Cristel Ruiz is an AMI 0-3 Trainer, AMI 0-3 Examiner, and AMI-USA 0-3 Consultant, though her most important role has been as a Montessori parent to three amazing humans. Cristel has extensive classroom, adult-infant program, administrative, and leadership experience in Montessori schools, as well as contributions in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. As Director of 0-3 Training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas, Cristel offers teacher training, workshops, and mentoring; she also supports accreditation and governmental processes for MINT as Special Projects Coordinator.

Cristel holds a Master of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning from Endicott College; the AMI Assistants to Infancy (0-3) Diploma from the Montessori Institute of North Texas; a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, with a focus in Education, from the University of Houston-Clear Lake; the AMI Montessori Core Principles Certificate; the AMI Montessori for Aging & Dementia Workshop Certificate; certification as a Trauma-Informed Coach; and Musikgarten Training for ages birth to five.