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.

Before entering the Montessori field in 1969, Sister Anthonita had 18 years of experience teaching traditional education at the elementary level. She founded the St Joseph Academy, Montessori Children’s House in Adrian, Michigan with Sister Leonor J. Esnard in 1971. Sister Anthonita was the administrator of the Academy until 1993.

Sister Anthonita founded the teacher education program here in Adrian in 1991 and was the Executive Director until her death in 2009.  Sister Anthonita taught as an adjunct professor for Siena Heights University from 1974-2002, supervised student teachers from numerous education programs and was involved internationally as an education consultant and keynote speaker, presenting both workshops and seminars. 

We continue to honor the memory, the spirit and the work of Sister Anthonita Porta.  Her love, her teaching and her exuberant energy will be dearly missed.

03/09/33 - 09/09/09

Sister Leonor J Esnard, OP, PhD, is the Exeutive Director of ADMTEI and is also 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.