The Institute

The Institute

The Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute offers training courses for Montessori teachers and educators, hosted in Montessori schools located in the Greater Toronto Area and the Greater Montreal Area in Canada. The Institute has received full MACTE Accreditation for the Early Childhood Diploma courses available at each location in the Greater Toronto Area. Additionally, the Institute is proud to provide International Montessori Teacher and Educator Training programs as a member of MEPI (Montessori Educational Programs International) and CCMA (Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators).

The Founder, Director and Master Teacher

Dr. Daniel Jutras, the Founder, Director and Master Teacher of the Institute, has dedicated the last 35 years to training over 3000 Montessori teacher-guides. He has conducted Montessori Courses and Workshops in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Quebec City, England, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Poland and Vietnam. Dr. Jutras holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Ottawa, a St. Nicholas Montessori Advanced Diploma (6-12) from England and an AMI Diploma (3-6+) from Perugia, Italy. His instructor and mentor was the late Antonietta Paolini who worked directly with Dr. Maria Montessori for 22 years.  

Meet the Team

Our team is trained both internationally and locally, ensuring they understand your needs and the environment in which you develop as an exceptional Montessori Teacher-Guide.

Daniel Jutras Ph.D.

Founder, Master Teacher Trainer
Daniel Jutras is the founder of the Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Ottawa in 1979 and received his Montessori Diploma (3-6+) from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in Perugia, Italy, in 1987. His trainer was the late Antonietta Paolini, who served as a special assistant to Dr. Maria Montessori for over 22 years. Additionally, he obtained his Elementary Montessori Diploma (6 to 12) from the Montessori St. Nicholas Centre in England. Since 1989, Daniel has prepared thousands of Montessori Teacher Candidates, tutored Montessori Teacher Education Workshops in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, and regularly lectures at international Montessori conferences. He is supported by faculty members who have become master teacher trainers after completing five years of training; all hold Montessori Diplomas and University credentials.

Matthieu Jutras

Web Administrator
Matthieu Jutras is currently employed as a web developer and systems administrator at the Institute, where he also serves as an assistant trainer in Ottawa. Having been an active member of the Institute since 2006, Matthieu completed his Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Training with the Institute in 2017. His first experience with Montessori education began as a child attending a Montessori school in Haïti from ages 3 to 5, and later in Perugia, Italy, at the age of 9. Driven by a desire to help others, Matthieu truly characterizes his life through the Montessori philosophy.

Jayanthi Rajagopalan

Montessori Teacher Trainer
Jayanthi Rajagopalan joined the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute in 2000 and has been a Master Teacher at our East York location. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology (1981) and obtained her International Montessori Diploma from London Montessori Centre, UK in 1999. Jayanthi is the Founder Director of Abacus Montessori that offers an authentic Montessori program for children at the Casa as well as Elementary level. She brings her vast experience in Montessori education as well as school management to the students she teaches. Jayanthi also regularly conducts parent seminars and presents at Montessori conferences in the US.

Anahita Faroogh

Montessori Teacher Trainer
Anahita Faroogh holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and received from CMTEI her Montessori Diploma in the year 2003. She owns 3 Montessori schools in Markham and enjoys teaching children as a Casa Montessori Directress. Anahita is a Certified Children Yoga instructor as well. Anahita has been working at the institute since 2010 and is a Montessori Master Teacher Trainer.

Sara Liu

Montessori Teacher Trainer

 Sara Liu received her B.A. in journalism in 1990 and her Montessori Diploma (3-6+) in 2003. Since 2006, Sara is working at the Institute as a Montessori Master Teacher Trainer. Sara is a Casa Directress and school supervisor in a school in Markham. She instills in her children a love for life, a love for self and a love for learning.

Narges Safari Rad

Montessori Teacher Trainer

Narges has over 18 years of experience as a Montessori educator, school principal, mentor, and teacher trainer. She has incorporated cognitive and brain-based approaches into her curriculum development work. Since 2022, she has been working at CMTEI as a Montessori Master Teacher Trainer, supporting future educators in connecting Montessori philosophy with classroom practice. Narges also serves as an instructor with the City of Mississauga, leading programs for young children and families. Beyond her classroom and teacher-training roles, she has presented webinars for educators and families on Montessori principles and on creating supportive learning environments at home.

Sudeshna Nag

Montessori Teacher Trainer

Sudeshna holds a Master’s degree in Hospital Management and has three years of professional experience working in hospitals. Her passion for working with children led her to pursue a MACTE-accredited Montessori Diploma from CMTEI, specializing in the Casa program. She now has five years of experience as a Montessori educator, supporting children’s learning and development in a nurturing environment. Today, she is proud to run her own Montessori home childcare, where she combines her experience, knowledge, and passion to provide children with a warm, engaging, and child-centred learning environment.

Julie Lyras

Montessori Teacher Trainer, Mentor and Teaching Practice Coordinator

Julie Lyras is a Montessori Master Trainer and Intern Supervisor with CMTEI. She holds Montessori certifications for both the primary (ages 3-6) and lower elementary (ages 6-9) levels and has taught at both levels. For over ten years, she has served as a Montessori teacher-trainer for both primary and elementary levels, presenting workshops for teachers at schools and conferences worldwide. Her work with students and teachers is infused with the passion of someone who has witnessed the transformative power of Montessori education firsthand throughout her twenty-year career.

So Jin Jung

Teaching Practice Coordinator

So Jin Jung joined CMTEI in 2010 as Teaching Practice Coordinator. Coming from South Korea in 1988, So Jin obtained her B.A. form U. of T. She received her training from CMTEI at both Casa (2004) and Elementary I (2006). She worked as Casa Directress and acted as mentor for many new teachers working in a Montessori schools. So Jin works with all Teacher candidates, Casa and Elementary for their Internship.

Crystal Jones

Montessori Teacher Trainer and Mentor
Crystal began with the CMTEI in 2007 as a Montessori Instructor, gaining her Montessori Master Teacher Diploma. Since then, Crystal continues to work in many different capacities such as Master Teacher, International Trainer, and Online Mentor. 
Crystal has extensive experience in working with both children and adults, and leading Montessori schools. Over the past 21 years in the Montessori field, she has held many roles from teaching assistant to School Owner/Head of School in Canada and abroad. Crystal has had the opportunity to share her Montessori knowledge all around the world including Panama, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, India, China, Vietnam, and Spain. She believes that the Montessori approach is a way of life and has allowed her love for Montessori to lead her learning journey.
Crystal holds ECE, Regio and Montessori diplomas from around the world and has gained certificates in Management and Behaviour Therapy. She understands how the Montessori approach to education can enrich everyone’s life. “Learning in different cultures has allowed me to observe and understand how beautiful it is to guide both children and adults with different backgrounds. It is also amazing to see that Montessori can fit into every person’s life!”

Somayeh Javanbakht

Montessori Teacher Trainer and Mentor
Somayeh is an ambitious and passionate mother and a Montessori Directress with a MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) accredited diploma from the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute (CMTEI) in Ottawa, trained by the Director of the Institute Dr. Daniel Jutras with utmost love and respect for children.
She is currently a Montessori Teacher Mentor with the Institute (CMTEI) and previously a Brand Manager with ten years of experience in multinational consumer packaged goods (CPG) and blue-chip consumer durable goods companies both in Canada and international marketing environment.
She holds a Masters degree in Quality Management and a BSc in Statistics which have given me a strong analytical background, along with the ability to bring together insights from multiple sources to engage and influence and drive change.

Marianne Rofaiel

Montessori Teacher Trainer and Mentor
Marianne Rofaiel holds a BA in French Literature (1999) and a specialized graduate diploma in translation (D.E.S.S, 2001). After working as a school teacher for 12 years, she decided to take the 3 - 6 Montessori training with CMTEI in 2014 and she obtained an E.C.E. certificate from Champlain college (2018). Marianne works as a Montessori guide in a preschool in Montreal.

Chrissy Sadowski

Montessori Teacher Trainer
Chrissy Sadowski has both her Montessori Diploma (3-6+) (2008) and Elementary I (2011) from CMTEI. She has a B.A. in Communications (2002) and Broadcasting, Television & Film Diploma (2004). Chrissy is the owner of Garden City Montessori School in St-Catherines and is currently tutoring. Her tutoring program is geared at Elementary children to help promote literacy and Mathematics. Chrissy is at CMTEI since 2010 as Instructor at the Elementary becoming a Montessori Master Teacher Trainer.

Julie Armstrong

Montessori Teacher Trainer
Julie Armstrong has been a member of the CMTEI Faculty since 2008 and is now a Montessori Master Teacher Trainer. She obtained a B.A. in Child Psychology (1997), her ECE in 1998 and her Montessori Diploma (3-6+) in 2008. Julie is Casa Directress and Infant and Toddler teacher-guide in a bilingual school in Brantford growing everyday with children. She is licensed Kindermusik Instructor.

Other Members of the Team

Jocelyne Martel - Guidance Counselor

Kristian Lalchan - Teacher Trainer - Montreal West, QC

Fay Sequeira - Mentor - Winnipeg, MB

Pascale Quirion - Teacher Trainer and Mentor - Quebec City, QC

Maya Kanana - Teacher Trainer and Mentor, Toronto, ON
Sudeshna Nag - Assistant Teacher Trainer, Mississauga, ON

Olive Somasunderam - Assistant Teacher Trainer, East York, ON

Edith L'Espérance - Human Resources Consultant 

Our Policies

The Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute is dedicated to:

  • Promote the highest standards in children's education by preparing teachers and educators according to MACTE standards.
  • Provide children with the highest quality Montessori teachers and educators who will nurture each child and support their individual needs.
  • Prepare leaders who can affirm and promote the inherent goodness, dignity, and freedom of all human beings.
  • Provide teacher candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the "Secret of Childhood".
  • Help gain insight into the true nature of child development.
  • Model the use of developmentally appropriate Montessori materials.
  • Demonstrate how respect for a child's inner teacher serves as the foundational principle for effective early childhood education.

Our purpose in providing education for teachers is to:

  • Develop teacher candidates into competent Montessori teachers who are well versed in both the philosophical theories and practical applications of all aspects of Montessori teaching.
  • Uphold a standard of excellence in addressing the educational needs of individuals dedicated to promoting the interests of children through the Montessori philosophy and its practical approach to education.

Registration

Our aim is to provide teacher candidates with the opportunities and resources necessary to acquire the knowledge and practical experience required to pursue a career as "first class" qualified Montessori teachers. The demand for well-trained educators continues to grow worldwide.


The Canadian Montessori Teachers Education Institute is committed to:

  • Preserve Montessori's philosophy and its respect for children as central to its mission.
  • Provide a comprehensive analysis of the Montessori constructivist approach to education.
  • Provide optimal preparation through practical and personalized methods for effectively implementing concepts in early childhood and elementary settings.
  • Provide high-quality education for future Montessori teachers using the Montessori approach, its materials, and curriculum.
  • Provide teacher candidates with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet the needs of children.
  • Prepare every teacher candidate to become an informed, sensitive, inspired, and knowledgeable  Montessori teacher or educator.

Registration

The Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute welcomes motivated individuals who have a passion for and respect for children in its Infant and Toddler Teacher Education, Early Childhood Education, and Elementary Education programs.


For the Assistant Workshop, the Institute welcomes Montessori assistant teachers as well as anyone interested in pursuing a career in a Montessori learning environment.

Registration

The Montessori Diploma Course is open to motivated individuals who possess a solid educational background and/or experience working with children.


Two fundamental non-academic requirements for entering the course are "motivation" and a "love of children" academic qualifications, prospective Montessori teacher candidates must possess at least a high school diploma. Photocopies of any diplomas are required.


Before accepting a prospective candidate, the Director of the Institute may conduct a personal interview with the applicant. During this interview, the applicant typically explains their reasons for wanting to pursue the Montessori Education Training Course. The Director evaluates the applicant's personal and professional goals to determine how they will align with working with children in a Montessori learning environment. The interview also highlights the applicant's strengths, the prospective role of a Montessori teacher or educator guide, their approach to collaborating with colleagues and engaging with parents, their philosophy regarding children with special needs, disabilities, or giftedness, and their perspective on contemporary family dynamics.


As part of the interview process, the Director may invite applicants, especially those who do not already work in a Montessori environment, to visit a school and observe the “life” of a Montessori teacher. This opportunity allows them to reaffirm their decision to pursue a career as a Montessori teacher or educator.


On the registration form, prospective candidates are required to detail their experience with children, as well as their talents and interests related to child development. They must also provide information about their completed academic degrees (transcripts are requested). Additionally, on the first day of the Montessori Education courses, each candidate is asked to share their expectations for the course, explaining their personal and/or professional motivations for pursuing Montessori preparation.

Registration

Download our Sexual Harassment and Violence Policy, as required under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.


Revised in September 2025.

Career Colleges Key Performance Indicators


PCC KPI
Montessori Teacher Diploma
Successful completion of coursework, examinations and Internship leads to the International Montessori Diploma awarded by the Institute, MACTE Accredited.
Online Registration