Administrator – West Side Montessori School

Administrator Program

The Administrator Montessori certification program is designed specifically for current and aspiring heads of schools, principals, program directors and those who seek leadership positions.

OVERVIEW

Montessori teachers design the environment with Montessori philosophy and methodology in mind. Administrators of Montessori schools, therefore, provide committed leadership to ensure that the best practices of the Montessori approach are integrated within the school community by aligning policy and process along these essential principles. It is critical for administrators to understand the philosophy and methodology of Montessori education in order to support children, teachers, staff, and families. This unity of purpose creates a vibrant, comprehensive, and authentic Montessori community. The instructor-to-student ratio for the program is 1:25.

PROGRAM MODELS

Model 1: For Administrators with Montessori administrative experience, but no Montessori teacher credential
Onsite schedule: Two weeks the first summer and two weeks and two days the second summer.

Model 2: For Administrators with a Montessori teacher credential, but no Montessori administrative experience
Onsite schedule: Two weeks the first summer and two weeks and two days the second summer.

Model 3: For Administrators with no Montessori administrative experience and no Montessori teacher credential
Onsite schedule: Two weeks the first summer and three weeks the second summer.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Two Week Summer Session (all models): Academic classes are held Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., during the second and third weeks of July, plus one evening per week.
Online learning courses are held monthly from September through May (all models).
Administrator Practicum may coincide with distance education during 2018-19 school year (all models).
Summer 2019: Model 1 & 2 – two weeks plus two days of courses; Model 3 only – 3 weeks of courses.

2018-2019 CALENDAR

ACADEMIC PHASE

The Academic Phase (200+ hours for all models) consists of non-degree-bearing coursework in Montessori theory and practice. Classes are held at West Side Montessori School, 309 West 92nd Street, New York, NY 10025.

VIEW THE COURSE CATALOG

PRACTICUM PHASE

In the Practicum Phase, students apply the knowledge they have gained from the Academic Phase in a supervised Administrator position. Students are responsible for finding their own placement, though we will offer suggestions of schools that we have found to be successful internship sites. This phase is non-degree-bearing and the student must work in an administrative role for a minimum 750 hours in a school year (4+ hours per day), September through June, in an approved Montessori school.

APPLICATION PROCESS