Come & See The Difference
We have been serving families and children in Fulton, Cobb, and Cherokee counties providing high quality Montessori education since 1995. We have been AMI (Association of Montessori Internationale) recognized through primary to upper elementary. We offer Assistant to Infancy program (18 months to 2 1/2 years), Primary program (2 1/2 to 6 years), Lower Elementary (6 to 9 years), Upper Elementary (9 to 12 years, and Middle school program (12 to 15 years).
Montessori philosophy is based on the work of Maria Montessori who was the first female physician in Italy. Each classroom is a lively and supportive learning environment that meets unique and growing developmental needs of each child. Age-mixed classrooms provide plenty of opportunities for the children to help others and learn from each other. The children learn by initiating and repeating activities followed by individual or group lessons given by teachers. All the teachers through toddler to upper elementary have training from the most authentic Montessori organization, AMI.
Fostering independence, hands-on learning, and creating a sense of community, are some of the hallmarks of Montessori education. At Village Montessori school, we strive to build peaceful and respectful school community and to prepare each child for the future, as Maria Montessori said, “Education should be an aid to life.” I hope you will visit our beautiful campus and see the children working in carefully prepared classrooms.
The Director’s Message
Director
Annmarie Gever
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Village Montessori School. Each day at our school is an exciting new opportunity to enrich the minds of our students, and we hope your child will join us.
Village Montessori School welcomes students regardless of race, gender, national and ethnic origin, and is non discriminatory in all our policies. We accept children between the ages of 18 months and 15 years old.
There are no specific academic entrance requirements; however, we base admission decisions on many factors, especially your child’s age and suitability for our program.
Please contact us regarding availability for your child, and to schedule your personal tour of our school. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide additional information about our educational programs.
Kind regards,
Annmarie Gever
Director, Village Montessori School
Montessori Guides Children to a Lifelong Love of Learning
Montessori education is named for the Italian physician, Maria Montessori, who formulated the educational theory and method based on scientific research and keen observation of the child. It is recognized and practiced worldwide as the hallmark in preschool education.
Dr. Montessori designed an extensive assortment of concrete multi-sensory materials with which to implement her program. She first employed her program (often referred to as the Montessori Method) in the slums of Rome in 1907, where she won worldwide acclaim for her extraordinary accomplishments.
She later developed an extensive training program for teachers which demonstrated the use of her materials and related that use to the child’s development. She stressed a full and deep understanding of the developmental process of the whole child and how development interacts with the environment.
Accreditation
Village Montessori School is proud to be a fully recognized Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) School. AMI was formed in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori to ensure that her philosophy and approach to education would be carried on as she intended. Dr. Montessori’s goal was to foster the full development of the human being. A school or teacher training program that carries the AMI name is continuing the tradition of quality first established by Dr. Montessori, a tradition that incorporates standards based directly on Dr. Montessori’s work.
Learn more about AMI school standards here.
Our Toddler and Primary Programs are certified by Bright From the Start – Georgia Department of Early Childcare and Learning (BFTS). BFTS is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system.
Philosophy
Village Montessori School’s fundamental philosophy is respect: respect for the child, the adult, the classroom, the school, and the Earth.
Montessori educational methods are designed to foster independence, critical thinking, perseverance, self-discipline and self-direction, as well as to promote order, organization and the development of responsibility. Montessori education enhances a child’s self-confidence. The child’s natural curiosity is observed and nurtured, creating a love of learning.
Montessori believed the mission of the teacher was to prepare a child oriented environment and observe each child’s natural tendencies. The child is allowed freedom within this prepared environment to follow those innate tendencies along the natural path of development. Individualized instruction allows the teacher to meet each child’s needs at her own level of development or interest.
Curriculum
Village Montessori School’s child-oriented environment offers exercises in practical life, exploration and refinement of the senses, instruction and exploration of language, mathematics, geography, history and science. Daily activities include creative experiences in art and music, as well as art and music appreciation.
Montessori classes employ individualized instruction of sequenced academics guided by each child’s own developmental process. The use of multi-age classes is a critical element of Montessori education. We also offer summer programs and extra-curricular activities.
Impact
Research indicates achievement rates of children educated using Montessori methods are two to three times those of their peers. They also exhibit an increase in higher cognitive skills and interpersonal skills.
The latest research on brain development reveals the brain is not fully formed until age 16. Researchers suggest appropriate early stimulation can raise intellectual functioning, as measured by I.Q. scores, by as much as 20 percent.
Montessori education capitalizes on the important early years by introducing meaningful learning experiences that positively impact brain development and thereby have a lasting effect. Successful completion of the Montessori Primary program amply prepares the child for the challenges ahead in first grade and beyond.
The Elementary curriculum encompasses all subjects – language, mathematics, geometry, botany, zoology, geography, the physical sciences, and the arts — in lessons that allow for open-ended, unlimited exploration in areas of specific interest to the child.
The Village Montessori Advantage
Parents are a Valued Part of Our Community
- VMS partners with our parents to best educate our children.
- VMS offers many opportunities for parent education.
- VMS is a small school which enables are parents to be a valued part of our close-knit community.
- A parent conference twice a year allows time to discuss your child’s progress and goals.
- VMS welcomes and encourages parents to observe classrooms in progress at any time.
- VMS has a dynamic Parent Association that supports all school and community service activities.
The Quality of Our Teaching Staff is Unmatched
- VMS has Master’s level teachers at every level of development, Toddler through Middle School. Meet our staff here.
- VMS has experienced teachers who, year after year, choose to practice their craft at VMS.
- The longevity of teachers and assistants is a testament to their commitment to our community.
- Caring, dedicated teachers become part of your family.
- VMS is accredited by AMI, and Bright From the Start
VMS is accredited by Association Montessori International (AMI), an internationally recognized organization with rigorous Montessori standards.
- AMI/USA consultants evaluate the school, classrooms, and staff every three years for AMI accreditation.
- Dr. Montessori’s discoveries about child development and how children learn best has become a proven curriculum for children all over the world.
- Successful Graduates are a Hallmark of VMS
The continuum of curriculum from 18 months to fifteen years old completes the student’s Montessori education.
- VMS graduates possess the tools to be socially and emotionally successful.
- VMS students consistently score well above national norms on standardized testing.
- VMS graduates are accepted at their choice of private high schools.
- Lessons are tailored to the individual child
Each child’s education is individualized.
- Lessons are presented to one child or a small group.
- Social skills and conflict resolution are balanced with academic achievement.
- Children work at their own pace, moving forward upon mastery of skills.
- Mixed age groups allow students to be role models and mentors.
- Students learn to evaluate and recognize their own progress.
VMS is an Active Member of the Community
- VMS has been a part of the Roswell community since 1995.
- VMS has set a standard for quality Montessori Education in North Metro Atlanta.
- VMS is proud to partner with our local government, businesses, and charities.
- Giving back to others is one of our core values that we instill in our students.
Our vision is to be a place for the evolution of the human being.
In the true spirit of Maria Montessori’s deepest beliefs about education, Village Montessori School aspires to nothing less than to be a site for the evolution of the human being, individually and collectively.
We believe that the best education is one that develops a reflective relationship with the defining issues and values of human life.
Perhaps most importantly, it means introducing the power of cooperation and collaboration as a means for handling life’s vicissitudes and creating genuine pathways of peace.
Our aspirations represent the culmination of the Montessori method from the concrete “hands on” to the abstract and back again. This defining pedagogy helps us to set our sights high as we go about the work of directing the child.
Please take the time to understand all of your options and then see if your vision aligns with ours.
Our Mission
The mission of Village Montessori School is to provide the best educational environment that is dedicated to upholding and maintaining the principles of AMI Montessori Education.
Our warm and nurturing environment is meticulously prepared to meet the needs of the individual child whether they are in the toddler program, primary program, elementary program, or middle school program.
We strive to educate the child through supportive relationships to foster a love for learning, a curiosity about the world, and help him/her to mature to make a positive, productive impact on our world community.
Our Principles
Below is a list of the principles Village Montessori School is based on. They are summarized from the AMI Montessori website.
- The objectives of the AMI Montessori Association are to uphold, propagate and further the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr. Maria Montessori for the full development of the human being.
- Montessori mission upholds the rights of the child in a society
- We are here to help the child to develop naturally in the family, school and society
- Our goal is to awaken public opinion with regard to the moral dignity of the child as ‘the Father of Man’
- We have a vision to ensure the independence of the child’s personality through successive stages of growth until he reaches full normal development by means of his own activity
- We are here to provide opportunities wherever possible for children to develop normally, thereby helping all adults to enter into a new life of harmony and co-operation and peace
- Our global function as a social movement is to strive to obtain recognition for the rights of the child throughout the world, irrespective of race, religion, political and social belief
Our Staff
Our teachers are what make every day special for our children. Our teachers are creative, understanding, and passionate. They work with families to create every child’s own success story.
+ Meet Ms. Andrea Capuano (Toddler Lead)
Andrea Capuano received her BS degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Nutrition and Food Science and worked in that field until the birth of her children. With her first child, she was introduced to Montessori and began a 15 year journey. Her then toddler, is now in high school and paved the Montessori way for his younger sisters. Eventually, with three children in Montessori, Andrea had the opportunity at their school to enroll in the AMI Infant Program Training.
Andrea says, “it was a life changing experience”. “It opened my mind and understanding of education and life itself. Montessori is not only a method or system, materials or experience, it is a life philosophy.” Andrea’s youngest child is still enrolled at Village Montessori. She lives in Alpharetta with her husband and three children. Andrea also serves the Toddler Level Lead.
+ Meet Ms. Luz Lugo (Primary Lead)
Luz Lugo was born in Mexico, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts. During her studies, she worked as an assistant teacher and loved the experience of working with children.
After becoming a mother, she researched different education methods and fell in love with the Montessori philosophy. After working as an assistant guide, Luz earned an AMI Primary diploma from Montessori Institute of North Texas and also certification in Positive Discipline for Early Childhood Educators.
Luz is passionate about Spanish Language and Literature and holds a master’s degree in teaching Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. When she is not working, she likes to be with her family, read, cook, and travel. Luz is excited to be part of the Village Montessori community.
+ Meet Ms. Emmie Thompson (Upper Elementary Lead)
Emmie Thompson holds AMI certifications in both Primary and Elementary. She has been working with Montessori for 27 years. She began in the Toddler environment and worked her way through Elementary. She spent time working with the after school programs and summer camps as well.
Her hobbies include singing, writing and composing music, volunteering through church, and currently a soloist for a state wide choir. She is married and has two adult children, both of whom attended Montessori through 8th grade.
+ Meet Ms. Annmarie Gever (Director of Operations)
Annmarie Gever has degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, and Nursing. She taught pre-school through kindergarten as staff in Coral Springs and Plantation, Florida. She was a surgical nurse in Boca Raton Florida from 1982 through 1988.
After the birth of her second child in 1989, she became the office administrator and clinical coordinator of surgical and gastroenterology practices before moving to Georgia in 1995. Annmarie conducted “Mommy & Me” classes at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia. She has been a member of our staff at VMS since 2003. As the Director of Operations, Annmarie makes sure all aspects of the school run smoothly.
+ Meet Ms. Suzanne Cook (Middle School Lead/ Art Teacher)
Suzanne earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia. She has been an active member of the Montessori community for 25 years – which began as a marketing consultant, then as an Elementary Assistant, after which she developed Montessori-based art curriculum and became an Art Teacher Specialist. Her love of adolescents led her to acquire her AMI Adolescent certification to begin her career as a Middle School guide at Village. Suzanne’s expertise includes graphic design, marketing, retail, public speaking, and professional art – all of which she draws on as an adolescent guide. She lives with her husband Dave, and two cats. Their daughter is a Montessori graduate and works as a professional artist, spends her downtime creating art, planning projects, and enjoying nature.
+ Meet Ms. Asma Asad (Primary Lead)
Asma Asad was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. In 1988 she moved to India where she completed her higher education in Bachelor of Technology. She helped with mentoring undergrad students to purse graduate colleges at a local institute for 2 years. After getting married she moved to Charlotte, NC in 2016.
Her love for Montessori learning came from researching different ways to educate her own children. Asma worked as an elementary assistant at a Montessori school in Charlotte and both of her children were in Primary. She earned her AMI Primary Diploma from Washington Montessori Institute. Her hobbies include baking, reading, hiking, camping and craft.
+ Meet Ms. Danielle Edwards (Toddler Lead)
Danielle Edwards was born in Guatemala, a beautiful country filled with family traditions and costumes. She moved to the United States when she was 15 and lived in Miami for 11 years. She moved to Georgia in 2006. While in Miami, she started her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, which she later finished in Georgia.
In 2010, she came to an Atlanta area Montessori school as an assistant and was there for eight years. She immediately fell in love with Maria Montessori and her philosophy. Watching the toddlers be independent and capable changed the way she perceived small children. The Montessori method became her passion and taking the AMI training was the next step in her career. Danielle is the mother of three children. She loves being a part of the community at Village Montessori.
+ Meet Ms. Lola Leman (Primary Level Lead)
Lola Leman grew up in the metro-Atlanta area and is a graduate of Village Montessori School where she attended Primary through Upper Elementary levels. She then went on to a local Montessori school for middle school. Lola graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Psychology. She discovered her passion for working with children soon after graduating college. After working at a local Montessori school, Lola began her Montessori training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas, where she graduated in 2021.
Lola loves animals and her hobbies include reading and baking which she loves sharing with children! She loves being back home at Village Montessori School.
+ Meet Ms. Siobhan Medina (Lower Elementary Lead)
Siobhan Medina attended a Montessori school as a child and knew from a very early age that she would like to pursue a career in this field. Siobhan studied science at University College Dublin for one year before transferring to Sion Hill Montessori College to complete her studies in Primary and Elementary training. She was also awarded the Benincasa Montessori Diploma in special education.
Siobhan came to the United States in 1983 to take up a job offer in Long Island, New York. She has been teaching continuously since then, spending one year in a Toddler program, one year in a traditional classroom and the rest between Primary and Elementary. Siobhan is the mother of two children – both Montessori graduates. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her family. Siobhan also serves the Elementary/Middle School Level Lead.
+ Meet Ms. Lindsay Hill (Middle School Lead)
Lindsay Hill was born and raised in Dunwoody, GA. After graduating from Wesleyan High School, she attended the University of Mississippi. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Leadership. She has been at VMS since 2010. She began her career as an assistant in the Lower Elementary Program. In 2016, she received her training in AMI Adolescent Studies and became a certified Montessori teacher. As the lead guide of the program, Lindsay is responsible for putting together a curriculum that supports the adolescents in all domains of development. Lindsay’s son is currently enrolled in the Primary program at VMS.
+ Meet Ms. Giulietta Prato Glade (Spanish Teacher)
Giulietta Prato Glade was born in Lima, Peru. She attended American schools and was bilingual at a very young age. She moved to Washington DC where her father worked in an international Organization. She completed her education at the University of Maryland were she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in advertising and graphics arts with a minor in art history.
Her love for Montessori education grew from having her children attend a Montessori School. This gave her the background and knowledge to create a Spanish program with the tradition and teaching principals of Montessori education.