Woodland Montessori School

Brush Creek Montessori School is a private, independent Montessori school for children ages 3 to 12. Founded in 1973 by Peggy and Wes Colgan, Brush Creek Montessori School is the only fully affiliated Montessori school in Sonoma County. The school is recognized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Academic Excellence. BCMS is home to the Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center ( MMTTC ). MMTTC teaches a two-year intensive program that is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education ( MACTE ), is recognized by the American Montessori Society, and students earn credit units through California State University East Bay. MMTTC is the only accredited Montessori Teacher Training Center in the North Bay, serving Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt counties. Montessori Education A Montessori education provides your child with an integrated, individualized, and academically challenging program that meets his or her ever-changing developmental needs. A Montessori learning environment fosters curiosity, initiative, independence and a life-long love of learning, all within a caring community that is ready to provide your child with the tools and opportunities to explore the world in which we live. Brush Creek Montessori School follows the educational practices developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over a century ago in Europe. Born in 1870, Maria Montessori became one of the first female physicians in Italy. Dr. Montessori used her scientific background to observe children from birth through adolescence. What she found was that every child has an inborn sense of curiosity and a natural drive to work and learn. By providing the child with a prepared, sensory-rich environment and hands-on experiential materials, the child's inherent love of learning naturally thrives. Within a framework of order that respects the uniqueness of each child, children easily develop a sense of community with a desire for positive and respectful social interaction. Dr. Montessori's philosophy, materials and practices are now found in virtually every country in the world. Here in the United States there are thousands of Montessori schools. It is important to note that because Dr. Maria Montessori did not obtain a copyright for her name Montessori in the name of a school does not mean the school adheres to the Montessori philosophy of teaching. It does not insure that the school is accredited. Brush Creek Montessori School is fully affiliated with the American Montessori Society ( AMS ) and adheres to their strict guidelines for Montessori education and ethics. As dictated by AMS, all Head Teachers hold Bachelor degrees as well as Montessori teaching certificates from a school accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education ( MACTE ). Currently, all Head Teachers at Brush Creek Montessori School hold teaching certificates from the Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center, a MACTE accredited school. BCMS Head of School, Susan Cohn, directs the Santa Rosa campus of Maria Montessori Teacher Training Center, which shares classrooms and materials with Brush Creek Montessori School.