Drake-DMPS partnership to support growth in DMPS Montessori options
Drake University announced today the launch of a new Master of Science in Montessori Education program—an initiative designed to support teachers within Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). The three-year agreement with DMPS is exclusive to Drake University and will serve a new cohort of at least 20 current DMPS teachers each year for the next three years, beginning with the Fall 2025 semester.
The new program will address the growing need for Montessori-certified educators in Iowa’s capital city following the recent announcement of DMPS transitioning Jackson Elementary to a Montessori school–bringing a fourth Montessori program to the DMPS district. DMPS has offered the Metro’s only Montessori program at Cowles for more than 30 years and recently introduced Montessori programming at Findley Elementary and Pleasant Hill Elementary.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Des Moines Public Schools and the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector on this specialized Master’s program,” said Ryan Wise, Dean of the Drake University School of Education. “This initiative deeply reflects our mission to prepare, support, and inspire educators to lead and serve in our constantly changing world. It not only supports the district’s vision for Montessori education but also provides DMPS teachers with a unique pathway to advance their expertise in this highly effective pedagogical approach. Together we will help transform student lives and strengthen our Des Moines community through the dedicated work of these future Montessori leaders.”
“As part of our commitment at Des Moines Public Schools to reimagine education, expanding access to high-quality learning models, such as Montessori, is an important priority. Long the home to Iowa’s only public Montessori school, DMPS will soon offer the Montessori curriculum at four schools,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent at DMPS. “That is why this new partnership with Drake University, launching a Master’s program for our teachers in Montessori education, is so important and exciting. In collaboration with the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, this graduate program will help us prepare and support the educators needed to lead our growing Montessori efforts.”
Program Details
Drake and the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) have designed 12 courses, consisting of 35 total credit hours, with enrolled DMPS teachers taking two courses per semester. Following NCMPS’s model for Montessori Teacher Residencies, a key feature of the program is its robust practical experience. Significant practicum components will be embedded throughout the program, led by Montessori-certified instructors and adjunct faculty, ensuring that learning is applied in real-world classroom settings.
Fall 2025 enrollees who successfully complete the program will graduate in December 2027, earning a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Montessori Education from Drake University and a MACTE-accredited Certificate in Montessori Education through the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector.
While the new Master of Science in Montessori Education program is initially open only to DMPS teachers as part of the exclusive partnership, Drake anticipates opening the program more broadly in the future.