Equity in Education Scholarship

Equity in Education Scholarship is a grant from Montessori Northwest that funds teacher training for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous learners seeking to enter Montessori education. The MNW Foundation awards five scholarships of $4,000 each annually to increase access and expand representation among Montessori educators.

Applicants must self-identify as Black, Latinx, or Indigenous, be accepted into the Portland Primary (ages 3-6) Program starting in 2026, maintain good academic standing, and be U.S. citizens. Scholarships are dependent on available funds and the number of qualified applicants. The deadline for the current cycle was April 22, 2026.

Financial Assistance — Montessori Northwest The MNW Foundation awards Equity in Education scholarships annually to Black, Latinx, and/or Indigenous learners in effort to increase access and expand representation in Montessori education.

Five (5) $4,000 scholarships awarded annually - dependent on available funds and number of applicants Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the information below and prepare their application prior to starting it. Applicants will not be able to save the form while completing it. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Representation Matters: Montessori education needs teachers who mirror the children they are assisting! At Montessori Northwest, we have been actively working to increase access to educators of the Global Majority. Our commitment to creating pathways to AMI Training requires us to be innovative and adaptive.

Since 2020 we have offered a blended format and consciously worked to integrate Anti-Bias Anti-Racist and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles into training. In 2022, we amended our scholarships to focus on creating a cohort of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx learners through the Equity in Education Scholarship Fund. Montessori Northwest’s Equity in Education Scholarships decrease learners' tuition by approximately 30%!

To be eligible for the MNW Equity in Education scholarship you must: Self-identify as Black, Latinx, and/or Indigenous Be accepted into the Portland Primary (3-6) Program starting in 2026 Maintain good academic standing throughout the program at MNW (learners who have entered academic probation will not receive the award) Scholarship only available to U.S. citizens The Form requires three short-responses (approximately 300 words in length) to the following: Do you self-identify as Black, Latinx, and/or Indigenous?

Why did you choose an AMI Diploma Program? Why did you choose to apply to Montessori Northwest’s program? Tell us about a personal accomplishment of which you are proud.

Note: We encourage you to prepare your responses prior to starting the form as you will not be able to save the form.

Applications accepted March 15 - April 22, 2026 The information requested on the scholarship form is confidential Incomplete forms will not be considered Completed forms reviewed on a rolling basis Awardees will be notified via email starting May 1, 2026 Forms are accepted until all scholarships have been awarded Awards are applied toward learner's final tuition payment The Nancy Hildick Scholarships are awarded annually to learners who plan to work as guide for a full three-year cycle at a Montessori school in Oregon.

Two (2) $2,500 scholarships awarded annually - dependent on available funds and number of applicants Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the information below and prepare their application prior to starting it. Applicants will not be able to save the form while completing it. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Nancy had a vision to honor and guide the important work of childhood and learned that it takes a community to raise young humans who go on to change the world. Nancy Hildick’s interest in early childhood education began in the 1950’s while working alongside her mother, Patricia Hickox, in the family’s small childcare center in Multnomah Village.

However, while studying Art History at University, she did not yet realize how the education of young children would become the guiding vision of her life and legacy. After college, Nancy attended a conference where she discovered the Montessori approach that changed the course of her career and life. That same year, Nancy and her mother set out to prepare an authentic Montessori early learning environment.

In 1968, the mother and daughter team opened their first Montessori classroom in a former church building on SW Vermont Street in Portland and named it West Hills Montessori School. At that time, the Montessori movement had scarcely made its way to Portland and Nancy became instrumental in supporting the development of a regional Montessori community of educators and schools.

While working tirelessly to grow the West Hills Montessori School community, and raising her own two children, Nancy co-founded the Oregon Montessori Association in 1978. She recruited an AMI teacher trainer, Rita Schafer, to come to Portland and train Montessori teachers and, in 1979, Nancy co-founded The Montessori Education Center of Oregon ; now known as Montessori Northwest .

Ever active in lobbying the Oregon Legislature for rule changes in support of Montessori programs in Oregon, Nancy also served as Treasurer for the North American Montessori Teacher Association (NAMTA) for ten years while also administering West Hills Montessori School and its rapidly expanding programs. In 1980, Nancy was among the first graduating class of AMI Montessori guides in Portland.

Nancy Hildick is a true pioneer in the movement to bring quality Montessori education to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Today, Portland boasts one of the most vibrant Montessori communities in the nation, and West Hills Montessori School celebrates almost 60 years guiding children who go on to make the world a better place. This is Nancy’s proud legacy.

In honor of her lifelong devotion to Montessori education, we have established the Nancy Hildick Scholarship Fund to inspire and support young Montessorians in training.

To be eligible for the Nancy Hildick Scholarship you must: Plan to work as a Guide at an Oregon school for a full three-cycle Demonstrate financial need Be accepted into any MNW AMI Diploma Program starting in 2026 Maintain good academic standing throughout the program at MNW Scholarship only available to U.S. citizens The Application requires three short-responses (approximately 300 words in length) to the following: Share your career plans for the next 3-5 years.

Why did you choose an AMI Diploma Program? Why did you choose to apply to Montessori Northwest’s program? Tell us about a personal accomplishment of which you are proud.

Applicants must also submit the following income/tax details to be considered: copies of income tax returns for the two most recent tax years Note: We encourage you to prepare your responses and financial details prior to starting the form as you will not be able to save the form.

Applications accepted March 15 - April 22, 2026 The information requested on the scholarship form is confidential Incomplete forms will not be considered Awardees will be notified via email starting May 1, 2026 Awards are applied toward learner's final tuition payment MNW accepts donations for both scholarship funds 100% of your Tax-deductible Donation goes to funding scholarships MNW is a 501(c) nonprofit.

Tax ID#: 93-0741999 MNW has partnered with Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, to offer several degree options for AMI diploma seekers and holders to efficiently meet their education goals. All degree programs are financial aid eligible for US citizens. Learn more .

MNW frequently receives inquiries from schools worldwide in need of educators. Many are eager to sponsor talented teachers by covering the cost of their training or offering reimbursement in exchange for a commitment to join their faculty. Learn More