About Us

A Montessori Journey

Montessori Center for Teacher Development (MCTD), an exceptional Montessori teacher education program, takes its Adult Learners on a unique and in-depth journey into the Montessori community. MCTD Adult Learners begin with an Intensive Summer Session, followed by an Academic Year of evening and weekend coursework where they receive instruction and have access to the Montessori training classroom. The classroom is furnished with the complete array of Montessori materials for practical hands-on experience. Guest lecturers often round out the program, speaking on topics such as autism, occupational therapy, speech development, sensory disorders, educational administration, and the most current Montessori and early childhood research. The Practicum experience takes place in a fully equipped working classroom under the guidance of experienced Montessori teachers and with the support of MCTD Field Consultants who monitor each Adult Learner’s progress and development as an Intern. MCTD respects the needs of all Adult Learners and the traditions of Montessori education. We provide meaningful learning experiences and opportunities for exploration and active participation, and we prepare and empower Adult Learners to become effective Early Childhood (2 ½ – 6) Montessori educators.

Our Mission

Montessori Center for Teacher Development aims to prepare and empower Adult Learners to become highly qualified, effective Montessori educators through meaningful experiences in a respectful and inspirational learning environment where adults are entrusted to uphold Montessori traditions in their endeavor to become the best Montessori teachers that they can be.

Our History

The Montessori Children’s Academy Family of Schools and Services (MCAFSS) is the parent company for the Montessori Center for Teacher Development (MCTD). MCAFSS opened the doors of its first school, The Montessori Children’s Academy (MCA), in 1999. Today, MCA has grown to include three campuses in Chatham, Florham Park, and Short Hills, New Jersey, serving children ages 18 months through 8th grade. Other components of our Family of Schools and Services include MCA for Creative Learning, providing speech/language and occupational therapy services, and LEAF Approach to Enrichments, offering after school and community enrichment programs for all age groups within the framework of the Montessori philosophy. The establishment of Montessori Center for Teacher Development was the next logical step in the growth cycle of our Montessori community. Throughout its development of schools that provide a full complement of Montessori offerings, MCAFSS has seen an ever-increasing need for highly qualified, certified Montessori teachers. The creation of MCTD was aimed at helping to fill this void by offering a flexible, yet traditional teacher education program of distinction. The Adult Learners who enter the classrooms of MCTD are taught how to use the tools that were given to us by Dr. Maria Montessori to meet the needs of children as they enter into the ever-changing world of tomorrow.. For more information about The Montessori Children’s Academy Family of Schools and Services, please visit mcafamilyofschoolsandservices.com.

Our Instructors

The educational professionals who lead our MCTD classes come to us with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of teaching experience. What they all have in common is a passion for teaching, a belief in the Montessori Method, and a desire to make a difference in the way our Adult Learners will be prepared to run their classrooms in the future. All MCTD Instructors meet the rigorous standards that have been established by both the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) for the subjects they teach. Our MCTD Montessori professionals are supported in their teaching endeavors by guest lecturers, who are considered leaders in their own fields of expertise, including child development, educational management, and child-based therapeutic offerings. The Montessori teacher education programs of today will need to prepare its Adult Learners for a world that will be far different from the one we are currently experiencing. MCTD Instructors are committed to upholding and sharing the principles outlined by Dr. Maria Montessori. In addition, MCTD incorporates into our teacher education program the ability to adapt to the needs of the children our Adult Learners will ultimately teach. It is this core belief which will become the differentiator between success and failure when it comes to the education of the young minds that will enter future Montessori classrooms.

Our Invitation to You

We invite you to explore our website to learn about our courses and curriculum offerings. Here you will also find information about our application process and tuition scale, as well as details about Montessori certification and credentialing. We look forward to welcoming you into our community and working with you as you begin your Montessori journey. Join us at MCTD where we are Empowering Adults to Empower Children.