Accreditation & Associations
Post Oak is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), a voluntary membership association of private schools founded in 1955. ISAS consists of 90 member schools located in Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, enrolling over 56,378 students.
The school is also authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for the Diploma Years Programme (grades 11 and 12).
Post Oak maintains membership in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA), the Houston Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), and Independent School Management (ISM). Our teachers are members of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
The Post Oak School is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), which inspects before- and after-school programs for children from birth to age six to ensure the minimum standards required by the state of Texas. Parents may obtain a copy of the minimum standards of the TDFPS and the school’s most recent licensing report by contacting the admission director. To contact the agency, call 713-940-5284 or visit their website at www.dfps.state.tx.us.
AMI Teacher Training
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1929 and continues to supervise its accredited teacher-training centers. These courses prepare adults to work with children at the Infant level (prenatal to three years of age), the Primary level (ages three to six), the Elementary level (ages six to 12), and the adolescent level (12 to 18).
Montessori is a complex approach to human development, from birth to maturity, based upon universal principles. It is international in that, when done in an exacting manner, it can be used with children of all nationalities with the same results. The training is essentially the same everywhere, with natural adaptations to the language and culture of each country. Lectures, seminars, the preparation of materials and curriculum texts, observation, and practice teaching are all carried out under the direct supervision of the training centers. Each course lasts one or two academic years; these courses are thorough and require intense study. Some training centers offer both academic-year and multi-summer formats.
The courses actively seek students from all nations, races, and creeds. The AMI diploma is universally recognized for the quality and authenticity of the training given.
Course admission requirements vary from country to country. In the United States, a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite; all centers do make some exceptions based upon the candidate’s experience and intentions. A few AMI courses offer undergraduate degree credit; all offer graduate school credit.
The Houston Montessori Institute, part of The Post Oak School, is an accredited AMI teacher training center.