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.

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.

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.

Yanick Tremblay

Montessori Teacher Trainer and Mentor
Montessori is a family business for Yanick. He was fortunate to begin his Montessori journey straight out of highschool by joining his mother's school in Kitchener, Ontario in 2012. After a year as assistant, he graduated from CMTEI in 2013 and has directed both Casa and Toddler environments. Steeped in Montessori, Yanick joined the Institute in 2015 and became a Master Teacher in 2020. He is on his way to taking ownership of his Mother's school and continuing her legacy.

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.

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.

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
Narges Safari Rad - Teacher Trainer, Mississauga, 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 committed to:

  • Promote the highest standard in the education of children by preparing teachers and educators as per the MACTE standards
  • Provide children with the best possible Montessori teachers and educators who will care for each child, and can support each of their  needs
  • Prepare leaders who can affirm and promote the essential goodness, dignity and freedom of all human beings
  • Provide the teacher-candidates with a thorough understanding of the "Secret of Childhood"
  • Help gain insight into the true nature of  child development
  • Model the use of developmentally appropriate Montessori material
  • Demonstrate how respect for the child's inner teacher serves as the integrating principle for effective childhood education

Our purpose in providing education for teachers is to:

  • Develop teacher-candidates into competent Montessori teachers, well versed in the philosophical theory and practical application of all aspects of Montessori teaching
  • Uphold a standard of excellence in meeting the educational needs of the people who are committed to fostering the interests of the child through the Montessori's philosophical and practical approach to education

Registration

Our aim is to provide teacher-candidates with the opportunities and resources necessary to gain the necessary knowledge and practical experience to pursue a career as "first flass" qualified Montessori teachers. The need for well-trained teachers continues to grow all over the planet. 



The Canadian Montessori Teachers Education Institute's commitment is to:

  • Preserve Montessori's philosophy and respect for children central to its purpose
  • Provide an in-depth study of the Montessori constructivist concept of education
  • Provide optimal preparation in the practical and personalized ways in which concepts can be implemented effectively in Early Childhood and Elementary settings
  • Provide high quality education for future Montessori teachers using the Montessori approach, it's materials and curriculum
  • Provide the teacher candidates with knowledge and the practical skills relevant to the needs of the child
  • Prepare every teacher-candidate to become an informed, sensitive, inspired and knowledgeable "first class" Montessori teacher or educator

Registration

For the Infant and Toddler Teacher education, Early Childhood education and the Elementary education, the Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute is open to the motivated who have love and respect for children.


For the Assistant Workshop, the Institute is open to Montessori assistant-teachers, or anyone considering a career in a Montessori learning environment.

Registration

The Montessori  Diploma Course is open to motivated persons who have acquired a sound educational background and or who have experience with children.


Two basic non-academic requirements needed to enter the course are "motivation" and "love of children". Regarding the academic requirements, prospective candidate Montessori teachers must have completed, at the minimum, high school diploma. Photocopies of any diplomas are requested.


Prior to accepting a prospective candidate, the Director of the Institute may conduct a personal interview with the applicant. During this interview, the applicant usually gives reasons why he/she wishes to receive the Montessori Education training Course. The Director verifies the applicants' personal and professional goals and ascertains how the goals will integrate with working with children in a Montessori learning environment. The interview also focuses on the strengths of the applicant; the prospective role of a Montessori teacher or educator guide; the approach in working with colleagues or dealing with parents; the philosophy of life regarding children with special needs, handicaps, or gifted, and today's family.


As part of the interview process, the Director may invite applicants especially those who do not already work in a Montessori environment to come to a school to observe the "life" of a Montessori teacher in order to reaffirm their choice of becoming a Montessori teacher or educator.


On the registration form, prospective candidates write their experience with children, their talents and interests related to children, and their academic degree completed (transcripts requested). Also on the first day of the Montessori Education courses, each candidate is asked to give his/her expectations about this Montessori  Education course explaining his/her personal and/or professional reasons for receiving the Montessori preparation.

Registration

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


Revised in August 2024.

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