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Liberating Learning

The Future of Public Montessori in Illinois: Welcome to the vision. Let's bring Montessori to more children. 

Our Vision for a New Kind of School

We want to build more than a school—we want to create a community of transformation. This endeavor brings Montessori back to its radical roots: a commitment to education as the pathway to justice, belonging, and human flourishing. Our goal is to design a school that grows with children from early childhood through adolescence, and stands beside families throughout that journey.

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We envision a model where the liberation of the child is inseparable from the liberation of the community—where nature, equity, academic excellence, and human dignity are not treated as add-ons but embedded into every lesson, every structure, and every choice. Children will leave not just prepared for tests or careers, but prepared for life—grounded in compassion, capable of critical thought, and fueled by purpose.

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In a time when so many schools are governed by compliance and constraint, this school offers a new promise: that learning can be joyful, rigorous, and liberating all at once. Here, teachers are trusted as professionals, families are welcomed as partners, and students are honored as full human beings.

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This is our invitation—to reimagine what’s possible for education in Illinois and beyond. Together, we can create a blueprint for public Montessori that doesn’t just serve children, but transforms the future they will one day lead.

A Bold New Possibility for Illinois

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Language & Voice

Where children find the words, stories, and confidence to speak for themselves and others.

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Mathematics & Justice

Precision and pattern-making as a foundation for critical thinking, equity, and systemic change.

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Practical Life & Community

Hands-on work that nurtures interdependence, contribution, and responsibility to self and others.

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Culture & Liberation

Exploring history, identity, and belonging with the goal of building a more free and inclusive world.

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Nature & Care

Rooted in stewardship of the Earth and one another—because peace begins with how we tend to life.

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Imagination & Possibility

Where curiosity leads, innovation follows—and each child is trusted to envision and shape the future.

There is no better time than now. Gov. Pritzker recently said that “the reckoning is here” and that we need to “abandon the culture of incrementalism…” Together, we can position Illinois—and the nation—as a beacon for what truly inclusive, future-focused education can be.

The Opportunity

Montessori is a time-tested, science-based educational model. While it has primarily existed in elite/tuition-based/private communities, its origin lies in supporting children from under-resourced communities. Today, we have a chance to make Illinois a national leader in public, independent Montessori, unlocking future-focused learning for all our students.

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Why Montessori Works

  • Rooted in Neuroscience: Dr. Montessori’s approach grew out of her training in medicine, experimental psychology, and anthropology.

  • Whole-Child Focus: Integrates academics with emotional, social, and developmental growth.

  • Globally Proven: Exists on 6 continents, adaptable to all cultures and economic contexts.

  • Robust Curriculum: Over 300 hands-on Primary lessons and 1,500+ Elementary presentations across literacy, math, geometry, sciences, geography, the arts, and more.

  • Outcomes that Matter: Increases executive functioning, self-motivation, and long-term academic success.

  • Teacher-Powered: Specialized preparation equips educators to meet students’ diverse needs and foster community.

 

The Current Challenge
Despite its transformative power, Montessori remains out of reach for many Illinois families. The training and materials exist; what’s missing is the legislative support to make Montessori widely accessible—much like IMSA’s STEM carve-out in the 1980s or the U of I’s Lab School in the 1920s.

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A Paradigm Shift
Montessori fills the gaps traditional education often leaves behind. It is education without shackles. It is a liberatory paradigm of possibilities. As Dr. Steve Hughes, pediatric neuropsychologist, states: "Montessori is the original and best brain-based model of education."

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