Our school / Our mission

Mountaineer Montessori School

Welcome to Mountaineer Montessori!

Our story begins 46 years ago during a renaissance of Montessori education in the United States. Mountaineer Montessori, founded in 1976, was part of this exciting movement to rethink education from the beginning.

We began as a parent co-op serving one classroom of primary students (3 to 6 year olds) led by Mary McKown, a pioneering educator who went on to touch of the lives of generations of Charleston children. From that early start, MMS has continued to grow and inspire – we are now the oldest, largest, and most well-established Montessori school in West Virginia, serving an estimated 1,000 students in the last four decades.

Currently, 175 students ages 2 to 14 are enrolled at MMS. 

At Mountaineer Montessori, we are proud of our strong tradition of excellence and innovation in education.

MMS is:

• a full member school of the American Montessori Society.
• an American Montessori Society Accreditation Candidate School
• led by an AMS certified Montessori Administrator, Jennifer Carriger.
• home to the first and only AMS Montessori adolescent program in the state.
• home to the first AMS Montessori Toddler, Primary, Elementary and Middle School Programs in the state.
• a licensed child care provider. 
• an AMS Pathway of Continuous Improvement School.

MMS is an independent, non-sectarian, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization guided by an elected board of directors comprised of parents and community members.

Our school is funded through tuition, contributions, grants, business partnerships, and fundraising events. 

Mary McKown created a “sanctuary of learning” for generations of Charleston children

Our philosophy

At MMS, we value, respect, and nurture human potential and celebrate its diversity. Our programs are designed to free that potential and encourage a lifelong love of learning.

Mountaineer Montessori School exists for children.

At MMS, we:

• view the responsibility for education as a partnership between students, teachers and parents;
• understand that children learn in many different ways;
• acknowledge that children learn because they are interested, have creative imaginations and possess the innate desire to become competent;
• recognize that the teacher’s role is to inspire, mentor and facilitate the learning process;
• provide educational experiences that cultivate the child’s sense of independence, self-respect and love of peace; and
• prepare aesthetic learning environments that meet the needs, interests and abilities of the children.

Commitment to excellence

MMS is committed to offering the best learning experience possible for your child. Each year, we make a major investment in training and consultants to ensure we continue to achieve the highest standards of Montessori education. Beyond their Montessori certification training, our faculty participate in ongoing professional development and specialty workshops. Nationally recognized consultants are brought in to observe our school and advise faculty on curriculum and facilities and lead parent education programs. MMS administrators and board members participate in non-profit and school management training to provide strong, ethical, and visionary leadership for our organization. At MMS, learning is for life…for students, teachers, parents, and board members.

A community of learners

Mountaineer Montessori is not just your child’s school, it’s your school too.

At MMS parent involvement is encouraged and welcomed. Throughout the year, parents have the opportunity to observe their child’s class, meet with teachers in scheduled conferences or at other times as needed, participate in Parent Night and other educational events, and enjoy family outings and other social activities.

Keeping parents and our community up to date is a priority. A monthly newsletter, website, blog, social media channels, emails and texts deliver timely and important school information. Our office is staffed throughout the day, and we strive to always have an MMS administrative or faculty member ready to answer your call.

We also invite involvement in your child’s education through the MMSPO (our parent organization); serving as a classroom parent; sharing your talents as a guest teacher, volunteering pro bono professional services, participating in fundraising activities and special events, assisting in the office, or other capacities; and/or serving the the MMS Board of Directors. Every person can play a role in enriching the MMS educational experience.

Governance

MMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization overseen by an elected board of directors comprised of faculty, parent and volunteer leaders from varied professional backgrounds who are passionate about Montessori education, dedicated to the mission of MMS and advocate on behalf of the school, its programs and staff. The MMS Board of Directors provides strategic direction and policy guidance to our school and develops the resources needed to offer the highest quality Montessori education to our students.