AMI Training Group

The AMI Training Group is responsible for supporting and promoting the Training of Trainers programme. The Group contributes considerable volunteer time to review papers, track each Trainer in Training's progress and prepare the seminars.

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Laurie Ewert-Krocker

Laurie Ewert-Krocker

Laurie Ewert-Krocker is the Director of Training at the International Montessori Training Institute of Ohio. She was the founding head teacher of the Hershey Montessori Adolescent Program in Northeast Ohio in 1996. She spent 28 years at Hershey Montessori School as a 9-12 guide, an adolescent guide,...

Carla Foster

Carla Foster

Carla Foster is currently co-directing AMI elementary courses in Prague (MIPE) Hartford, Connecticut (MTCNE) and the University of Southeast Norway. Carla holds a bachelor degree in Social Anthropology and Scandinavian Studies and a combined Masters degree in Old Icelandic Literature and Norwegian L...

Lynne Lawrence

Lynne Lawrence

Lynne Lawrence has been the Executive Director of AMI since June 2008, and prior to this held the position of AMI General Secretary ad interim (2007). She was also head of the AMI Human Resources Committee. Lynne was Director of Training and Schools at the Maria Montessori Training Organisation (MMT...

Louise Livingston

Louise Livingston

Louise Livingston first developed an interest in understanding children through her work as a counselor for abused children with the UK charity Childline. She gained her Montessori diploma at the 3-6 level at the Maria Montessori Institute in London and worked for many years in Children’s Houses lat...

Kyla Morenz

Kyla Morenz

Kyla Morenz is an AMI Elementary Trainer from Toronto, Canada. She has a B.A. from the University of Waterloo and her M.Ed. from Loyola University in Maryland. In 2011, she obtained her TESOL certificate from the University of Toronto, Woodsworth College. She has AMI diplomas at both the 3-6 and 6-1...

Judi Orion

Judi Orion

Judith A. Orion, M.A., Director of Training, holds the AMI Early Childhood (3-6) diploma and received her Assistants to Infancy (0-3) diploma at the first AMI training for that level, given in Rome. Judi has conducted Primary and Infancy Montessori classes and is a trainer, examiner, and consultant ...

Heidi Philippart

Heidi Philippart

Heidi Philippart is the founder of two small Montessori Bilingual Preschools and the 2Voices Montessori Study Room for adult education in Amsterdam. Her specialty is helping parents in the application of Montessori principles and bilingualism in the home environment. Heidi has spoken extensively aro...

Tessie Schjetnan

Tessie Schjetnan

Tessie Schjetnan is the Director of Training at the Instituto Montessori para Guías de Taller, in Mexico City. She holds AMI diplomas for Children's House and Elementary and degrees in Graphic Design and Education. Ms. Schjetnan had taught children from three to twelve years for twenty years. Tessie...

Sharlyn Smith

Sharlyn Smith

Sharlyn Smith is an AMI Assistants to Infancy Director of Training, an international trainer, presenter and AMI examiner, lives in Juneau Alaska. She holds AMI diplomas at both the 0-3 and 3-6 levels and has more than 25 years of classroom experience as well as having been a Head of School. She earn...

Ann Velasco

Ann Velasco

Ann Velasco is an AMI Primary Trainer and has been the Director of Training for the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies since 2014. She conducts Primary level teacher-training during both the academic year and in a summer course format. Ann has also helped to deliver courses in Costa Rica. Ann...

Gabriela Velazquez

Gabriela Velazquez

Gabriela Velazquez’s Montessori journey began as a child. Her mother was a Montessori teacher, so she grew up attending Montessori schools in Mexico. It was only natural that upon reaching adulthood that she also decided to pursue a career in Montessori education. After completing her degree in Earl...