Our goal is to provide outstanding Montessori education for the children at the preschool through elementary level, and an exemplary model of Montessori education for the community of Missoula.

Garden City Montessori offers an optimum learning environment rich in language, mathematics, science, cultural studies and fine arts. Each child is enabled to realize their greatest potential and to become confident and contributing members of their community. Our approach to education begins with a deep respect for each child as an individual, and the understanding that each child’s individual growth is interwoven with responsibility toward others. In our classrooms children feel respected for their interests, vision, and needs. In this setting each child’s deep love of learning flows naturally.

All Garden City curricula is developed from a foundation of best practices for Montessori education as set forth by the American Montessori Society and the Montessori Foundation. Our instruction is highly individualized, based on an understanding of each child’s interests, aptitude, and learning style. It is an environment where learning and work are seen as the means to happiness, self construction, and a deep love for others and the world.

The Montessori Philosophy is a way of observing each child individually to discover his or her unique personality, needs, tendencies and talents. Inherent in this philosophy is respect for each child’s choices, interests, ways of processing information and learning. It is a profound respect for and protection of the crucial periods of concentration and contemplation that guide the child and reveal the peaceful, happy human — kind, generous, focused, hard working, healthy and creative.

The Montessori prepared environment supports free movement in a beautiful and inspiring place. The world is introduced with joy, beauty and precise work with the hands and the mind. It is an environment where learning and work are seen as the means to happiness, self construction and a deep love for others and the world.

“The high academic achievement that usually accompanies Montessori education is merely a by-product of learning with joy.”

Michael Olaf

The Montessori Foundation

Working to inspire and support the development of strong, successful Montessori schools around the world, and to provide clear answers to the questions that parents and educators ask about the Montessori approach.

Association Montessori International

Founded in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori to maintain the integrity of her life’s work, and to ensure that it would be perpetuated after her death. AMI’s activities include: providing guidance for AMI training courses, guiding the manufacturers recognized by AMI in the production of Montessori materials, overseeing the publication of Dr. Montessori’s books, organizing congresses and study conferences, and publishing the magazine “Communications”, and the “AMI Bulletin”.

North American Montessori Teachers Association

NAMTA was founded in 1970 as an affiliate organization of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). It is a membership organization open to parents, teachers, and anyone interested in Montessori education. NAMTA provides a medium of study, interpretation, and improvement of Montessori education through its publications, audio-visual collection, electronic communications, conferences, and research and service projects throughout North America and the world.

The International Montessori Index

There is no legal protection for the name Montessori. Thus it is important that anyone searching for a good Montessori school or training center be aware of this and know what to look for.The International Montessori Index was created to provide detailed information for those in search of high quality Montessori resources.

American Montessori Society

The AMS mission is to provide the leadership and inspiration to make Montessori a significant voice in education. The society advocates quality Montessori education, strengthens members through its services, and champions Montessori principles to the greater community.

Recommended Reading

North American Teachers Association’s Recommended Reading list on Montessori Education.

Bev has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from the University of Southern Maine. She has fourteen years of experience teaching in the classroom and nine years experience as a trainer and consultant establishing conflict resolution and peer mediation programs in schools across Montana.

For seven seasons Bev designed, and was Lead Instructor, for the Summer Arts/Leadership Program serving at-risk-youth in Missoula. She has extensive experience teaching in preschool, elementary, and high school classrooms, in both core curriculum areas and in the visual arts.

In June of 2006 Bev attended the Montana Montessori Teacher Education Institute for her AMS 3-6 Primary Certification and pursued her long held dream to open Garden City Montessori School. Through her own efforts and the labors of many wonderful people, Garden City has grown into a mature and thriving school, now serving children from age 3 through 4th grade.

Bev loves hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She is a painter and ceramic artist as well, and is very happy sharing art with children and friends. Her most recent accomplishments in art are clay murals created with her students at Two Eagle River School in Pablo, Montana.

Bev’s greatest joy is her son, Julian, whose intelligence, creativity, and fantastic spirit are always her delight.

After graduating from the University of Montana with a BA in Sociology, Megan took the opportunity to travel and to complete a work-study position in organic farming. It was during these adventures that she first encountered Montessori education and was inspired. In 2004 she moved to Arizona to begin her Elementary 1 Montessori training through the Center for Montessori Teacher Education while working in a classroom as an assistant at Villa Montessori School. She was blown away by the impact that Montessori education had on children and went on to pursue a Masters of Education in Montessori through Ottawa University.

Megan knew of her passion for education early on, but observing a Montessori classroom is what guided her path. The philosophy of Montessori parallels her own belief that all children are unique beings, deserving a comprehensive education, which incorporates the classroom, the community, and the environment as a whole. Megan is now in her 7th year as the Elementary Teacher at Garden City Montessori and pleased to be a part of the growing Elementary Program.

Megan loves to travel and explore the vast open areas of Montana as well as spend time with the people that are close to her heart. Her son Brooks, husband Damien, and dog Porter are some of her favorites! Whether hiking, camping, climbing, or snowboarding, she prefers being outside most anytime.

Reina started her Montessori journey with with her own children, more than 15 years ago. As she entered the classroom she quickly became interested in instruction. She now has 10+ years of instruction experience and American Montessori Society Primary Certification as well. Reina was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan, and her background is a rich asset to our classrooms. She loves the Montessori method and is committed to creating beautiful and purposeful learning environments for her students.