Montessori At Brookstone

Six Years at Brookstone Montessori — A Very Different Experience Under the Current Administration Our family was part of Montessori at Brookstone for more than six years. For most of that time we truly loved the school and recommended it to others. Our oldest child had an excellent experience, particularly under the previous director, who in our experience worked collaboratively with families and focused on what was best for the children. Because of that positive experience, we referred several families and expected our youngest child to have a similar journey. Unfortunately, our experience changed significantly. During our youngest child’s time at the school, we began having concerns about her classroom environment and interactions with her teacher. We shared these concerns with the director. We also asked whether our daughter could be moved to another classroom — specifically one where our older child had previously thrived with a teacher we trusted. According to what we were told, a classroom change was not an option, and we were encouraged to address our concerns directly with the teacher. We did meet with the teacher to discuss expectations. While the meeting appeared constructive at the time, we later felt that communication between the teacher and our family became strained. Over time, based on what we observed in the classroom and through the parent camera system, we became increasingly concerned about our daughter’s classroom experience and raised those concerns with the administration. From our perspective, the situation did not improve. At one point we were informed that the school might not be the best fit for our family. Shortly afterward, our daughter was unenrolled very suddenly. This was extremely difficult for our daughter because Montessori at Brookstone was the only school she had ever known. She was unable to finish her Pre-K year or graduate with the friends she had grown up with there. The experience was very upsetting for her, and she has needed additional support to process what happened. Because this occurred after the school year had already begun, many other schools were already full and it took several weeks before we were able to find another placement. As two full-time working parents, this created a very challenging and unexpected situation for our family. Thankfully, we have since found a wonderful new school where our daughter is thriving. What has been most striking is the difference in how the administration treats families and genuinely cares about the well-being of the children. We did not fully realize how difficult the environment had become at Montessori at Brookstone until we left. Questions we would encourage prospective parents to ask before enrolling: • How are parent concerns handled when classroom issues arise? • Are classroom changes possible if a child is struggling in a particular environment? • What steps are taken to resolve concerns with families before a child is asked to leave? In our experience, the current administration at Montessori at Brookstone— both the director and her assistant — created an environment that was very difficult for families raising concerns. For the sake of your child and your family, I would strongly encourage you to carefully consider other options or ask detailed questions before enrolling.

Montessori at Brookstone has been amazing for our two year old. She loves going to school and has learned so much. The teachers are caring, attentive, and truly invested in the children. We feel confident and grateful knowing our child is in such a nurturing environment. Highly recommend!

We love our Montessori school! My husband and I, together with our two kids, ages 3 and 2, moved to the area about a year ago. We were not familiar with the Montessori school system and through exploration of schools in the area, had a tour and decided that this was the place for our children. From day one we were welcomed with kindness and the kids have flourished. Our oldest is an active learner and we were worried she would be held at the pace of her peers, but not with Montessori. She is able to progress at her own pace and not held back which is what we wanted for her. The teachers and staff are all wonderful and consistent, creating a warm and nurturing environment and our expectations for the children's progress and development have been exceeded. The curriculum encourages our kids’ natural curiosity and academic growth, which has truly inspired them. We are so happy with the experience and are so glad that we found this school!

Montessori at Brookstone has been a wonderful experience for our family. The teachers and staff are incredibly welcoming, respectful, and genuinely caring. My child has learned so much and is very confident in her knowledge, which speaks volumes about the quality of education she’s receiving. Most importantly, my daughter feels safe, supported, and loved every day. I would definitely recommend this school to any parent looking for a nurturing and enriching learning environment.

We have tried many schools but this one by far has so many outstanding qualities and was a perfect fit. Great environment, safety is a top concern, other parents are friendly, the teachers are very hands on, they really meet your child where they are and help them transition to the Montessori way. I could go on and on! We have been surprised time and time again about how caring and loving the faculty is. I don’t know what we are going to do when it’s time to transition to Elementary, we will really miss it here. This school is AMAZING.