Montessori Central

The Montessori approach is based upon a sincere respect for the child as a developing person with an absorbent mind, self-motivating curiosity, and desire to learn and master skills.  The child is given freedom to choose among constructive alternatives in a carefully prepared and stimulated environment.  The child develops self-discipline through concentration and the example of mutual respect provided in the classroom.

  • Our staff are all nationally certified, experienced Montessori teachers who follow State and Montessori guidelines. The highest educational and professional standards are maintained and supplemented on a continuing basis by attendance at local, regional, and national workshops and seminars.

  • Staff

    Dawn Pipella - Directress

    Erin Henry - Co-Director

    Erin Parker - Program Supervisor

    Catherine Brannon - Lead Teacher

    Martin Alfaro - Spanish Teacher

  • Schedule

    Montessori Central offers families three daily schedules as follows:

    Half Day: 9am - noon

    Extended Day: 9am - 3pm

    All Day: 7:30am - 5:30pm

  • Location

    Montessori Central Associaton is a non-denominational school located in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 5720 S. Perry, Spokane WA.

Testimonials

  • "Both our daughter and son attended Montessori Central. My daughter (who is now entering middle school) thrived under the instruction and support provided by the outstanding staff, and we believe her critical thinking skills were greatly enhanced at Montessori Central. We were especially impressed by how empowered the children are on a daily basis to make their own decisions, yet still held accountable for obeying the rules.

    At Montessori Central, the teachers instilled in our children a desire to learn. The teachers believe that every interaction is an opportunity to teach. They are supportive and encouraging, constantly building the self-esteem of the students. Kelly and Clay would tell you today that they love school and we believe that is due to their initial introduction to school at Montessori Central.

    The atmosphere at Montessori Central is conducive to learning, and we have never observed 'chaos' in the classrooms. Overall, the students behave in a respectful manner towards the teachers and the other students. Our children felt safe and loved at Montessori Central."

    -The Hooper Family

  • "Montessori Cental is a caring, competent, and community-driven preschool and kindergarten. It is Montessori in its approach, which means lots of hans-on activities for children who set their own pace, under the careful guidance of a team of teaches These teachers do an amazing job of discovering what are each child’s strengths and growth areas, and due to the small size of the school, they can develop a student’s progression in an incredibly individualized manner. Your child will learn kindness and the importance of respect for others. Every year they find different ways to add fun modules, whether a focus on insects or dinosaurs or rocks, so the students learn about the world in an applied manner as well. As a parent, I sent both my children and the individualized approach mean they grew in entirely different ways. My shy boy developed more confidence and curiosity, and my talkative girl developed focus and an appreciation for the work of learning. I heartily endorse this learning community.”

    -K. Petruska

  • "Our family was part of the Montessori Central family for 6 years. Our boys obtained a wonderful foundation in their learning journey at this school. They bonded with the teachers so much that when they 'graduated' they asked why they couldn't continue to go to the school forever. Both of their 1st grade teachers commented how well prepared they were for 1st grade and how helpful they were to the other children in the class when they needed assistance with their classwork. As parents we greatly appreciated the teachers' ability to work with each child on an individual basis and at their level. The teaching methodology was flexible enough to keep our boys very challenged and interested in school. Our children still talk about the school and the teachers to this day. We highly recommend Montessori Central!"

    -The Moore Family