Montessori of Mount Pleasant
At about 3 or so years old, our children show us they’re ready to move over to our primary environment, the Montessori of Mount Pleasant... Here, all our teachers are Montessori-trained, in addition to RIE, and remain with their students for all 3 primary years of study through Kindergarten.

In fact, because our children enter the primary environment with a familiar peer group – because they learn, grow and complete their developmental stage together – our parents often say they have a greater peace of mind and that their kids demonstrate a DEEPER SENSE OF BELONGING than other kids.

Through our mix of self-directed exploration and work and one-on- one study with a teacher, our students are exploring and learning throughout the day. Children work quietly side-by-side, and are not only responsible for their own work – but are also given increasing responsibility for helping our school community – taking care of classroom animals, preparing for lunch, helping to teach younger students.

"...nature lays down a plan for the construction both of personality and of social life, but this plan becomes realized only through the children's activity when they are placed in circumstances favorable to its fulfillment..."
Dr. Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
Included in the Montessori Primary Program:

  • Bilingual Spanish Cultural Study
  • Cosmic education science program
  • Ecology study led by Master Naturalist
  • School store - entrepreneurial skills start young
  • SLOW FOOD-inspired seed to table program
  • Organic garden-to-table lunch program.
  • Certified Natural Wildlife Habitat & Ecology Center.
  • Outings to neighborhood businesses like the community bakery, library, firehouse and fishing docks.


The result? Our students are confident, enthusiastic learners who understand how to negotiate, manage conflict and work together.

Little Learner's Lodge
Much of a child’s personality, and ability to learn, is formed by age 3 – so we understand the importance of making the most of this time! Which is why our relationships stay intact- child and caregiver alike transition developmentally through the curriculum, staying together for two or more years as their world and relationships slowly expand.

Our infant facility and program were specifically designed to implement Magda Gerber’s RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) principles – a proven, detailed approach to caring for infants.

In fact, our program is steeped in RIE. Our founder, Beverly A. Kovach, M.N., is a consultant with the RIE center in Los Angeles as an associate and mentor teacher and established the first RIE satellite training center in Melbourne, Florida. A Montessori teacher trainer, consultant trainer, and a regular presenter at both national and international conferences, Beverly is still regularly involved in helping to train and promote on-site at our facility.

“The principal goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done."
Jean Piaget

We have the highest percentage of RIE trained faculty in the Southeast, which means our team closely follows an approach that fosters attachment to both daytime caregivers and parents – making our group among the most highly trained infant caregivers in the world.

Take a tour, and you’ll see our infant environment is serene and quiet – and that caregivers are very focused and present in interacting with each infant, treating them with deliberate respect. Infants are given as much freedom as possible – which supports not only healthy development, but also a confidence and an early love of exploration.
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