These programs are built for anyone drawn to Montessori, from parents and classroom assistants to educators working toward the full guide credential.
The complete certification path for future Montessori guides and educators
Shorter, flexible courses for parents, assistants, and working educators
Short Montessori sessions for families, schools, and teachers
Start by asking us for pricing and schedules, or send a quick text with your questions. Our San Diego team will help you figure out which certification is the right fit.
One short form covers the diploma, the assistant courses, and the workshops, so you only fill it out once.
From there you choose how you learn, in person, online, or a mix, based on your schedule and how far you want to take your teaching.
Your diploma rests on AMI and MACTE accreditation, the standards Montessori schools trust, and it can open a pathway toward a master's degree.
You learn from working AMI trainers, people who have led Montessori classrooms and trained teachers for years.
Learn online or in a hybrid format, in English or in Spanish, whichever suits your schedule and the community you plan to teach in.
Montessori Stoppani offers authentic Montessori certification in San Diego, with a diploma accredited by AMI and MACTE and programs shaped for educators, parents, and tomorrow’s guides. You study under experienced AMI trainers, choose from flexible online and hybrid formats, and can train in English or Spanish, all while earning a credential recognized everywhere in the world and grounded in real classroom practice.
From the diploma and assistant certifications to workshops and advanced study, Montessori Stoppani pairs a globally respected credential with professional training and a master’s degree pathway that few training centers can offer. This is Montessori teacher preparation guided by people who have built their own careers inside the classroom.
Our AMI trainers are recognized internationally for their depth of Montessori experience.
Alejandra Rosas is an AMI Infant and Nest Community Trainer and Training Director at Montessori Stoppani Institute with more than 25 years of Montessori experience. She received her AMI 3 to 6 diploma in Italy and her 0 to 3 diploma in San Diego under the direction of renowned Montessori educator Dr. Silvana Montanaro. Alejandra has dedicated her career to supporting young children, families, and future Montessori guides through internationally respected AMI training, workshops, consulting, and classroom leadership.
Cristina A. De León holds advanced degrees in Clinical Psychology, Pedagogy, and Education and has more than 25 years of experience working with children in Montessori and traditional educational environments. She received her AMI diplomas in Early Childhood and Elementary Education through the Montessori Institute of San Diego and currently serves as a Casa de Niños AMI Trainer and Examiner. Cristina has guided Montessori educators internationally throughout the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Taiwan, and Spain, bringing deep educational experience and a global Montessori perspective to her training work.
Gabriela Velázquez began her Montessori journey at an early age, first as a Montessori student and later as an assistant in the same school where her mother worked as a Montessori guide. She earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, her AMI Nido and Infant Community diploma, and a master’s degree in education before spending more than 20 years working in Montessori schools throughout Mexico and the United States. Today, Gabriela serves internationally as an AMI 0 to 3 trainer, examiner, consultant, and speaker, helping future Montessori guides deepen their understanding of early childhood development.
Emily Hansen is an AMI 0 to 3 Trainer with more than 21 years of Montessori classroom experience across Toddler and Primary communities. She holds degrees in Psychology, Sociology, and Montessori Education, along with AMI diplomas at both the 0 to 3 and 3 to 6 levels. Emily combines deep Montessori expertise with a warm and practical approach to education, bringing years of experience supporting children, families, and future Montessori educators through her training work.
Dr. Mario Salguero is a physician, researcher, and educator specializing in personalized medicine, psychiatry, nutrition, and integrative health. After graduating from the University of Guadalajara School of Medicine, he completed advanced studies in Clinical Nutrition and earned a PhD in Molecular Biology in Medicine before completing his Psychiatry Residency at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Salguero combines scientific research, medical education, and a compassionate approach to child and human development as part of the Montessori Stoppani training team.
Picking a Montessori program is a big decision, so here are straight answers to what people most often ask about our diploma, assistant courses, workshops, schedules, and formats.
Yes. Our diploma carries AMI and MACTE accreditation, which schools and educators recognize across the globe. It is designed for people building professional Montessori careers who want a credential that travels wherever they teach.
The right format depends on which program and level you choose. The diploma is hybrid, anchored by in-person summers in San Diego, while assistant courses and workshops give you more online flexibility, so you can keep working while you train.
Every program is priced a little differently, and we make those numbers easy to get to instead of burying them. Montessori Stoppani also works to keep its AMI training affordable and accessible. Ask for the program details and pricing guide, and the costs and schedules come to you right away.
No. Students do not earn transferable academic credits. The diploma stands on its own as a professional AMI qualification, and a graduate degree is possible later through the Loyola master’s pathway. Ask for our program details and we will explain how that pathway works.
A guide is the lead teacher, trained through the full AMI diploma to run and shape a Montessori classroom. An assistant plays a supporting role, using practical Montessori knowledge to help the guide and the children. That is why assistant courses stay shorter and more flexible. The diploma goes further, preparing you to take charge of a classroom of your own.
AMI, the Association Montessori Internationale, is among the world’s most respected Montessori organizations, and Dr. Maria Montessori founded it herself. An AMI credential is recognized internationally for authentic Montessori standards and rigorous training, which is exactly what schools and families look for in a certified teacher.
Yes. Our diploma programs are accredited by AMI and MACTE, so your training meets internationally respected Montessori and professional standards.
Yes, for some students. Depending on your diploma level and your goals, an AMI and MACTE accredited program may open a pathway toward a master’s degree. Because the specifics differ from person to person, we keep this high level here and cover it fully in our program details and pricing guide, so request that guide to see what applies to you.
First, decide which program suits where you want your teaching to go. Then request the program details and pricing guide, which lays out the pathways, schedules, formats, and how to enroll. If you would rather just ask a person, text us and we will point you the right way.
Montessori teacher certification in San Diego means earning an authentic AMI credential from an institute rooted in the city, not a generic online course. Montessori Stoppani prepares educators, career changers, and parents to lead real Montessori classrooms, with training that holds its value wherever your career takes you. The certifications San Diego schools and Montessori families respect are the ones backed by AMI training and taught by working AMI trainers.
AMI is the Montessori credential schools look for, because it comes from the association Maria Montessori founded to protect her method. Plenty of programs use the Montessori name loosely, so an AMI and MACTE accredited diploma tells employers your training is the real thing. That difference is why our graduates carry a credential recognized everywhere in the world.
You can pursue Montessori certification in San Diego without leaving your job, because the diploma blends online coursework with focused in-person summers here. Assistant courses and workshops add even more flexibility for parents, classroom assistants, and educators who are just getting started. Bilingual options open the door for Spanish-speaking educators who are in demand across California and the Southwest.
Montessori teacher certification here can lead further than the classroom, because diploma graduates may pursue a master’s degree pathway through Loyola. Schools across the region are searching for qualified AMI teachers, and an AMI credential helps graduates stand out for those openings. When you are ready, request our program details or text our team to map out your next step.
