The Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute educates and prepares the whole person for life by providing a quality, personalized teacher education experience in a nurturing atmosphere and by valuing the uniqueness of each individual.

The purpose and structure of the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute is designed to prepare each student to meet MACTE competencies for early childhood educators as defined in the MACTE handbook.

Sister Anthonita Porta, OP, PhD, the executive co-director of ADMTEI in Adrian, Michigan, has been working as a Montessori professional since 1969. Sister Anthonita holds an honorary Doctorate in Education from Siena Heights University, a Masters in Education from Xavier University, an Early Childhood Montessori diploma from AMS and a BS in Home Economics.

Before entering the Montessori field in 1969, Sister Anthonita had 18 years of experience teaching at the elementary level. She founded the Montessori Children’s House in Adrian, Michigan in 1971 and was the administrator until 1993.

Sister Anthonita has been an adjunct professor at Siena Heights University from 1974-2002, has supervised student teachers from numerous education programs and has been involved nationally presenting both workshops and seminars.  She is presently an educational consultant for the American Montessori Society and the Head Start Program.

Sister Leonor J Esnard, OP, PhD, shares the leadership as ADMTEI co-director and is the Internship Coordinator for the program.  Sister Leonor J. Esnard received her doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Toledo, her MA in Elementary Education from Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI and her BA in Sociology from St. Dominic College in St. Charles, IL.

Sister Leonor was editorial assistant for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education from 1989-1992. She holds an AMS Early Childhood Credential (1975) and has Michigan Elementary Certification (K-8). Sister Leonor was a faculty member in the School of Education at Barry University in Miami, FL from 1993 until 2004.

• education involves the whole person; spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual and physical.positive self esteem is basic to learning.
• a prepared environment positively affects learning.
• in a God-centered, ethical and moral framework of education.
• in and respect the interdependancy of all creation.
• we are co-creators of God's justice and peace.
• in the worth and dignity of each individual.
• students learn more effectively in an environment of collaboration and cooperation.
• in the uniqueness of each person.
• education is a developmental process based on life experiences and reflection.
• in academic excellence.

We are proud to be MACTE accredited, and AMS affiliated.