Montessori Academy

I was blessed to serve the community of Montessori Academy as a teacher for over fourteen years and to have my daughter attend the 3-6 year old program before my husband was transferred with his company out of state. There is a high level of expectation for each student to excel according to interest and ability. The love of learning is established and nurtured throughout the individual classroom environments.

I find it suspicious how many positive reviews are arriving on this school's profile over the past few weeks almost it seems, in response to the negative of earlier in the year...enrollment time of the year? Montessori Academy has a relatively friendly surface, beautiful building and grounds but after looking a little deeper, there are many flaws that make the school problematic for families who entrust their children to the school. it didn't take long for the cracks to show for us. I assume that staff morale is falling and administration is crunching numbers. Bullying IS a problem OF COURSE not everyone experiences it. I find it ignorant to say it doesn't exist at this school. It does in almost every school. Only some of the time do the staff handle it well (which is not enough) the administration appear to try to mask the problem rather than take a head on approach to tackling the issue. I would have preferred more focus on teaching acceptance, tolerance and bullying awareness. Many of the teachers and admin display arrogance and rigidity when it comes to their methods (sometimes Montessori, sometimes they seem to be made up on the spot). Cons outweigh the pros in this case.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has attended MA in LE. A couple of years after searching for Montessori school's, I would like to add a review of my experience as the reviews on here were very helpful for my decision making. The positives are; our son has developed academically during his time at the school, we feel he has been challenged academically, the classroom is clean and orderly and the atmosphere is calm and has been a good place for my son to work. He enjoys the special classes, espcially music and art. There are many opportunities for parents to get involved at the school and the performances are always a treat. We've had a few issues over the past year or two, we agree that there is bullying, I think that's the case with most schools and I would have liked to have seen more effort made towards resolving our personal situation. The school has great amenities and we have a lot of respect for the work they do. Despite our tough times and the realization that the school is not what is best for our son at this point, I can still see it being a good environment depending on your expectations and your child's personal preferences. I do think it depends upon the individual experience.
--Submitted by a parent

I just joined the team at Montessori this year and am very impressed, so impressed that I plan on enrolling my own child in the next semester. As far as bullying goes, this happens in all schools private or public. From what I have seen, bullying is taken very seriously and students are dealt with immediately.
--Submitted by a teacher

Montessori Academy is an extraordinary community of learning, growth, development, and opportunity. Having our daughter there for seven years (from 3-10 years old) has been a gift beyond expression. Were it not for a work-related relocation, she still would be there, too. What M.A. does so wonderfully is give kids the chance to grow and blossom in a safe and nurturing environment, a place where there is no ceiling limiting learning, no "you've got to wait until you're older" rebuke for talented and gifted students. At the same time, M.A. has a very diverse student body in all respects, one in which every student is steeped in the ways of listening, working together, and being part of a community. What an outstanding place!!!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been going here since 2006 and have never experienced bullying that wasn't dealt with within a few hours. They teach the children conflict resolution at a young age with is invaluable for everyone. I wish adults could speak so well about problems and how to fix them. My son is around a year ahead of public schools in the same grade level and he isn't unusual around here, all of the kids are well above what public school expects. These children will be leaders as adults and that is what more school should strive to acheive.
--Submitted by a parent

After 35 years teaching band in private and public schools in the Nashville area, I joined the Montessori Academy team last year as a part-time band director. I have found the students to be highly motivated, eager to learn, and respectful toward other students as well as teachers. It is a pleasure to work here with the other music teachers and enjoy the support and appreciation from the other teachers, parents and administrators as we lead students to a deeper understanding and appreciation for making music.
--Submitted by a teacher

My children attended here for a number of years and have done very well in their public schools (all honor roll and end-of-year academic awards at Woodland and Ravenwood) since needing to move for their upper years of school. They definitely learned a love for learning, conceptual skills that have aided them tremendously and have an excellent base. They have remained friends with multiple children from their Montessori Academy days and had a tremendous social experience as a result of the very nurturing and positive climate in the school. Their self-confidence and actual skills are far beyond what they would have been had they attended other skills in those formative years.
--Submitted by a parent

Montessori Academy is a wonderful school that I highly recommend to all parents who put their kids first. The nurturing environment and sense of community allowed my children to be who they were intended to be and not what society wanted them to be. I wish that all kids had the opportunity to be educated here in this positive and diverse community where the sky is the limit. Thank you MA!

My daughter has attended MA for seven years now, and she is having an exemplary educational experience. MA has wonderful, dedicated, nurturing teachers at all grade levels. They take the time to truly get to know the children, to celebrate their strengths while giving them the time and attention to improve in their weaker areas. It is a school where academic excellence is balanced with the goal of educating the whole child. There is a strong dedication to peace, and conflict resolution is built into the curriculum from the time the children enter the school. I know that my daughter is receiving a wonderful educational foundation, and I also know that she is respected and cared for deeply by her teachers and the community of MA. This is truly a great school!
--Submitted by T. Murphy, a parent