irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $707KIN FY 2025, AMS MAINTAINED A BROAD NETWORK OF AMS -AFFILIATED TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTED ADULT LEARNERS FROM REGISTRATION THROUGH THEIR SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION AND CREDENTIALING.
- #2 $704KIN FY2025, AMS SUPPORTED BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL MEMBERS BY PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS ACROSS ITS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED ACCESS TO VALUABLE MEMBER RESOURCES, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES, ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION, AND A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
AMS Accreditation
Offers a voluntary accreditation process for schools to ensure high-fidelity implementation of Montessori principles and practices.
AMS Learning
Provides ongoing professional development through live and on-demand classes, certificate programs, and the Emerging Leaders Fellowship.
AMS Membership
Provides access to resources, professional development, networking, and advocacy for individual educators and schools implementing Montessori education.
Annual Conference
Hosts a national conference for professional development, networking, and sharing of best practices within the Montessori community.
Teacher Education Programs (TEPs)
Supports a network of affiliated programs that train and credential Montessori educators across age levels from birth to adolescence.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Teacher Professional Development 3 activities
- Providing professional development for Montessori educatorsOffers professional development through live classes, on-demand videos, certificate programs, special publications, and leadership fellowships to support ongoing improvement in Montessori practice.
- Publishing research and resources to support Montessori practiceProvides access to research citations on Montessori effectiveness, publishes an annual impact report, and produces resources such as "Reconstructing the Constructive Triangle" to guide reflection and adaptation in Montessori education.
- Supporting Montessori teacher education programs and credentialingSupports a network of AMS-affiliated teacher education programs, registers adult learners, and issues Montessori credentials. In fiscal year 2023, supported approximately 100 programs, registered 2,200 new learners, and issued about 1,900 credentials.
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Montessori Education Programs 1 activity
- Advancing Montessori education in public schoolsWorks to integrate Montessori education into public school systems to increase accessibility for all children, supporting Montessori programming in over 500 public schools across the United States.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Distributing Montessori Life magazine to membersProduces and distributes Montessori Life, an award-winning magazine, four times per year as a benefit to members.
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Admissions and Enrollment Support Services 1 activity
- Facilitating connections to Montessori teacher educationHosts virtual career fairs and facilitates direct connections between prospective educators and AMS-affiliated teacher education programs to support recruitment and enrollment.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Supporting inclusive education for students with disabilitiesProvides individualized instruction and accommodations for students with disabilities and neurodivergences through teacher observation and tailored planning, and supports access to specialized services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling in partnership with families.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Supporting member engagement and community buildingServes over 20,000 individual and school members annually by providing access to best practices, online professional development, an award-winning publication, and events such as the annual meeting and virtual career fair.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.70M
Contributions & grants$3.51M46%
Program service revenue$3.67M48%
Investment income$374K5%
Other revenue$144K
expenses
Total expenses$7.42M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$3.70M
Grants paid out$63K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.34M
Cash$2.93M
Investments$5.30M
Liabilities$2.26M
Net assets$7.08M
Liquid reserves13.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -1.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUNIR SHIVJI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 55 | $304K |
| DEB HOFFMAN | SR DIR OF FINANCE & PEOPLE OPS | 50 | $236K |
| GINA TALIAFERRO | SR DIR OF EDUCATION & STRAT INIT | 40 | $202K |
| JASON ROTH | SR DIR OF MARKETING | 40 | $182K |
| MELANIE THIESE | SR DIR OF MEMBERSHIP & SCH ACCRED | 40 | $164K |
| DEAN BLASE | DEPUTY DIR OF EDUCATION | 40 | $144K |
| MARIE CONTI | SR DIR OF COMMUNITY & EVENTS | 40 | $143K |
| MELAHRINI PAPADIMITRIOU | DIR OF TEACHER EDUCATION | 40 | $134K |
board members · 15
- AMIRA MOGAJI — PRESIDENT TO 3/2025
- ANITA HANKS — PRESIDENT FROM 4/2025; VP TO 3/2025
- CANDACE PROCTOR — SECRETARY TO 3/2025
- DEBBIE SENOFF-LANGFORD — TREASURER
- GEOFFREY BISHOP — VP FROM 4/2025;MEMBER-AT-LG TO 3/25
- LAURA SAYLOR — MEMBER-AT-LARGE FROM 4/2025
- LUZ CASQUEJO JOHNSTON — DIRECTOR
- MARGARITA DIAZ — DIRECTOR
- MARY BETH RICKS — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE MORRISON — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE SEYLLER — DIRECTOR
- ROBYN BREIMAN — SEC'Y FROM 4/2025; DIR TO 3/2025
- SABRINA BINKLEY — DIRECTOR
- SALONI MATHUR — DIRECTOR
- WENDY DI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- AMS-affiliated Teacher Education Programs Network — Network of teacher education programs that meet AMS standards for Montessori training and credentialing.
- AMS-affiliated teacher education programs Partner — Network of affiliated programs that train and credential Montessori educators under AMS standards
- Henan Montessori Education Center, China Partner — Employer of fellow Hui-Yu (Maybelle) Su, indicating a professional affiliation with the fellowship program.
- Journal of Montessori Research Network — Hosts research citations on the effectiveness of Montessori education.
- Kalos International Education Group Partner — Host organization of fellow Gu Xixi, indicating a professional affiliation with the Emerging Global Leadership Fellows program.
- Montessori Life Network — Official blog and magazine of the American Montessori Society, serving as a communication and resource platform.
- Munir Shivji Government — Executive Director of AMS.
- National Center on Disability and Journalism Partner — Collaborates with the National Center on Disability and Journalism to guide inclusive language use and disability justice practices within AMS.
- Reconstructing the Constructive Triangle Network — AMS publication used as a resource in professional learning to examine Montessori practice and adaptation.
- The Montessori Event 2026 Partner — Co-hosted or participated in the opening ceremony of The Montessori Event 2026 in Washington, D.C.
- University of Connecticut Partner — Hosts the American Montessori Society Archives at its Storrs campus.
- YGS Association Solutions Partner — Partners with YGS Association Solutions to support advertising and sponsorship services for AMS.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Adaptive Extension of Montessori Philosophy 25 orgsmethodology: community-extended-montessoriBy extending Montessori education beyond traditional classrooms and adapting it to diverse community contexts, the organization increases its relevance and reach because contextualized, flexible models meet varied needs while preserving core principles.shared approach: Partnership-Driven Ecosystem Building →
- Community-Driven Movement Building 25 orgsmethodology: community-drivenBy mobilizing a broad network of educators, families, school leaders, and advocates, the organization amplifies the reach and sustainability of Montessori education because collective engagement fosters innovation, advocacy, and resilient implementation beyond top-down directives.shared approach: Partnership-Driven Ecosystem Building →
- Leadership Development Through Applied Practice 25 orgsmethodology: leadership_development_through_applied_initiativesBy developing leadership and problem-solving skills in Montessori professionals through applied initiatives, the organization generates sustained educational impact because empowered educators become change agents who can adapt and strengthen Montessori implementation locally.shared approach: Partnership-Driven Ecosystem Building →
- Modernization and Systems Integration to Expand Access 25 orgsmethodology: education-modernization-and-accessibilityBy aligning Montessori teacher training with U.S. higher education standards and promoting integration into public school systems, the organization increases the accessibility and scalability of Montessori education because systemic alignment reduces barriers to adoption and broadens equitable access across diverse communities.shared approach: Partnership-Driven Ecosystem Building →
- Standards-Based Quality Assurance and Advocacy 25 orgsmethodology: quality-assurance-in-educationBy establishing and enforcing rigorous, research-validated standards for teacher training and school practices, the organization ensures the authenticity and quality of Montessori education, thereby strengthening its credibility and adoption in the broader educational landscape because consistent, high-fidelity implementation leads to better educational outcomes and systemic recognition.shared approach: Partnership-Driven Ecosystem Building →