Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor Earns Membership in Leading Montessori Professional Associations

Daycroft Montessori School (www.daycroft.org) of Ann Arbor has been accepted for membership in two leading professional associations dedicated to advancing the innovative, child-centered Montessori approach to learning.

Daycroft is now a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org). The not-for-profit organization, based in New York City, is recognized as the foremost advocate for quality Montessori education.  It has nearly 13,000 members worldwide.

AMS’s website describes the association as “a hub for all things Montessori: an information center for its members, the media, and the public; a voice in the public policy arena; and a mobilizing force for the global Montessori community, through support services, research, and professional development events.”

Daycroft’s Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) has earned full-level membership in AMS, and the Elementary School (K-6) is an associate-level member.  Levels of membership denote whether all or most of the school’s teachers have recognized Montessori credentials for their classrooms’ grade levels.

Along with AMS membership, Diane Mukkala, Daycroft’s head of school, and Michele Buchanan, associate head of preprimary school, now belong to the North American Montessori Teachers’ Association (NAMTA; www.montessori-namta.org).  Members of this Burton, OH-based organization strive to maintain Montessori traditions while pushing the boundaries of innovation in learning.  

Daycroft also belongs to the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS; www.aims-mi.org).  The school has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). 

About Daycroft Montessori School

Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods.  Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.

Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County’s leading private schools.  It began as a preschool program in 1968.  Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.

Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.  Phone: (734) 930-0333.

Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103.  Phone: (734) 662-3335.