Mountaineer Montessori School, 4801 Staunton Avenue, is pleased to announce that it has earned the distinction of "American Montessori Society School Accreditation Candidate."

MMS was recently notified that it has been officially accepted into the accreditation program, a process that provides guidance, empowerment, and high ideals to help schools implement and sustain the rigorous standards of quality Montessori education.

Accreditation by the American Montessori Society is the "gold standard" of Montessori school excellence—the highest level of recognition a Montessori school can achieve. Currently, about 15 percent of member schools are AMS-accredited.

AMS is recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation, a national organization that serves as a review panel for the standards and review procedures of private-school accrediting agencies. Every school that is accredited by AMS gains automatic recognition by NCPSA.

“We are proud to have achieved this milestone,” said MMS Director Jennifer Carriger.

“It is a testament to our 47 years of experience in providing high-quality education to the community and several years of hard work by our staff and Board of Directors focused on the AMS Continuous School Improvement Process, including curriculum alignment and specialized training. We look forward to working with on-site visitation teams as we take our school to the next level with strategy planning and a plan of self study, the next phase of accreditation. It’s all focused on providing the best Montessori education possible for our students.

"The accreditation process to date has been challenging and rewarding," Carriger noted.

Working with rigorous accreditation standards established by foremost Montessori educators from around the world, MMS teachers, administrators and board members are examining every facet of MMS educational programming, policies and operations to implement protocols that ensure alignment with the best practices for quality, ethics and sound management.

Through the accreditation process, schools make significant discoveries about their programs including strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Participants model the Montessori ideal of a lifelong learner—one who voluntarily engages in self-reflection, ongoing pursuit of knowledge, and improvement.

Founded in 1976, MMS is West Virginia’s original Montessori school. When the accreditation process is complete, it will be the first and only fully accredited Montessori school in the state. MMS provides an expansive academic and arts curriculum to nearly 180 students ages 2-8th grade at campuses at 4801 Staunton Avenue in Kanawha City and 308th Street in the University of Charleston neighborhood. MMS pioneered Montessori education at every level in West Virginia, introducing the first AMS Montessori Toddler, Primary, Elementary and Adolescent (Middle School) programs to the state’s children.

Montessori in the words of the American Montessori Society:

“For more than a century now, the child-focused approach that Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed for educating children has been transforming schools around the globe.

As soon as you enter a classroom, you know that something different is afoot. Montessori classrooms are immediately recognizable. You will see children working independently and in groups, often with specially designed learning materials; deeply engaged in their work; and respectful of themselves and their surroundings.
The Montessori Method fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical.

Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, assessed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers, and a nurturing environment.

Within the community of a multi-age classroom—designed to create natural opportunities for independence, citizenship, and accountability—children embrace multi-sensory learning and passionate inquiry. Individual students follow their own curiosity at their own pace, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals.

Given the freedom and support to question, probe deeply, and make connections, Montessori students grow up to be confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens, accountable to both themselves and their community. They think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly and with integrity. What better outcome could you wish for your children?”