AMS Emerging Global Leadership Fellows (EGLF)

We’re excited to share that our fellowship has been rebranded and redesigned—with a new name and refreshed content built to meet the demands of today’s evolving global leadership landscape.

Build the future of Montessori leadership—together. 

AMS invites you to step into a transformative fellowship where practice meets impact and leaders become architects of change.

Are you committed to the future of Montessori education and ready to lead global, adaptive systems change across classrooms, schools, teacher education, policy, research, partnerships, and advocacy by listening deeply, diagnosing real needs, and adapting with integrity so Montessori remains rigorous, culturally responsive, and accountable worldwide?

If so, we invite you to apply for the Emerging Global Leadership Fellows (EGLF).

In the Emerging Global Leadership Fellows program, you will strengthen your capacity to interpret contextual dynamics across cultures and settings, discern communities’ most urgent and aspirational needs, and adapt strategy without compromising Montessori pedagogy, while building the leadership skill to navigate complexity, mobilize stakeholders, and design responsive pathways that honor local realities and advance a shared global vision so the work you lead fits the people you serve.

EGLF is AMS’s flagship leadership fellowship focused on real-world implementation. Fellows design, execute, and document a capstone implementation project within their community. This is not a research study—it’s an applied leadership journey that turns evidence into action.

Join a network of educators, school and system leaders, and teacher-education faculty committed to leading with courage, clarity, and global perspective.

APPLY NOW

Why Join

Learn by Leading 

EGLF is built for doers. You’ll plan and deliver a real implementation with coaching, feedback, and tools that you can reuse across initiatives. 

Grow in Community 

Work in peer pods and with executive leadership coaches who understand Montessori and systems change. Share practice, solve problems, and accelerate learning. 

Make It Stick 

Translate research into operational playbooks—policy/practice briefs, board decks, communications plans, and milestone trackers—so your work sustains beyond the fellowship. 

Lead with a Global Lens 

Strengthen your capacity for global competence, equity, and belonging—so local improvements align with Montessori’s universal promise.

Program Structure

• Duration: 8 months
• Format: Blended—live virtual sessions + optional in-person touchpoints 
• Time Commitment: 10 hours/month (sessions, pod work, coaching, implementation) 
• Coaching: Executive coaching + implementation clinics 
• Peer Pods: Cross-role, cross-region accountability groups 
• Showcase: Public share-out of capstones (virtual; optional in-person showcase) 

Recognition: AMS certificate and digital credential upon successful completion. 

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: April 24, 2026
• Notifications: June 1, 2026 (Payment June 22, 2026) 
• Fellowship Start: August 3, 2026 

Capstone Showcase: March 2027

Fees and Expenses

Program Fee: $2,800

Included

• Full fellowship curriculum, executive-style coaching, capstone mentorship, and peer community 
• Digital resources and completion certificate 
• In-person registration for The Montessori Event 2027 (Capstone Showcase)

Not Included

• Travel and lodging for the Capstone Showcase (typ. 3 nights)
• Any discretionary books/supplies for your implementation work

Attend an Information Session

Attend an information session to learn more about EGLF on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 5:00 - 6:00 pm ET.

Register for the Info Session

How to Apply

Download the Information Guide for details on preparing for the application. 

APPLY NOW

Selection Criteria 

• Clarity and feasibility of the proposed implementation 
• Equity and belonging impact 
• Readiness (role, support, timeline) 
• Potential for learning that transfers to other contexts

By applying to this program, you are agreeing to the AMS Terms of Service. 

What You'll Gain

• Collaboration: A vibrant network of fellows, mentors, and thought partners. 
• Knowledge: Practical frameworks across leadership, implementation science, and Montessori system design. 
• Impact: An implemented change (with artifacts) you can showcase to boards, families, funders, and partners. 
• Development: 1:1 coaching, peer accountability, and iterative feedback cycles. 
• Innovation: Structured opportunities to pilot, measure, and refine your approach.

Who Should Apply

• Montessori school and system leaders (public, charter, independent) 
• Montessori teacher-education faculty and program directors 
• Montessori guides and coordinators stepping into cross-school influence 
• Policy/advocacy partners working alongside Montessori systems 

Ideal candidates bring a clear problem of practice, the authority to act, and the will to learn in public. In addition, they have 3-5 years of Montessori classroom experience as a lead guide.

Program Pillars 

1. Lead Self: Clarity of purpose, timeboxing, decision rhythms, and stakeholder mapping 
2. Lead Teams: Pod structures, co-design routines, and feedback that moves work 
3. Lead Systems: From pilot to policy—aligning budgets, roles, and accountability 
4. Lead the Story: Messaging, board decks, community briefs, and evidence narratives 

Capstone Deliverables 

• Implementation Plan with milestones, owners, and artifacts
• Policy/Practice Brief
• Board/Comms Deck tailored to your stakeholders
• Evidence Snapshot
• Public Share-Out

FAQs

Is this a research program? 

No. EGLF is an applied leadership fellowship. Your capstone is an implementation project based on research in application. However, it will not be an academic paper.

What if my project changes? 

Great—implementation evolves. You’ll learn to adapt while protecting scope and outcomes. 

Can teams apply, and does everyone need an application?

Yes. Individuals or small teams (up to 3) may apply. If applying as a team, each fellow must submit an individual application and have clearly defined responsibilities aligned to the shared project.

What support will I receive? 

Executive coaching, peer pods, implementation clinics, and templates (plans, briefs, decks, data snapshots) are included. 

Is travel required?

Yes—travel is required only for the capstone project. The core program is virtual.