Association of Montessori International
It All Started Here
Our classrooms are founded on the principles within the AMI training model — the standard Dr. Maria Montessori established herself to keep Montessori practice consistent in training guides throughout the world.
- AMI-based classrooms
- Ages 18 months to 6 years
- Small class sizes
What AMI is
The Association Dr. Montessori Built to Protect Her Work
The Association Montessori Internationale was created by Dr. Maria Montessori in an effort to establish a fluid Montessori practice in training guides throughout the world. Nearly a century later it is still the body that holds the method to the form she left behind.
That matters more than it sounds. “Montessori” is not a protected word — any school anywhere can put it on a sign. AMI training is the thing that tells you what is actually happening inside the classroom: the same careful, child-led practice guides are trained in around the world, not a loose interpretation of it.
In practice
What AMI Training Looks Like in Prescott
Every guide in our building was trained through an AMI course, and the classrooms are prepared to match. Here is what that means on an ordinary Tuesday morning.
- Materials presented in the sequence Dr. Montessori established, not rearranged for convenience
- Environments prepared and maintained to AMI standards, down to the height of the shelves
- Long, uninterrupted work cycles, because concentration is the thing being protected
- Observation, not correction, as the guide’s primary tool
About our academy
A Nurturing Environment, Built on Her Principles
At Montessori Children’s Academy of Prescott, our mission is to provide a nurturing environment for young learners following the AMI training model. We focus on fostering independence, concentration, and a love for learning in children ages 18 months to 6 years.
630 Park Avenue Unit A, Prescott, AZ 86303
Our classrooms
Two Environments, One Continuous Path
Children move through our environments as they are ready, not as a calendar dictates. Both are AMI-based and both are deliberately small.
18 months – 3 years
Toddler Community
A calm, orderly room built for children who have just found their feet. Practical life comes first — pouring, carrying, dressing, cleaning up a spill — because competence is what makes a toddler confident. Parents consistently tell us their child does not want to leave at pickup.
3 – 6 years
Primary
The three-year cycle Dr. Montessori designed, where a child moves from the sensorial materials into early reading, writing and mathematics at their own pace. Our early reading program is the part visiting families tend to remember.
Now waitlisting 3 and 4 year olds for January 2027.
The people behind the school
Trained in the AMI Tradition
Montessori Children’s Academy is family-run and deliberately small. When you call the school, you reach the people who are actually in the classrooms.
Sandra Houston
Founder & Director
Sandra Houston has been dedicated to Montessori education since 1967. After training with close associates of Dr. Maria Montessori — including her son, Mario Montessori — she opened her first school in 1972 in Torrance, California. In 1976 she relocated to Prescott, Arizona and founded Montessori Children’s World, the first Montessori school in the Prescott area.
Her commitment to expanding authentic Montessori education led her to Phoenix in 1983, where she opened North Central Montessori School. She later completed Elementary training with Margaret Stephenson in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1995 Sandra founded Arizona Montessori Charter Schools, growing the organization to five campuses, including one in Prescott Valley. A co-founder of the Arizona Charter Schools Association and organizer of the Arizona Montessori Schools Consortium, Sandra has also trained teachers, mentored school leaders, and contributed to statewide charter initiatives.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Prescott College and the Administrative Leadership Training Certificate, also through AMI. In 2024 she and her daughter founded Montessori Children’s Academy to bring an authentic model of Montessori education back to the City of Prescott. In her free time she loves karaoke, time with her friends and family, watching mysteries, reading nonfiction, playing bocce ball, and creating new lessons and trivia for her students.
Kristina Houston
Administrator
Kristina Houston serves as part of our administration team and brings over 20 years of experience in Montessori education and school leadership. She holds an AMI Primary (3–6) Certificate from Montessori Education Centre, an AMI Elementary (6–12) Certificate from Montessori Institute of San Diego, the Administrative Leadership Training Certificate (also AMI), a Master of Education in K–12 Education from Loyola University Maryland, and a Bachelor in Global Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Arizona State University.
Kristina began her AMI Montessori journey at 6 weeks of age upon entering her mother’s Primary classroom. She grew to share the passion with her mother, began as a substitute, and progressed to lead her own AMI-recognized Primary environment. Inspired by the work of Maria Montessori, she is deeply committed to maintaining authentic Montessori standards while fostering independence, confidence, and a peaceful learning community.
During her free time she enjoys camping, singing, chess, hiking, dancing, and time with her family. She is a mom to three children: two daughters who have left the nest and a teenage son.
Testimonials
What Prescott Families Tell Us
I am truly impressed by the environment and the approach to early childhood education. The classroom is bright, inviting, and thoughtfully organized, allowing children to explore and learn at their own pace.
Our daughter loves Montessori Children’s Academy. She has learned so many new skills and often doesn’t want to leave when we pick her up at the end of the day.
Kristina is one of the warmest people I have met and it shows through her passion of Montessori learning.
Family resources
Where to Read More
Two places we point new families first — one for the method itself, one for what you can do at home tonight.
Association of Montessori International
Our classrooms are founded on the principles within this training model. The Association Montessori Internationale was created by Dr. Maria Montessori in an effort to establish a fluid Montessori practice in training guides throughout the world.
Mom and Me — Zero to Three
Tips and techniques you can use at home with your young children, from the people who spend their days with them. A short watch, and worth it before your first tour.
Our Reading List
The books we hand to parents, sorted by whether your child is 0–3 or 3–6, plus a suggested order to read them in if you are starting from scratch.
Inside our community
A Day at Montessori Children’s Academy
Visit us
Come and See the Classroom
We are on Park Avenue in Prescott, and we visit with families by appointment so the children’s work cycle stays undisturbed.
Address
630 Park Avenue Unit A
Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone
Hours
By appointment
Come See It for Yourself
A Montessori classroom is difficult to describe and immediately obvious in person. Spend twenty minutes with us and you will know.