ABOUT US
Quality Montessori education is in rising demand in both the public and the private school sectors. International Center for Montessori Studies (ICMS) offers year round Early Childhood and Elementary I-II Montessori Certification Programs. We also provide Elementary II to those already Elementary I certified. Born from the idea that Montessori schools in the area are lacking trained Upper Elementary teachers, we are dedicated to bring more options to the teachers in our community. Further your knowledge of the Montessori method by joining our programs.
Meet our Director
Heidy Lilchin, our Founder and Director, is a certified Montessori educator, an art and music enthusiast, and an advocate for Montessori education. Heidy received her Bachelor’s degree in Pre-K Primary Education, and holds a Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Barry University. She holds American Montessori Society credentials in Early Childhood and Elementary I & II. She is a Pre-K to 3rd grade Florida State certified teacher and holds a Florida Child Care Center Director’s Credential.
​
Heidy has a 20+ years of Montessori teaching experience that includes teaching children in Montessori classroom environments ranging from ages 3 to 12 years old at Casa dei Bambini Montessori School in Miami Beach from 1998 to 2007, teaching and directing the Montessori Teacher Education Programs at Barry University from 2002 to 2014, and developing and coordinating curriculum at Miami Shores Montessori School, St. Christopher By the Sea Montessori School, and Miami Jewish Montessori School. She is currently the Executive Director and Board member of the Montessori Florida Coalition and serves as an Early Childhood representative for the American Montessori Society Teacher Education Action Commission. Heidy lives with her husband and two children in North Bay Village, Florida.
Mission & Philosophy
ICMS' mission is to provide quality and authentic Montessori Teacher Training in Early Childhood and Elementary Montessori Education. We believe that more children should benefit from the pedagogy of Dr. Maria Montessori, and in order to achieve that purpose we must educate the educators.
​
ICMS provides an environment that encourages the betterment of today’s society. Education is the path to societal evolution. We strongly believe that the philosophy designed by Maria Montessori will help achieve this goal. Therefore, training teachers using the Montessori method will enable our future teachers to meet the needs of our future generations.
Meet our faculty
Courses offered at ICMS are presented by experienced faculty of Montessori Educators. All instructors are Montessori Credentialed teachers, have worked in classrooms with children and have experience as teacher educators.
Early Childhood Instructors
Heidy Lilchin Simon
Mireya Medina
Melissa Pena Koch
Lorena Tasker
Lori Vega
Elementary Instructors
Heidy Lilchin Simon
Kim Barreto Loaiza
Solana Corradi
Maria Goyen Castillo
Mireya Medina
Melissa Pena Koch
Karen Simon
Elizabeth Willis