DOTHAN MONTESSORI

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Dothan Montessori School. From the moment our son walked through the doors, we knew we had found something truly special. The staff is incredibly attentive. They don’t just teach children, they see them. They take the time to understand each child as an individual and meet them exactly where they are. The kindness that radiates from every teacher and staff member is unlike anything we’ve experienced. Our son lights up when he talks about his day, and that tells us everything we need to know. The Montessori approach has given him a love of learning that we didn’t even know was possible at his age. As parents, we make a lot of decisions — and this one stands above all of them. Dothan Montessori School is, without question, the best money we have ever spent. If you’re on the fence about enrolling your child, don’t hesitate. This place is the real deal, and your child will thrive here just like ours has. We are so grateful this school exists in our community. 🙏

We’ve had an extraordinary experience at DMS and were so thankful it was an option when our daughter turned 18 months old. We switched from a daycare setting and immediately felt more at ease. To us, what stands out most is the healthy food served for snack, focus on teaching emotional intelligence and life skills, and time outside in nature. We liked that she wasn’t only being babysat. It’s a gift to be able to drop your child off at an enriching place that is led with integrity. We’re extremely thankful for this clean, kind, healthy environment.

I have what most people would consider a “Velcro child.” She is extremely attached to me and I was initially very concerned about starting her in school. The director and teachers were SO kind and extremely patient during the transition. I’d get multiple updates a day about how she was doing, including photos, that would set me at ease for the rest of the day. She has been at DMS for almost a year and a half now, and tells me every day how much she loves school, friends, and teachers. She has absolutely blossomed at DMS. The wonderful teachers and lovely atmosphere are a joy and blessing to our family. I’m so glad we found DMS!

After bringing a serious concern to their attention regarding a teacher, they immediately decided my children were no longer welcome at their school before looking into the incident. After realizing their poor decision, they attempted to retract their statement but left the teacher in place stating they would retrain all teachers to prevent similar treatment to another child. They now are ignoring all calls and emails without any refund which defines their credibility to me. Of note, they have a new director every year and have not maintained consistent staffing with teachers. They are not an accredited Montessori school. What happened to my child in their care is unacceptable. If I could rate them a negative 5 it would be too high. The least they could do is refund unused tuition considering they admitted observing a teacher placing their hands on my child more than once. Edit: I want to provide additional context to my original review. My son, who is autistic, was physically restrained multiple times by a teacher at this school, causing him pain, redness, and significant distress. He has directly reported this to me, and I have witnessed the emotional impact. Recently, my son shared that another autistic child in the class was treated similarly, which is very concerning and suggests the teacher may target neurodivergent children. Just days after my review, the teacher involved posted a positive review of the school. This is extremely misleading to families considering enrollment. My review is based on firsthand experience and my son’s direct account and I hope it helps other parents make fully informed decisions regarding the safety of their children.