that if this same philosophy is adhered to, students taking the course will develop a knowledge and appreciation for the Montessori Method that will continue long past the completion of their certification.

The MI-NE philosophy, therefore, includes the following principles:

  • MI-NE is guided by a deep respect for each student’s individual process of development. Open ended discussion questions in the Independent Study and individually selected research projects are examples of methods used to implement the student’s freedom of choice.
  • Because Montessori emphasized the active participation of the learner, this course embraces a multidisciplinary approach. Engaging class discussions, group projects and individual written assignments, detailed lesson plans and a practical final evaluation are methods by which MI-NE provides opportunities for active student participation and maintains high expectations and standards.
  • Montessori felt that the process of development was much more important than the end product. Therefore, MI-NE provides an atmosphere of positive cooperation among all individuals involved in the program. Methods used to implement this belief an atmosphere of positive cooperation among all individuals involved in the program. Methods used to implement this belief include closely supervised self-evaluation, constructive criticism, and emphasis on self-assessment and objective evaluation.
  • The role of the instructor is equally important to that of the Montessori directress. MI-NE employs expert Montessori teachers who impart knowledge, closely observe, and advise the students so that they may be successful throughout this course as well as in the future

MI-NE is affiliated by the American Montessori Society. MI-NE Programs (Infant & Toddler and Early Childhood) are fully accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (M.A.C.T.E.).

Land Acknowledgment

MI-NE would like to respectfully acknowledge the Naumkeag (Nah- um-kee-ahg) people, for this campus sits upon their ancestral land. The Naumkeag people were part of the Massachusett Alliance and their descendants are now included in the many tribal nations across the Northeast.
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We recognize our obligations to this land and to the Indigenous people who stewarded it throughout the generations. As we work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, we acknowledge our need to decolonize our systems by including Indigenous peoples and perspectives in our classrooms.