Chacha Vidales
AMI Assistants To Infancy (0-3) Trainer
Chacha Vidales is an AMI Director of Training at the Assistants to Infancy level. She has directed courses in Dallas, Texas, China, and Australia. She also co-directed the Assistants to Infancy Course in Japan and San Diego and collaborated with the course in Denver. Maria Teresa serves as AMI examiner, consultant, lecturer, and workshop leader. Maria Teresa also holds the AMI Primary diploma. She has operated a school in Mexico since 1989 and has been working with children for close to thirty years. Chacha also served on the AMI Board of Directors. We are thrilled that Chacha Vidales has offered some of our second AMI 0-3 Assistant course lectures.
Heidi Philippart
AMI Assistants To Infancy (0-3) Trainer
Heidi Philippart is the founder of two small Montessori Bilingual Preschools and the 2Voices Montessori Study Room for adult education in Amsterdam. Her specialty is helping parents in the application of Montessori principles and bilingualism in the home environment. Heidi has spoken extensively around the Netherlands and internationally on Montessori-related topics for the birth-three years age group. Heidi holds a Masters’s Degree in Education and is an AMI Trainer, examiner, and consultant at the 0-3 level. Heidi is one of the three trainers who lead the AMI Montessori Sports Fundamentals course.
Teanny Hurtado
AMI Assistants To Infancy (0-3) Trainer
As a daughter of Maria Teresa Vidales (Chacha Vidales, AMI 0-3 Trainer), Teanny’s journey in Montessori began in Mexico City where she attended Montessori school from the age of 4 to 12 years. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy from the Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City. As an AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma (0-3) holder, Teanny worked in Chacha’s Montessori school with this age group for more than 25 years. Here she opened the first Nido in Mexico in 1999 for babies aged 3 months old to walking. Currently, she has been lecturing in courses in Mexico, China, and Canada. Teanny is an AMI consultant in Mexico and the USA and gives workshops for teachers and parents. Teanny has offered our first and second AMI 0-3 Assistant Courses in Egypt.
Diwo Lhamo Pemba
AMI Primary (3-6) Trainer
Diwo Lhamo Pemba is an AMI Primary Trainer from the Tibetan-Bhutanese ethnicity. Lhamo did her AMI Primary (2.5-6) training with Lynne Lawrence in London, the UK, and her AMI Assistance to Infancy (0-3) training with Judi Orion in Denver, Colorado, USA. She has several years of experience on both levels as well as being trained as a teacher in the traditional educational system. Lhamo has been offering courses in different parts of the world such as the USA; Egypt, Vietnam, India, Mongolia, and Morocco. She has also written a book on Tibetan Proverbs. In Egypt, Lhamo has given three AMI Primary Assistants Courses as well as the first AMI Primary Diploma Course in the country. With Lhamo, the first graduation of AMI Guides (Teachers) in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East, took place in Cairo. Lhamo has also offered the first three AMI 3-6 Assistant Courses in Egypt.
Judi Orion
AMI Primary (3-6) Trainer
Judith A. Orion, M.A., Director of Training, holds the AMI Early Childhood (3-6) diploma and received her Assistants to Infancy (0-3) diploma at the first AMI training for that level, given in Rome. Judi has conducted Primary and Infancy Montessori classes and is a trainer, examiner, and consultant at both levels. She conducts teacher training internationally and is a national and international seminar presenter at Montessori conferences. Judi is an adjunct faculty member of Loyola University in Maryland. She was also Director of Training for the first 0-6 AMI Diploma course. Judi has held numerous positions at AMI serving as a board member, and on both the Training Group and Scientific Pedagogy Group. Judi is Head of AMI’s Training Division and has overseen the enormous expansion of the AMI Training of Trainers program. Judi was our AMI international examiner during our first AMI 3-6 Diploma Course in Egypt.
Maria Luisa Del Riego
AMI Primary (3-6) Trainer
Maria Luisa was born and raised in Mexico City. She has worked in the field of Education for over 30 years. After finishing her studies as a Preschool Education Teacher, she began her journey in Montessori Education, at CEEAMI – Centro de Estudios de Educación AMI, Mexico, receiving the AMI 3 – 6 diploma. She has more than 30 years of experience as a Children’s House Montessori Guide in Mexico and the United States. Part of her experience has been with children with special needs and inclusive environments. She has been a consultant and co-creator of bilingual “Parents and Children” Montessori programs, conducted workshops for parents, and worked with low-income families to incorporate Montessori principles at home and in their daily lives.
Nathalie Justine
AMI Primary (3-6) Trainer
Nathalie Justine is an AMI trainer at the Primary level (3-6). She has many years of experience with children in Montessori environments in different countries (France, USA, Canada, and Ecuador where she worked with underprivileged children for 4 years). She has trained students for 10 years at the Montessori Training Center in Paris on different formats (academic and summer courses). In the last few years, she has lectured on AMI courses around the world (in Europe, Asia, North Africa, South America), and examined students in several international Training centers. She also does supervision for schools. Nathalie has offered the fourth AMI 3-6 Assistant Course in Egypt.
Nia Seale
AMI Primary (3-6) Trainer
M. Nia Seale received her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma in 1998 and holds a B.S. in Education Studies. Nia enjoyed 10 years working with children and families in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area Montessori schools. She has conducted workshops for parents, classroom assistants, and Montessori teachers. As a National Examiner for AMI, Nia has examined students in the U.S., Egypt, and Morocco. She has offered 3 to 6 Assistants Certificate courses in Nigeria and The Gambia. Nia is currently the Director of Training for the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma course in Lagos, Nigeria, and is Co-Director of Training for the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma course with the Indaba Institute in Lynedoch, South Africa. Nia was our AMI national examiner during our first AMI 3-6 Diploma Course in Egypt.
Madhavi Gaddam
AMI Elementary (6-12) Trainer
Ms. Madhavi Gaddam is from Hyderabad, India. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a bachelor’s degree in education from Osmania University, Hyderabad. She has an AMI diploma in Primary (3 to 6), and Elementary (6 to 12). She has also done her AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies (12 to 18) from Cleveland, USA. She initiated and founded Medha Montessori School in Hyderabad, which is now running with Primary, Elementary, and Adolescent environments. Madhavi has vast experience working with elementary children. She has directed and participated in various talks, workshops spreading awareness about the Montessori approach, and has conducted AMI assistants’ certificate courses at the elementary level. Madhavi has offered the first AMI 6-12 Assistant Course in Egypt.
Jenny Marie Höglund
AMI Elementary (6-12) & Adolescents (12-18) Trainer
Jenny Marie Höglund is an AMI trainer at the 6-12 and 12-18 levels. She is AMI 3- 6 and 6-12 trained. In 1995 Jenny founded a Montessori school in Sweden – Montessoriskolan Lära för livet, for children aged 1–16 years. Jenny has been a Montessori guide for more than 24 years. Her school and farm is the only location in Europe where you can train in the AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies. Jenny has offered the first AMI 12-18 Workshop in Egypt.
Patrick Oudejans
Youth Football Coach & Cofounder of Montessori sports
Former coach and data analyst of the AFC Ajax youth football academy (2012-2016). Coaching youth football since 2006 (ages 3-16). Patrick holds an honors bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Sports, Management and Business at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Patrick is currently attending the AMI 3-6 diploma course training.
Ruben Jongkind
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES COACH & Cofounder of Montessori Sports
Former Head of Talent Development at the AFC Ajax youth football academy (2011-2016). Coach of professional athletes in track and field, triathlon, and football. Ruben holds a degree in Environmental Science from Wageningen University and a Master in Business Administration (MScBA) from Nijmegen Business School. Ruben is currently attending the AMI 3-6 diploma course training.