Navadisha Montessori Foundation was started in 2004 to bring AMI training to Chennai.  Rukmini Ramachandran returned to Chennai after training in London and Toronto. Latha Srikumar came on board to help with course administration. The first AMI Montessori 3-6 Diploma course at Navadisha had 11 students. Ramya Sridhar was among those who graduated.

Many of the AMI alumni, mainly from the 1994-1995 course held in Chennai under the lead of Zarin Malva rallied around to support the newly opened training centre, reading albums and receiving students for observation and teaching practice in the classes The 3-6 courses began to be established in the next few years and the institute welcomed students from different parts of the world. Ruby Lau began to work closely with Navadisha as a consultant. Zarin Malva supported and mentored the new training centre. Navadisha was honoured to have Hilla Patell as an examiner. Their collective guidance and experience helped establish the new direction.

In 2007, the first AMI Montessori 6-12 Diploma course in India was inaugurated. Jean Miller, an AMI 6-12 trainer from the US pioneered this effort. She was ably assisted by Carla Foster from Norway. The course had enrolled 18 students. Hemalatha Rangarajan, a graduate of the 1995 Chennai course came on board as a trainer in training.

Their graduation on the eve of the 26th International Montessori Congress held in Chennai was a landmark moment. Soon after several 6-12 Montessori environments were set up in Chennai and Hyderabad. We ran the first AMI Montessori Assistants Certificate Course at Navadisha with 70 students.

In 2012 Ann Dunne, a AMI 6-12 trainer and consultant committed herself to support and develop the newly-established 6-12 course and to build the community of schools and teachers strongly around it. Hemalatha Rangarajan became an AMI 3-6 trainer in 2013. At different points of time 12 trainers-in-training (3-6) and 7 trainers-in-training (6-12) from different parts of India and abroad participated in the Training courses at various points and were mentored at Navadisha on their journey to become trainers. In 2019 Ramya Sridhar became an AMI 3-6 Trainer.

The pandemic year was full of challenges and opportunities. With the support of AMI we met trainers worldwide and built on common experiences. We found new ways to engage with students and the wider community.