Governance
Mission Statement
Association Montessori International of the United States (AMI/USA) brings the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori to the education of children, to help them attain their full potential in our society.
Objectives
- To advance the growth of Montessori education as formulated by Maria Montessori in both private and public schools
- To promote the development of teacher training to foster Montessori education and meet the growing needs of member schools
- To foster understanding in families and communities of the Montessori pedagogical principles and practice
- To promote Montessori education in traditional academia through research
- To continue outreach, participation, and collaboration with affiliates (EAA, NAMTA) as well as kindred organizations that share the purpose of service to children
- To maintain effective fiscal and organizational strength
Board of Directors
The work of AMI/USA is guided and supported by a board of directors that assists the organization to tailor its services and activities in the U.S. The AMI/USA board is a working board providing leadership and guidance for projects of AMI/USA.
AMI/USA’s board membership is comprised of recognized leaders from the international and national businesses sector, philanthropic institutions, and the Montessori pedagogical community.
Adam Lewis (San Francisco, CA) is a lawyer with special expertise in bankruptcy jurisdiction (including bankruptcy consumer class actions), environmental law, telecommunications, intellectual property, high tech and biotech, preference or fraudulent conveyance actions and other bankruptcy litigation. He holds his B.A., M.A., and J.D. from the University of California. He currently serves as the president of the AMI/USA board.
Tom LePoutre-Postlewaite (Santa Cruz, CA) holds an AMI elementary diploma from Bergamo and has been administering an adolescent program at the Santa Cruz Montessori School for many years. Tom is a past member of the AMI Elementary Alumni Association, and is the vice president of the AMI/USA board.
Pat Forte (San Francisco, CA) is a seasoned principal, serving for 20 years in a public school district, prior to her current position. Pat is a committed advocate for the urban child. She is enrolled in the AMI elementary summer training at The Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and currently serves as the secretary of the AMI/USA board.
Harris Gordon (Boston, MA) is the retired managing consulting partner for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and is vice president for the managing consulting division of KPMG. He is the treasurer of the AMI/USA board.
Janet McDonell (Silver Spring, MD) is the director of primary training at the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland. Ms. McDonell has an M.Ed. in Montessori education from Loyola College and is chairperson of the AMI Training Group Committee. In addition, Ms. McDonell holds the AMI elementary, special education, and primary diplomas and earned her B.A. in comparative literature from the University of Wisconsin.
Roger Ochs (Irving, TX) is the president of HD Vest Financial Services where he manages the day-to-day operations of the company. Named by Accounting Today for seven years as one of the top names to know in the accounting industry, Roger also serves as the vice chair on the Independent Firms Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). Roger is a Montessori parent.
