Continuing the Legacy since 1971

How it all began in Houston, Texas…

In 1971 the Foundation for Child Development was created as a non-profit organization to assist Montessori schools, child-care centers, and teacher education programs. Later in that same year, the Foundation became Houston Montessori Center (HMC).

In 1973 HMC received approval from the American Montessori Society (AMS) and offered the first early childhood course.

In 1974 with authorization by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the real growth began. We moved our home to Kipling Street. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s we expanded our education courses to include Infant and Toddler, Early Childhood, and Elementary teacher education programs.

By 1993 we had outgrown our Kipling home and moved to a new and larger facility off Katy Freeway where we added the Secondary I course. Within two years, we upgraded to larger facilities in that space.

In 2004 a Secondary II course and Administrator course for school leaders were added.

In 2006 we moved to our in our current home on Long Point Road.

In 2021 Houston Montessori Center became a world citizen international peace site in honor in celebration of its 50th year anniversary.  The five peace actions that define a World Citizen site is to seek peace within yourself and others, reach out in service, protect the environment, respect diversity, and be a responsible citizen of the world.

What Continuing the Legacy means at Houston Montessori Center (HMC)

Continuing the Legacy means continuing Maria Montessori’s work.

At HMC this involves:

• Grounding our work in Montessori’s philosophy and principles while keeping abreast of the newest research, and applying it appropriately

• Actualizing Montessori’s ideas of social justice, peace and diversity by embedding it in the environment, processes, and content of the HMC courses

• Rooting cosmic vision in the curriculum from birth through adolescence

• Committing to the constant refinement, research, and implementation of the best Montessori education for adults, and children

• Offering one of the oldest continuous AMS teacher education programs

• Providing the oldest continuous AMS Elementary teacher education program

• Establishing the oldest continuous AMS Secondary teacher education program

• Delivering the only AMS Montessori teacher education program that offers the full Montessori continuum of courses:  Infant & Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Administrators

• Giving tribute to the HMC “foremothers” Marcella Dawson and Lorna Terhune

• Acknowledging the enduring service of our faculty and board members who were members of the first several classes at different levels: Lynne Aiken, Betsy Coe, Carolyn Edgar, Marge Ellison, Amy Henderson, Darla Miller, and Nahla Nasser.

• Honoring the HMC faculty members Judi Bauerlein, Betsy Coe and Sonnie McFarland who have been named AMS living legacies for their contributions to Montessori worldwide; those who provide leadership at the national level: AMS board presidents Judi Bauerlein, Betsy Coe and Amy Henderson; AMS board members Judi Bauerlein, Betsy Coe, Marge Ellison, Darla Miller, Amy Henderson and Sonnie McFarland; Teacher Education Chair Betsy Coe; Teacher Education Advisory Committee Betsy Coe, Marcella Dawson, Amy Henderson, Ann Sutton and Lorna Terhune; the many who serve on school and teacher education accreditation teams, conference planners, and committees.