Sue Thornton

Sue is a North Dakota native, one of six children, educated in Catholic elementary and high school before attending the University of North Dakota. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on special education. Because she believes in continuous learning, she attended graduate school with Our Lady of the Lake University in the mid-1990's and earned an MBA, Health Care Management specialty and an AMS Montessori Infant and Toddler Teacher certificate.  Sue has dedicated her entire professional career as an educator; assisting individuals, children & families, schools, college students and professionals in their quest to succeed. Various position and job titles include music teacher, educarer, program director, independent reviewer, bereavement counselor, AMS Review Committee member, MACTE Commissioner and College Professor. 

These roles were carried out in diverse settings including Bureau of Indian Affairs Elementary school, Public schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana, Neighborhood Centers, Headstart programs in East Chicago, Indiana, Private Montessori School in Houston, Texas, The Jewish Community Center of Houston and Greater Houston area community college.

Prominent professional accomplishments include the design, development and implementation of Infant and Toddler programs at Children’s Cottage Montessori in Houston, (late 1980’s) the Jewish Community Center of Houston (1990) and a state-of-the-art Montessori laboratory school for Lone Star College (formerly  North Harris College) (late 1990’s). The lab school was AMS affiliated and popular among a diverse group of students who earned Associate degrees and AMS Infant and Toddler certificates, while serving children and families of the campus community and surrounding neighborhoods. Sue was the recipient of several teacher excellence awards (North Harris College), Teacher of the Year and Teacher Trainer (HAAEYC, Collaborative for Children).  

Married to Jim for 48 years, they have two children, Eric and Amy Willa who have blessed the family with seven beautiful grandchildren. The older Thornton grandchildren (now 13, 11, and 9) attended Annie Fisher Montessori School in Hartford, and now the younger two (5 and 3) attend the Montessori School of Greater Hartford in Connecticut.