Northern Kentucky Montessori Academy (NKMA) recently became the first and only school in Northern Kentucky to be accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS). To achieve this distinction, NKMA underwent a rigorous process of examining and documenting every aspect of their school, including their governance practices, curriculum, fiscal and personnel policies, facilities, health and safety practices, teacher preparation, and learner outcomes to demonstrate a strict adherence to the high quality standards to which the AMS holds its accredited schools.
NKMA began its self-study for this process in fall 2014. AMS conducted a site visit in fall 2016, and the accreditation designation was granted in January 2017.
“We chose to pursue AMS accreditation to demonstrate that our school meets the society’s high standards and provides an authentic Montessori education for our students,” said Julia Preziosi, Head of School at Northern Kentucky Montessori Academy. “AMS accreditation is an objective validation of our performance and adherence to the standards that were set by Dr. Maria Montessori herself.”
The American Montessori Society Accreditation Process
The American Montessori Society is the premier advocate for high-quality Montessori education. Their rigorous accreditation process involves an intensive self-study, evaluation of the school and its processes, and a peer team visit to determine whether the school meets AMS standards for an authentic Montessori education. AMS-accredited schools must maintain AMS standards, remain on a path of continuous improvement, and provide annual reports to the AMS that document their progress.
About Northern Kentucky Montessori Academy
Northern Kentucky Montessori Academy provides an authentic Montessori curriculum for students ages 2 to 12. Their program emphasizes individualized learning to optimize the intellectual, social, and emotional development of each child. Children are guided by degreed and certified teachers who embrace Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy, its resulting pedagogy, and experiential learning. As a result, students become joyful learners of high academic prowess who develop into caring, respectful, responsible, curious, and compassionate citizens of the world. For more information or to set up a tour, visit their website here.